UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 11, 2016

 

Ameris Bancorp
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Georgia 001-13901 58-1456434
(State or Other
 Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

310 First Street, S.E., Moultrie, Georgia 31768
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (229) 890-1111

 

 
(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))

 

 

 

 

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

On March 11, 2016, Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”) completed its previously announced merger with Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. (“Jacksonville”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 30, 2015 between the Company and Jacksonville (the “Merger Agreement”). At closing, Jacksonville merged with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving corporation in the merger. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of the voting common stock and nonvoting common stock of Jacksonville issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the merger was automatically converted into the right to receive, at the election of the holder, either 0.5861 shares of the common stock of the Company or $16.50 in cash, provided that the total merger consideration will be prorated as necessary in accordance with the Merger Agreement to ensure that the total outstanding shares of Jacksonville voting common stock and nonvoting common stock will be exchanged 25% for cash and 75% for shares of the common stock of the Company. Each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock remained outstanding and was unaffected by the merger. Immediately following the merger, The Jacksonville Bank, a Florida banking corporation and formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Jacksonville, merged with and into Ameris Bank, a Georgia banking corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, with Ameris Bank surviving such merger.

 

As a result of the closing of the merger, the Company will issue approximately 2.5 million shares of its common stock and pay approximately $23.0 million to former shareholders of Jacksonville.

 

The description contained herein of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of such document, which is attached hereto as an exhibit and incorporated herein by this reference.

 

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

 

In connection with its acquisition of Jacksonville, the Company assumed all of Jacksonville’s obligations with respect to the following outstanding trust preferred securities:

 

(i) $4,124,000 of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due June 17, 2034, originally issued by Jacksonville pursuant to an Indenture between Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of June 17, 2004 (the “2004 Indenture”), which debentures bear interest at a rate of 2.63% plus the LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a three-month maturity;

 

(ii) $3,093,000 of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due September 15, 2035, originally issued by Jacksonville (as successor by merger to Atlantic BancGroup, Inc.) pursuant to an Indenture between Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 15, 2005 and supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 15, 2011 but effective as of November 16, 2010 (as so supplemented, the “2005 Indenture”), which debentures bear interest at a rate of 1.50% plus the LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a three-month maturity;

 

(iii) $3,093,000 of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 15, 2036, originally issued by Jacksonville pursuant to an Indenture between Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “2006 Indenture”), which debentures bear interest at a rate of 1.73% plus the LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a three-month maturity; and

 

(iv) $7,784,000 of Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2038, originally issued by Jacksonville pursuant to an Indenture between Jacksonville and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, dated as of June 20, 2008 (the “2008 Indenture”), which debt securities bear interest at a rate of 3.75% plus the LIBOR rate for U.S. dollar deposits with a three-month maturity.

 

 

 

 

The Company assumed Jacksonville’s obligations (i) in connection with the 2004 Indenture, pursuant to a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among the Company, Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company; (ii) in connection with the 2005 Indenture, pursuant to a Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among the Company, Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company; (iii) in connection with the 2006 Indenture, pursuant to a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among the Company, Jacksonville and Wilmington Trust Company; and (iv) in connection with the 2008 Indenture, pursuant to a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

 

The descriptions contained herein of the 2004 Indenture, the 2005 Indenture, the 2006 Indenture, the 2008 Indenture and the foregoing supplemental indentures are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms of such documents, each of which is attached hereto as an exhibit and incorporated herein by this reference.

 

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

  2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 30, 2015 by and between Ameris Bancorp and Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 1, 2015).
     
  4.1 Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of June 17, 2004.
     
  4.2 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
  4.3 Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2034 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1).
     
  4.4 Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of September 15, 2005.
     
  4.5 Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
  4.6 Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2035 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.4).
     
  4.7 Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of December 14, 2006.

 

 

 

 

  4.8 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
  4.9 Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2036 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.7).
     
  4.10 Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association dated as of June 20, 2008.
     
  4.11 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and between Ameris Bancorp and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
     
  4.12 Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security Due 2038 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.10).

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  AMERIS BANCORP
     
  By: /s/ Dennis J. Zember Jr.
    Dennis J. Zember Jr.
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Dated: March 14, 2016

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Exhibit
     
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 30, 2015 by and between Ameris Bancorp and Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Ameris Bancorp’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 1, 2015).
     
4.1   Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of June 17, 2004.
     
4.2   First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
4.3   Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2034 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.1).
     
4.4   Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of September 15, 2005.
     
4.5   Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
4.6   Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2035 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.4).
     
4.7   Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wilmington Trust Company dated as of December 14, 2006.
     
4.8   First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and among Ameris Bancorp, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company.
     
4.9   Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Due 2036 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.7).
     
4.10   Indenture between Ameris Bancorp (as successor to Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association dated as of June 20, 2008.
     
4.11   First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 11, 2016 by and between Ameris Bancorp and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.
     
4.12   Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security Due 2038 (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture filed herewith as Exhibit 4.10).

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.,

as Issuer

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of June 17, 2004

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 

FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES

 

DUE 2034

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS 1
   
Section 1.1. Definitions 1
     
ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES 8
   
Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating 8
Section 2.2. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 8
Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures 9
Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures 9
Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures 9
Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures 11
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures 12
Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest 12
Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc. 13
Section 2.10. Computation of Interest 14
Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period 15
Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers 16
     
ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 16
   
Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures 16
Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. 17
Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office 17
Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent 17
Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee 18
Section 3.6. Additional Sums 18
Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions 19
Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends 19
Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust 19
Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness 20
     
ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE 20
   
Section 4.1. Securityholders’ Lists 20
Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists 20
     
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT 21
   
Section 5.1. Events of Default 21
Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor 23
Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee 24
Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders 24
Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee 25
Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver 25

 

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Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders 25
Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults 26
Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs 26
     
ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE 26
   
Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 26
Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc . 27
Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. 28
Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures 28
Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust 29
Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 29
Section 6.7. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence 29
Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee 30
Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee 30
Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee 31
Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. 32
Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents 32
     
ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS 33
   
Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders 33
Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders 33
Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 34
Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding 34
Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound 34
     
ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 34
   
Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings 34
Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee 35
Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders 35
Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting 35
Section 8.5. Regulations 35
Section 8.6. Voting 36
Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions 36
     
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 37
   
Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders 37
Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders 38
Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 39
Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures 39
Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee 39
     
ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 39
   
Section 10.1. Optional Redemption 39
Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption 39
Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures 39
Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption 40

 

ii  

 

 

ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE 41
   
Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 41
Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted 41
Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee 41
     
ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE 41
   
Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture 41
Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee 42
Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held 42
Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys 42
     
ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 42
   
Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations 42
     
ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 43
   
Section 14.1. Successors 43
Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity 43
Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers 43
Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc. 43
Section 14.5. Governing Law 43
Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 43
Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 44
Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts 44
Section 14.9. Separability 44
Section 14.10. Assignment 44
Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights 44
     
ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES 44
   
Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate 44
Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness 45
Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy 45
Section 15.4. Subrogation 46
Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 47
Section 15.6. Notice by the Company 47
Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness 47
Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired 48

 

Exhibit A         Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

iii  

 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of June 17, 2004, between Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2034 (the “ Debentures ”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:

 

In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.           Definitions . The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. 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.

 

Additional Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Additional Junior Indebtedness ” means, without duplication and other than the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

 

Additional Sums ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

  1

 

 

Affiliate ” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

 

Authenticating Agent ” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

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

 

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

 

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

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Capital Securities Guarantee ” means the guarantee agreement that the Company enters into with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

Capital Treatment Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further , however , that the distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

 

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Certificate ” means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

Common Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Company ” means Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

Coupon Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Debenture ” or “ Debentures ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

Debenture Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

 

Declaration ” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Default ” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Distribution Period ” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2004 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.

 

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Event of Default ” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.

 

Extension Event of Default ” means an Event of Default under Section 5.1(a), (d) or (e), whatever the reason for such Extension 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.

 

Extension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Federal Reserve ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding companies.

 

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.

 

Institutional Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.

 

  3

 

 

Interest Payment Date ” means March 17, June 17, September 17 and December 17 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in September 2004.

 

Interest Rate ” means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2004 the rate per annum of 4.0575%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2004, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.

 

Investment Company Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.

 

Liquidation Amount ” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.

 

Maturity Date ” means June 17, 2034.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

OTS ” means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies.

 

The term “ outstanding ,” when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)          Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)          Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided , however , that, if such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

(c)          Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course.

 

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

 

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.

 

Principal Office of the Trustee ,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

Redemption Price ” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date.

 

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor legislation.

 

Securityholder ,” “holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Senior Indebtedness ” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu , junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Special Event ” means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

 

Special Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

 

Special Redemption Price ” means the price set forth in the following table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed:

 

Month in which Special      
Redemption Date Occurs   Special Redemption Price  
       
September 2004     104.625 %
         
December 2004     104.300 %
         
March 2005     104.000 %
         
June 2005     103.650 %
         
September 2005     103.350 %
         
December 2005     103.000 %
         
March 2006     102.700 %
         
June 2006     102.350 %
         
September 2006     102.050 %
         
December 2006     101.700 %
         
March 2007     101.400 %
         
June 2007     101.050 %
         
September 2007     100.750 %
         
December 2007     100.450 %
         
March 2008     100.200 %
         
June 2008 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

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plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.

 

Subsidiary ” means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

 

Tax Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “ Administrative Action ”) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures 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; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

3-Month LIBOR ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Telerate Page 3750 ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Trust ” shall mean Jacksonville Statutory Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

Trust Securities ” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

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Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II.

DEBENTURES

 

Section 2.1.           Authentication and Dating . Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $4,124,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(a)          a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and

 

(b)          an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state:

 

(1)         that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

 

(2)         that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.

 

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

 

Section 2.2.           Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication . The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

 

By  
Authorized Signer

 

Section 2.3.           Form and Denomination of Debentures . The Debentures shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

Section 2.4.           Execution of Debentures . The Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

 

Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

Section 2.5.           Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures . The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the “ Debenture Register ”) for the Debentures issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

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Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture.

 

All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Section 2.6.           Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures . In case any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

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The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.7.           Temporary Debentures . Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.8.           Payment of Interest and Additional Interest . Interest at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.

 

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Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2004 at a rate per annum of 4.0575%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2004 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 2.63% (the “ Coupon Rate ”), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in September 2004.

 

Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (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 at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable.

 

The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided , however , the Trustee in its sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical.

 

Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debentures.

 

The term “regular record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 5th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

Section 2.9.           Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc . All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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Section 2.10.          Computation of Interest . The amount of interest payable for each Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

(a)          “ 3-Month LIBOR ” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority:

 

(1)         the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). “Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Dow Jones Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;

 

(2)         if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;

 

(3)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and

 

(4)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.

 

If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

 

(b)          The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

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(c)          “ Determination Date ” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.

 

(d)          The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period.

 

(e)          Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

Section 2.11.          Extension of Interest Payment Period . So long as no Extension Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “ Extension Period ”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “ Additional Interest ”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 5 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a notice of election to commence a new Extension Period delivered to the Trustee after an Interest Payment Date on which the Company defaulted in the payment of interest but before the next succeeding Interest Payment Date occurs shall be deemed to be valid notice with the same effect as if it were delivered in accordance with the preceding sentence. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

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Section 2.12.          CUSIP Numbers . The Company in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE III.

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 3.1.           Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures .

 

(a)          The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee.

 

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(b)          The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period.

 

(d)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company’s ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures.

 

Section 3.2.           Offices for Notices and Payments, etc . So long as any of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

 

In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

 

Section 3.3.           Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office . The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 3.4.           Provision as to Paying Agent .

 

(a)          If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4,

 

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(1)         that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(2)         that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(3)         that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.

 

(b)          If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.

 

(c)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

 

(d)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4.

 

Section 3.5.           Certificate to Trustee . The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof.

 

Section 3.6.           Additional Sums . If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“ Additional Sums ”) on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided , however , that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

 

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Section 3.7.           Compliance with Consolidation Provisions . The Company will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with.

 

Section 3.8.           Limitation on Dividends . If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

Section 3.9.           Covenants as to the Trust . For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided , however , that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.

 

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Section 3.10.          Additional Junior Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company.

 

ARTICLE IV.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1.           Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or caused to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)          on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and

 

(b)          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;

 

except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar.

 

Section 4.2.           Preservation and Disclosure of Lists .

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)          In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

(1)         afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or

 

(2)         inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

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If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c)          Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

 

ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 5.1.           Events of Default . “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(a)          the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture when it becomes due and payable, and fails to cure such default prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or

 

(b)          the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or

 

(c)          the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, 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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(d)          a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(e)          the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of 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

 

(f)          the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

 

If an Event of Default under Section 5.1 (a), (b), (d) or (e) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(c) or (f) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise.

 

The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein — then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

Section 5.2.           Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor . The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures,

 

(ii) in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings,

 

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(iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and

 

(iv) to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses.

 

Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

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

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings.

 

Section 5.3.           Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

 

Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and

 

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

 

Section 5.4.           Proceedings by Securityholders . No holder of any Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

Section 5.5.           Proceedings by Trustee . In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

Section 5.6.           Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver . Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.7.           Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders . The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding 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 such Debentures; provided , however , that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

Section 5.8.           Notice of Defaults . The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided , however , that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.9.           Undertaking to Pay Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI.

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1.           Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee . With respect to the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)          prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred

 

(1)         the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and

 

(2)         in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

 

(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(c)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, 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.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 6.2.           Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc . Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1:

 

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

 

(b)          any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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(c)          the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(e)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;

 

(f)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided , however , that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;

 

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

 

(h)          with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.

 

Section 6.3.           No Responsibility for Recitals, etc . The recitals contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.4.           Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures . The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.

 

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Section 6.5.           Moneys to be Held in Trust . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

 

Section 6.6.           Compensation and Expenses of Trustee . The Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 6.7.           Officers’ Certificate as Evidence . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 6.8.           Eligibility of Trustee . The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

 

The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.

 

In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of § 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture.

 

Section 6.9.           Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

(a)          The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(b)          In case at any time any of the following shall occur —

 

(1)         the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or

 

(2)         the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3)         the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as 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,

 

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then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee.

 

(c)          Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

 

(d)          Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.10.          Acceptance by Successor Trustee . Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8.

 

In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

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Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 6.11.          Succession by Merger, etc . Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided , however , that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 6.12.          Authenticating Agents . There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation 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, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

 

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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

 

The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE VII.

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.1.           Action by Securityholders . Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.

 

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided , however , that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date.

 

Section 7.2.           Proof of Execution by Securityholders . Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

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The record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6.

 

Section 7.3.           Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

Section 7.4.           Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding . In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided , however , that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.5.           Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound . At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 8.1.           Purposes of Meetings . A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:

 

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(a)          to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

 

(b)          to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

 

(c)          to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or

 

(d)          to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 8.2.           Call of Meetings by Trustee . The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Section 8.3.           Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders . In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2.

 

Section 8.4.           Qualifications for Voting . To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 8.5.           Regulations . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

 

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

 

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Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 8.6.           Voting . The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

 

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

Section 8.7.          Quorum; Actions. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided , however , that, except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding.

 

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Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1.           Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders . The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

 

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

 

(b)          to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided , however , that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;

 

(c)          to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(d)          to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided , however , that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);

 

(e)          to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

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(f)          to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or

 

(g)          to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

 

Section 9.2.           Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders . With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3.           Effect of Supplemental Indentures . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 9.4.           Notation on Debentures . Debentures authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.

 

Section 9.5.           Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

 

ARTICLE X.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1.           Optional Redemption . The Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in June 2009 (the “ Redemption Date ”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.2.           Special Event Redemption . If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “ Special Redemption Date ”) at the Special Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.3.           Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures . In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture.

 

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Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Section 10.4.           Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption . If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented.

 

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ARTICLE XI.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

Section 11.1.           Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms . Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property or capital stock of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided , however , that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property or capital stock.

 

Section 11.2.           Successor Entity to be Substituted . In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Section 11.3.           Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 12.1.           Discharge of Indenture . When

 

(a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or

 

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(b) all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,

 

and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by 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 have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures.

 

Section 12.2.           Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.

 

Section 12.3.           Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held . Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 12.4.           Return of Unclaimed Moneys . Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

 

ARTICLE XIII.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 13.1.           Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations . No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

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ARTICLE XIV.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 14.1.           Successors . All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 14.2.           Official Acts by Successor Entity . Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 

Section 14.3.           Surrender of Company Powers . The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor.

 

Section 14.4.           Addresses for Notices, etc . Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 76 S. Laura St., Suite 104, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, Attention: Price W. Schwenck. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.

 

Section 14.5.           Governing Law . This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Section 14.6.           Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

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Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he 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 or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 14.7.           Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 14.8.           Execution in Counterparts . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 14.9.           Separability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

 

Section 14.10.          Assignment . The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.

 

Section 14.11.          Acknowledgment of Rights . The Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.

 

ARTICLE XV.

SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

 

Section 15.1.           Agreement to Subordinate . The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

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The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 15.2.           Default on Senior Indebtedness . In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.3.           Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy . Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness ( pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee.

 

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In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section 15.4.           Subrogation . Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

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Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.5.           Trustee to Effectuate Subordination . Each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.6.           Notice by the Company . The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided , however , that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least 2 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 premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Section 15.7.           Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness . The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

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With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 15.8.           Subordination May Not Be Impaired . No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By  /s/ Valerie A. Kendall
    Name: Valerie A. Kendall
    Title:     EVP/CFO
     
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
     
  By /s/ Donald G. MacKelcan
    Name: Donald G. MacKelcan
    Title:   Sr. Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

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THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

of

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.

 

June 17, 2004

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Jacksonville Statutory Trust I (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of four million one hundred twenty-four thousand dollars ($4,124,000.00) on June 17, 2034, and to pay interest on said principal sum from June 17, 2004, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 17, June 17, September 17 and December 17 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in September 2004, at an annual rate equal to 4.0575% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2004 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in September 2004, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.63% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be five days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date.

 

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“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Dow Jones Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.

 

The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

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The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.

 

So long as no Extension Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 5 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a notice of election to commence a new Extension Period delivered to the Trustee after an Interest Payment Date on which the Company defaulted in the payment of interest but before the next succeeding Interest Payment Date occurs shall be deemed to be valid notice with the same effect as if it were delivered in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

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This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
   
  By   
    Name:
    Title:

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
   
  By:    
    Authorized Officer

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

 

This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of June 17, 2004 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in June 2009, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in June 2009, at the Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals.

 

In case an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.

 

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The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

 

The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company.

 

THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

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Exhibit 4.2

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

(Jacksonville Statutory Trust I)

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of March 11, 2016, is by and among Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Trustee (herein, together with its successors in interest, the “Trustee”), Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (the “Successor Company”), and Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), under the Indenture referred to below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Trustee, the Company and the Successor Company hereby agree as follows:

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

The Trustee and the Company are parties to that certain Indenture dated as of June 17, 2004 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company issued U.S. $4,124,000 of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2034.

 

As permitted by the terms of the Indenture, the Company, simultaneously with the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall merge (referred to herein for purposes of Article XI of the Indenture as the “Merger”) with and into the Successor Company with the Successor Company as the surviving corporation. The parties hereto are entering into this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to, and in accordance with, Articles IX and XI of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 1. Definitions . All capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Indenture, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the respective meanings assigned them in the Indenture except as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires.

 

SECTION 2. Interpretation .

 

(a) In this First Supplemental Indenture, unless a clear contrary intention appears:

 

(i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;

 

(ii) reference to any gender includes the other gender;

 

(iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision;

 

(iv) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually, provided that nothing in this clause (iv) is intended to authorize any assignment not otherwise permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture;

 

 

 

  

(v) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof, as well as any substitution or replacement therefor, and reference to any note includes modifications thereof and any note issued in extension or renewal thereof or in substitution or replacement therefor;

 

(vi) reference to any Section means such Section of this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(vii) the word “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term.

 

(b) No provision in this First Supplemental Indenture shall be interpreted or construed against any Person because that Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

 

SECTION 3. Assumption of Obligations .

 

(a) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.1 and Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept, performed, or observed by the Company under the Indenture.

 

(b) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company succeeds to and is substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in the Indenture as the Company.

 

(c) The Successor Company also succeeds to and is substituted for the Company with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in (i) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of June 17, 2004 (the “Trust Agreement”), as Sponsor (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and (ii) the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 17, 2004 (the “Guarantee”), as Guarantor (as defined in the Guarantee).

 

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SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties . The Successor Company represents and warrants that (a) it has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture and to perform the Indenture, (b) it is the successor of the Company pursuant to the Merger effected in accordance with applicable law, (c) it is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia, (d) both immediately before and after giving effect to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture, no Default or Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing and (e) this First Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and Article XI of the Indenture and does not require the consent of the Securityholders.

 

SECTION 5. Conditions of Effectiveness . This First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Merger; provided , however , that:

 

(a) the Trustee shall have executed a counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture and shall have received one or more counterparts of this First Supplemental Indenture executed by the Successor Company and the Company;

 

(b) the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate stating that (i) this First Supplemental Indenture complies with the requirements of Article IX of the Indenture; and (ii) in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with;

 

(c) the Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; (ii) the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture comply with Articles IX and XI of the Indenture; (iii) this First Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of Article IX of the Indenture; and (iv) it is proper for the Trustee, under the provisions of Article IX of the Indenture, to join in the execution of this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(d) the Successor Company and the Company shall have duly executed and filed with the Department of State of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia articles or a certificate of merger in connection with the Merger.

 

SECTION 6. Reference to the Indenture .

 

(a) Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture to “this Indenture,” “hereunder,” “herein” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

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(b) Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Debentures to the Indenture, including each term defined by reference to the Indenture, shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture or such term, as the case may be, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

(c) The Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

SECTION 7. Execution in Counterparts . This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 8. Governing Law; Binding Effect . This First Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 9. The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company or the Successor Company. The recitals of fact contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company or the Successor Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.

 

[Signatures on following page.]

 

  4  

 

 

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

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Kendall L. Spencer
    Kendall L. Spencer
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  AMERIS BANCORP
     
  By: /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY , not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Michael H. Wass
    Michael H. Wass
    Vice President

 

  5  

 

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

 

ATLANTIC BANCGROUP, INC.,

as Issuer

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of September 15, 2005

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 

FIXED/FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST

DEBENTURES

 

DUE 2035

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS 1
     
Section 1.1. Definitions 1
     
ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES 8
     
Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating 8
Section 2.2. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 9
Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures 9
Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures 9
Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures 10
Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures 12
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures 12
Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest 13
Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc 14
Section 2.10. Computation of Interest 14
Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period 16
Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers 17
     
ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 17
     
Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures 17
Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. 17
Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office 18
Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent 18
Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee 19
Section 3.6. Additional Sums 19
Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions 19
Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends 19
Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust 20
Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness 20
     
ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE 20
     
Section 4.1. Securityholders’ Lists 20
Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists 21
     
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT 22
     
Section 5.1. Events of Default 22
Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor 23
Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee 25
Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders 25
Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee 25
Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver 26

 

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Section 5.7. Direction  of  Proceedings  and  Waiver  of  Defaults  by  Majority  of Securityholders 26
Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults 26
Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs 27
     
ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE 27
     
Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 27
Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. 28
Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. 29
Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures 29
Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust 29
Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 29
Section 6.7. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence 30
Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee 30
Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee 31
Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee 32
Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. 32
Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents 33
     
ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS 34
     
Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders 34
Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders 34
Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 34
Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding 34
Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound 35
     
ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 35
     
Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings 35
Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee 35
Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders 36
Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting 36
Section 8.5. Regulations 36
Section 8.6. Voting 36
Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions 37
     
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 37
     
Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders 37
Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders 39
Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 39
Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures 39
Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee 40
     
ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 40
     
Section 10.1. Optional Redemption 40
Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption 40
Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures 40
Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption 41

 

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ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE 41
     
Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 41
Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted 42
Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee 42
     
ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE 42
     
Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture 42
Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee 43
Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held 43
Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys 43
     
ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 43
     
Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations 43
     
ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 44
     
Section 14.1. Successors 44
Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity 44
Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers 44
Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc. 44
Section 14.5. Governing Law 44
Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 44
Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 45
Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts 45
Section 14.9. Separability 45
Section 14.10. Assignment 45
Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights 45
     
ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES 45
     
Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate 45
Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness 46
Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy 46
Section 15.4. Subrogation 47
Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 48
Section 15.6. Notice by the Company 48
Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness 48
Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired 49

 

Exhibit A Form of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture
Exhibit B Form of Certificate to Trustee

 

  iii  

 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of September 15, 2005, between Atlantic BancGroup, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2035 (the “ Debentures ”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:

 

In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.           Definitions . The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. 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.

 

Acceleration Event of Default ” means an Event of Default under Section 5.1(a), (d), (e) or (f), whatever the reason for such Acceleration 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.

 

Additional Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Additional Junior Indebtedness ” means, without duplication and other than the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

 

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Additional Sums ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Affiliate ” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

 

Authenticating Agent ” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

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

 

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

 

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

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Capital Securities Guarantee ” means the guarantee agreement that the Company enters into with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

Capital Treatment Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further , however , that the distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

 

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Certificate ” means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

Common Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Company ” means Atlantic BancGroup, Inc., a Florida corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means with respect to any Special Redemption Date the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life. If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a period from three months before to three months after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, the two most closely corresponding fixed, non-callable United States Treasury securities, as selected by the Quotation Agent, shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such securities.

 

Comparable Treasury Price ” means (a) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Special Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.

 

Coupon Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Debenture ” or “ Debentures ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

Debenture Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

 

Declaration ” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Default ” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Distribution Period ” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2005 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.

 

  3  

 

 

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Event of Default ” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.

 

Extension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Federal Reserve ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding companies.

 

Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life ” means, with respect to any Debenture, the period from the Special Redemption Date for such Debenture to the Interest Payment Date in September 2010.

 

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.

 

Institutional Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in December 2005.

 

Interest Rate ” means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 the rate per annum of 5.886%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.

 

Investment Company Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.

 

Liquidation Amount ” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.

 

Maturity Date ” means September 15, 2035.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

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OTS ” means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies.

 

The term “ outstanding ,” when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)          Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)          Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided , however , that, if such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

(c)          Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course.

 

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

 

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.

 

Primary Treasury Dealer ” means either a nationally recognized primary United States Government securities dealer or an entity of recognized standing in matters pertaining to the quotation of treasury securities that is reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Trustee.

 

Principal Office of the Trustee ,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

Quotation Agent ” means a designee of the Institutional Trustee who shall be a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

Redemption Price ” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date.

 

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (i) the Quotation Agent and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

 

  5  

 

 

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor legislation.

 

Securityholder ,” “holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Senior Indebtedness ” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu , junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

  6  

 

 

Special Event ” means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

 

Special Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

 

Special Redemption Price ” means (a) if the Special Redemption Date occurs before the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, the greater of (i) 107.5% of the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to the Special Redemption Date, or (ii) as determined by the Quotation Agent, (A) the sum of the present values of the scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debentures during the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life of the Debentures (assuming the Debentures matured on the Interest Payment Date in September 2010) discounted to the Special Redemption Date on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate, plus (B) accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on the Debentures to such Special Redemption Date, or (b) if the Special Redemption Date occurs on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.

 

Subsidiary ” means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

 

Tax Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “ Administrative Action ”) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures 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; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

3-Month LIBOR ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Telerate Page 3750 ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

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Treasury Rate ” means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the week immediately prior to the date of calculation, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15 (519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life (if no maturity is within three months before or after the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Fixed Rate Period Remaining Life shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Special Redemption Date. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated by the Quotation Agent on the third Business Day preceding the Special Redemption Date.

 

Trust ” shall mean Atlantic BancGroup Statutory Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

Trust Securities ” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II.

  DEBENTURES

 

Section 2.1.           Authentication and Dating . Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $3,093,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(a)          a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and

 

(b)          an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state:

 

(1)         that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

 

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(2)         that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.

 

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

 

Section 2.2.           Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication . The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

 

By    
Authorized Signer  

 

Section 2.3.           Form and Denomination of Debentures . The Debentures shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $ 100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

Section 2.4.           Execution of Debentures . The Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

 

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Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

Section 2.5.           Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures . The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the “ Debenture Register ”) for the Debentures issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture.

 

All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

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THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95 -60, 91-38, 90- 1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

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THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Section 2.6.           Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures . In case any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.7.           Temporary Debentures . Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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Section 2.8.           Payment of Interest and Additional Interest . Interest at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.

 

Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 at a rate per annum of 5.886%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 1.50% (the “ Coupon Rate ”), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in December 2005.

 

Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (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 at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable.

 

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The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided , however , the Trustee in its sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical.

 

Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debentures.

 

The term “regular record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 15th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

Section 2.9.           Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc . All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.10.          Computation of Interest . The amount of interest payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

(a)          “ 3-Month LIBOR ” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority:

 

(1)         the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). “Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;

 

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(2)         if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;

 

(3)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and

 

(4)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.

 

If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

 

(b)          The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

(c)          “ Determination Date ” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.

 

(d)          The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period.

 

(e)          Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

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Section 2.11.         Extension of Interest Payment Period . So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “ Extension Period ”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “ Additional Interest ”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

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Section 2.12.          CUSIP Numbers . The Company in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE III.

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 3.1.           Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures .

 

(a)          The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee.

 

(b)          The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period.

 

(d)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company’s ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures.

 

Section 3.2.           Offices for Notices and Payments, etc . So long as any of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

 

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In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

 

Section 3.3.           Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office . The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 3.4.           Provision as to Paying Agent .

 

(a)          If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4,

 

(1)         that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(2)         that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(3)         that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.

 

(b)          If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.

 

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(c)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

 

(d)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4.

 

Section 3.5.           Certificate to Trustee . The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof. A form of this Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit B .

 

Section 3.6.           Additional Sums . If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“ Additional Sums ”) on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided , however , that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

 

Section 3.7.           Compliance with Consolidation Provisions . The Company will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with.

 

Section 3.8.           Limitation on Dividends . If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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Section 3.9.           Covenants as to the Trust . For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided , however , that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.

 

Section 3.10.          Additional Junior Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company.

 

ARTICLE IV.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1.          Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)          on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and

 

(b)          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; except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar.

 

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Section 4.2.           Preservation and Disclosure of Lists .

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)          In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

(1)         afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or

 

(2)         inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c)          Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

 

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ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 5.1.           Events of Default . “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(a)          the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or

 

(b)          the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or

 

(c)          the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, 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

 

(d)          a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(e)          the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of 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

 

(f)          the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

 

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If an Acceleration Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise.

 

The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein — then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

Section 5.2.           Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor . The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

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In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i)           to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures,

 

(ii)          in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings,

 

(iii)         to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and

 

(iv)         to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses.

 

Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

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

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings.

 

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Section 5.3.           Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First:   To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

Second:    To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

 

Third:   To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and

 

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

 

Section 5.4.           Proceedings by Securityholders . No holder of any Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

Section 5.5.           Proceedings by Trustee . In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

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Section 5.6.           Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver . Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.7.           Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders . The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding 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 such Debentures; provided , however , that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

Section 5.8.           Notice of Defaults . The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided , however , that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.

 

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Section 5.9.           Undertaking to Pay Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI.

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1.           Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee . With respect to the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)          prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred

 

(1)         the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and

 

(2)         in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

 

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(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(c)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, 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.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 6.2.           Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc . Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1:

 

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

 

(b)          any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

(c)          the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(e)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;

 

(f)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided , however , that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;

 

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

 

(h)          with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or (b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.

 

Section 6.3.           No Responsibility for Recitals, etc . The recitals contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.4.           Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures . The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.

 

Section 6.5.           Moneys to be Held in Trust . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

 

Section 6.6.           Compensation and Expenses of Trustee . The Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures.

 

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Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), (e) or (f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 6.7.           Officers’ Certificate as Evidence . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

Section 6.8.           Eligibility of Trustee . The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

 

The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.

 

In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of § 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture.

 

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Section 6.9.           Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

(a)          The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(b)          In case at any time any of the following shall occur —

 

(1)         the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or

 

(2)         the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3)         the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee.

 

(c)          Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

 

(d)          Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10.

 

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Section 6.10.          Acceptance by Successor Trustee . Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8.

 

In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 6.11.          Succession by Merger, etc . Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided , however , that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

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Section 6.12.          Authenticating Agents . There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $ 50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation 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, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

 

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

 

The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.1.           Action by Securityholders . Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.

 

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided , however , that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date.

 

Section 7.2.           Proof of Execution by Securityholders . Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

The record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6.

 

Section 7.3.           Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

Section 7.4.           Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding . In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided , however , that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

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Section 7.5.           Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound . At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 8.1.           Purposes of Meetings . A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)          to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

 

(b)          to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

 

(c)          to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or

 

(d)          to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 8.2.           Call of Meetings by Trustee . The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

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Section 8.3.           Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders . In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2.

 

Section 8.4.           Qualifications for Voting . To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 8.5.           Regulations . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

 

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 8.6.           Voting . The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

 

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Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

Section 8.7.           Quorum; Actions . The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided , however , that, except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1.           Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders . The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

 

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

 

(b)          to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided , however , that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;

 

(c)           to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(d)          to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided , however , that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);

 

(e)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

(f)           to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or

 

(g)          to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

 

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Section 9.2.           Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders . With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3.           Effect of Supplemental Indentures . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 9.4.           Notation on Debentures . Debentures authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.

 

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Section 9.5.           Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

 

ARTICLE X.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1.           Optional Redemption . The Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 (the “ Redemption Date ”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.2.           Special Event Redemption . If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “ Special Redemption Date ”) at the Special Redemption Price. If the Special Event redemption occurs prior to the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, the Company shall appoint a Quotation Agent, which shall be a designee of the Institutional Trustee, for the purpose of performing the services contemplated in, or by reference in, the definition of Special Redemption Price. Any error in the calculation of the Special Redemption Price by the Quotation Agent or the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered to the Company and the holders of the Debentures. Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of the Special Redemption Price on the Debentures by the Trustee or the Quotation Agent, as the case may be, shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the holders of the Debentures and the Company, and no liability shall attach (except as provided above) to the Trustee or the Quotation Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by any of them of their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

Section 10.3.           Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures . In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture.

 

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Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Section 10.4.           Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption . If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented.

 

ARTICLE XI.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

Section 11.1.           Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms . Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided , however , that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

 

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Section 11.2.           Successor Entity to be Substituted . In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Section 11.3.           Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 12.1.           Discharge of Indenture . When

 

(a)          the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or

 

(b)          all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,

 

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and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by 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 have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures.

 

Section 12.2.           Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.

 

Section 12.3.           Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held . Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 12.4.           Return of Unclaimed Moneys . Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

 

ARTICLE XIII.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 13.1.           Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations . No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

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ARTICLE XIV.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 14.1.           Successors . All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 14.2.           Official Acts by Successor Entity . Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 

Section 14.3.           Surrender of Company Powers . The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor.

 

Section 14.4.           Addresses for Notices, etc . Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 13799 Beach Boulevard, Suite 100, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, Attention: David L. Young. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.

 

Section 14.5.           Governing Law . This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Section 14.6.           Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he 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 or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 14.7.          Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 14.8.          Execution in Counterparts . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 14.9.         Separability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

 

Section 14.10.       Assignment . The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.

 

Section 14.11.       Acknowledgment of Rights . The Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.

 

ARTICLE XV.

SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

 

Section 15.1.          Agreement to Subordinate . The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

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The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 15.2.           Default on Senior Indebtedness . In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.3.           Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy . Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding -up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness ( pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

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For purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section 15.4.           Subrogation . Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

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Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.5.           Trustee to Effectuate Subordination . Each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.6.           Notice by the Company . The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided , however , that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least 2 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 premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Section 15.7.           Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness . The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

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With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 15.8.           Subordination May Not Be Impaired . No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the panics hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written:

 

  ATLANTIC BANCGROUP, INC.
     
  By /s/ Barry W. Chandler
    Name: Barry W. Chandler
    Title: President
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
     
  By /s/ Christopher J. Monigle
    Name: Christopher J. Monigle
    Title: Assistant Vice President

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FIXED/FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST

DEBENTURE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

  A- 1  

 

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

of

 

Atlantic BancGroup, Inc.

 

September 15, 2005

 

Atlantic BancGroup, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Atlantic BancGroup Statutory Trust I (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of three million ninety-three thousand dollars ($3,093,000.00) on September 15, 2035, and to pay interest on said principal sum from September 15, 2005, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day during the applicable Distribution Period, beginning on or after September 15, 2010), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2005, at an annual rate equal to 5.886% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 1.50% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable (i) for any Distribution Period commencing on or after the date of original issuance but before the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, and (ii) for the Distribution Period commencing on the Interest Payment Date in September 2010 and each succeeding Distribution Period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date.

 

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“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.

 

The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

  A- 3  

 

 

The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.

 

So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period.

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in- fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

  A- 4  

 

 

This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.

 

  ATLANTIC BANCGROUP, INC.
   
  By  
    Name:
    Title:

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

 

This Debenture is one of the fixed/floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 15, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in September 2010, at the Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals.

 

In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.

 

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The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

 

The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company.

 

THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE

 

Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between Atlantic BancGroup, Inc., as the Company (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 15, 2005 (the “Indenture”), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture.

 

2. [To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture.

 

or, alternatively:

 

I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.]

 

Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate.

 

Date:  
   
   
  Name:
  Title:

 

  B- 1  

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Supplemental Indenture ) is entered as of March 15, 2011, but effective as of November 16, 2010 (the " Effective Date ”), among JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC., a Florida corporation and successor-by-merger to Atlantic Bancgroup, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”) and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation (the “ Trustee ”) .

 

RECITALS :

 

WHEREAS, on the Effective Date, Atlantic Bancgroup, Inc., a Florida corporation (“ ABI ”) merged with and into the Company, with the Company being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Merger”);

 

WHEREAS, ABI and the Trustee entered into an Indenture dated as of September 15, 2005 (the “ Indenture ”) , pursuant to which Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2035 (the “ Debentures ”) have been issued by ABI;

 

WHEREAS, Section 11.1 of the Indenture requires that the Company expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee by the Company, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.1(a) of the Indenture authorizes, without the consent of any Securityholders, the execution of a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession of another corporation to ABI, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements, and obligations of ABI under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Merger and this Supplemental Indenture comply with Article IX of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to the Merger have been complied with;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in compliance with Section 11.1 of the Indenture, and in consideration of the covenants contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and the Trustee, for the benefit of the Securityholders, agree as follows:

 

1.           Assumption of Payment and Performance. The Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture on the part of ABI to be performed or observed.

 

2.           Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of this Supplemental Indenture, (i) the Indenture has been and hereby is modified in accordance herewith; (ii) this Supplemental Indenture forms a part of the Indenture for all purposes; (iii) except as modified and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture shall continue in full force and effect; (iv) the Debentures shall continue to be governed by the Indenture; and (v) every Securityholder heretofore or hereafter under the Indenture shall be bound by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

3.           Notation on Debentures. Debentures authenticated and delivered on or after the date hereof shall bear the following notation, which may be printed or typewritten thereon:

 

 

 

  

“Effective November 16, 2010, Atlantic Bancgroup, Inc., a Florida corporation (“ABI”) was merged with and into Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”). Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 15, 2011, the Company has assumed the obligations of ABI and the performance of every covenant and condition of the Indenture on the part of ABI to be performed or observed.”

 

If the Company shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform to the Indenture as hereby supplemented, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, may at any time hereafter be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding, and thereafter the notation herein provided shall no longer be required. Anything herein or in the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the failure to affix the notation herein provided as to any Debenture or to exchange any Debenture for a new Debenture modified as herein provided shall not affect any of the rights of the holder of such Debenture.

 

4.           The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company.

 

5.           Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles thereof.

 

6.           Successors and Assigns. This Supplemental Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and the holders of any Debentures then outstanding.

 

7.           Headings. The headings used in this Supplemental Indenture are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

8.           Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

9.           Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

 

(signature page follows)

 

 

 

  

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

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Price W. Schwenck
    Price W. Schwenck
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Michael H. Wass
  Title: Senior Financial Services Officer

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.5

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

(Atlantic BancGroup Statutory Trust I)

 

THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of March 11, 2016, is by and among Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Trustee (herein, together with its successors in interest, the “Trustee”), Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (the “Successor Company”), and Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), under the Indenture referred to below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Trustee, the Company and the Successor Company hereby agree as follows:

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

The Trustee and the Company, as successor by merger to Atlantic BancGroup, Inc. (“ABI”), are parties to that certain Indenture dated as of September 15, 2005, as supplemented by that certain First Supplemental Indenture by and between the Trustee and the Company dated as of March 15, 2011, but effective as of November 16, 2010 (as so supplemented, the “Indenture”), pursuant to which ABI issued U.S. $3,093,000 of its Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2035.

 

As permitted by the terms of the Indenture, the Company, simultaneously with the effectiveness of this Second Supplemental Indenture, shall merge (referred to herein for purposes of Article XI of the Indenture as the “Merger”) with and into the Successor Company with the Successor Company as the surviving corporation. The parties hereto are entering into this Second Supplemental Indenture pursuant to, and in accordance with, Articles IX and XI of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 1.    Definitions . All capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Indenture, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the respective meanings assigned them in the Indenture except as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires.

 

SECTION 2.    Interpretation .

 

(a) In this Second Supplemental Indenture, unless a clear contrary intention appears:

 

(i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;

 

(ii) reference to any gender includes the other gender;

 

(iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Second Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision;

 

 

 

 

(iv) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Second Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually, provided that nothing in this clause (iv) is intended to authorize any assignment not otherwise permitted by this Second Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture;

 

(v) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof, as well as any substitution or replacement therefor, and reference to any note includes modifications thereof and any note issued in extension or renewal thereof or in substitution or replacement therefor;

 

(vi) reference to any Section means such Section of this Second Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(vii) the word “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term.

 

(b) No provision in this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be interpreted or construed against any Person because that Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

 

SECTION 3.    Assumption of Obligations .

 

(a) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.1 and Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept, performed, or observed by the Company under the Indenture.

 

(b) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company succeeds to and is substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in the Indenture as the Company.

 

(c) The Successor Company also succeeds to and is substituted for the Company with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in (i) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of September 15, 2005 (the “Trust Agreement”), as Sponsor (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and (ii) the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2005 (the “Guarantee”), as Guarantor (as defined in the Guarantee).

 

  2  

 

 

SECTION 4.   Representations and Warranties . The Successor Company represents and warrants that (a) it has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this Second Supplemental Indenture and to perform the Indenture, (b) it is the successor of the Company pursuant to the Merger effected in accordance with applicable law, (c) it is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia, (d) both immediately before and after giving effect to the Merger and this Second Supplemental Indenture, no Default or Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing and (e) this Second Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and Article XI of the Indenture and does not require the consent of the Securityholders.

 

SECTION 5.    Conditions of Effectiveness . This Second Supplemental Indenture shall become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Merger; provided , however , that:

 

(a) the Trustee shall have executed a counterpart of this Second Supplemental Indenture and shall have received one or more counterparts of this Second Supplemental Indenture executed by the Successor Company and the Company;

 

(b) the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate stating that (i) this Second Supplemental Indenture complies with the requirements of Article IX of the Indenture; and (ii) in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this Second Supplemental Indenture have been complied with;

 

(c) the Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this Second Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; (ii) the Merger and this Second Supplemental Indenture comply with Articles IX and XI of the Indenture; (iii) this Second Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of Article IX of the Indenture; and (iv) it is proper for the Trustee, under the provisions of Article IX of the Indenture, to join in the execution of this Second Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(d) the Successor Company and the Company shall have duly executed and filed with the Department of State of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia articles or a certificate of merger in connection with the Merger.

 

SECTION 6.    Reference to the Indenture .

 

(a) Upon the effectiveness of this Second Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture to “this Indenture,” “hereunder,” “herein” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

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(b) Upon the effectiveness of this Second Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Debentures to the Indenture, including each term defined by reference to the Indenture, shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture or such term, as the case may be, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

(c) The Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

SECTION 7.    Execution in Counterparts . This Second Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 8.    Governing Law; Binding Effect . This Second Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 9.    The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company or the Successor Company. The recitals of fact contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company or the Successor Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.

 

[Signatures on following page.]

 

  4  

 

 

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

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Kendall L. Spencer
    Kendall L. Spencer
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  AMERIS BANCORP
     
  By: /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY , not in its
 individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Michael H. Wass
    Michael H. Wass
    Vice President

 

  5  

 

 

Exhibit 4.7

 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.,

as Issuer

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of December 14, 2006

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 

FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES

 

DUE 2036

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS 1
     
Section 1.1. Definitions 1
     
ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES 8
     
Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating 8
Section 2.2. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 8
Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures 9
Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures 9
Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures 9
Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures 11
Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures 12
Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest 12
Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc. 13
Section 2.10. Computation of Interest 14
Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period 15
Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers 16
     
ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 16
     
Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures 16
Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. 17
Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office 17
Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent 17
Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee 18
Section 3.6. Additional Sums 18
Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions 19
Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends 19
Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust 19
Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness 20
     
ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE 20
     
Section 4.1. Securityholders’ Lists 20
Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists 20
     
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT 21
     
Section 5.1. Events of Default 21
Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor 23
Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee 24
Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders 24
Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee 25
Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver 25

 

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Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders 25
Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults 26
Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs 26
     
ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE 26
     
Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 26
Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. 27
Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. 28
Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures 28
Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust 29
Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 29
Section 6.7. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence 29
Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee 30
Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee 30
Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee 31
Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. 32
Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents 32
     
ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS 33
     
Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders 33
Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders 33
Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 34
Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding 34
Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound 34
     
ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS 34
     
Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings 34
Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee 35
Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders 35
Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting 35
Section 8.5. Regulations 35
Section 8.6. Voting 36
Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions 36
     
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 37
     
Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders 37
Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders 38
Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 39
Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures 39
Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee 39
     
ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 39
     
Section 10.1. Optional Redemption 39
Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption 39
Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures 40
Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption 40

 

  ii  

 

 

ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE 41
     
Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 41
Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted 41
Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee 41
     
ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE 41
     
Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture 41
Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee 42
Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held 42
Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys 42
     
ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 43
     
Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations 43
     
ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 43
     
Section 14.1. Successors 43
Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity 43
Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers 43
Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc. 43
Section 14.5. Governing Law 43
Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 44
Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 44
Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts 44
Section 14.9. Separability 44
Section 14.10. Assignment 44
Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights 44
     
ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES 45
     
Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate 45
Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness 45
Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy 45
Section 15.4. Subrogation 46
Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 47
Section 15.6. Notice by the Company 47
Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness 48
Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired 48

 

Exhibit A Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture
Exhibit B Form of Certificate to Trustee

 

  iii  

 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 14, 2006, between Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “ Company ”), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2036 (the “ Debentures ”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth:

 

In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.           Definitions . The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. 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.

 

Acceleration Event of Default ” means an Event of Default under Section 5.1(a), (d), (e) or (f), whatever the reason for such Acceleration 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.

 

Additional Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Additional Junior Indebtedness ” means, without duplication and other than the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

 

  1  

 

 

Additional Sums ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

Affiliate ” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

 

Authenticating Agent ” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

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

 

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

 

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

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Capital Securities Guarantee ” means the guarantee agreement that the Company enters into with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

Capital Treatment Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Reserve’s risk-based capital adequacy guidelines, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided , however , that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further , however , that the distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

 

  2  

 

 

Certificate ” means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

Common Securities ” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided , however , that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

Company ” means Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

Coupon Rate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Debenture ” or “ Debentures ” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

Debenture Register ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

 

Declaration ” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Default ” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

Distribution Period ” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2007 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date.

 

Determination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Event of Default ” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.

 

Extension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Federal Reserve ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding companies.

 

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.

 

Institutional Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.

 

  3  

 

 

Interest Payment Date ” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing in March 2007.

 

Interest Rate ” means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2007 the rate per annum of 7.08%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2007, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period.

 

Investment Company Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures.

 

Liquidation Amount ” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.

 

Maturity Date ” means December 15, 2036.

 

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

OTS ” means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies.

 

The term “ outstanding ,” when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)          Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)          Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided , however , that, if such Debentures, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

  4  

 

 

(c)          Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course.

 

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

 

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.

 

Principal Office of the Trustee ,” or other similar term, means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

 

Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

Redemption Price ” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date.

 

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor legislation.

 

Securityholder ,” “holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

  5  

 

 

Senior Indebtedness ” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu , junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

Special Event ” means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

 

Special Redemption Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

 

Special Redemption Price ” means the price set forth in the following table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed:

 

Month in which Special    
Redemption Date Occurs     Special Redemption Price  
         
March 2007     104.625 %
         
June 2007     104.300 %
         
September 2007     104.000 %
         
December 2007     103.650 %
         
March 2008     103.350 %
         
June 2008     103.000 %
         
September 2008     102.700 %
         
December 2008     102.350 %
         
March 2009     102.050 %
         
June 2009     101.700 %
         
September 2009     101.400 %
         
December 2009     101.050 %
         
March 2010     100.750 %
         
June 2010     100.450 %
         
September 2010     100.200 %
         
December 2010 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

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plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.

 

Subsidiary ” means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

 

Tax Event ” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an “ Administrative Action ”) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures 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; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

3-Month LIBOR ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Telerate Page 3750 ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

Trust ” shall mean Jacksonville Statutory Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

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Trust Securities ” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

Trustee ” means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II.

DEBENTURES

 

Section 2.1.           Authentication and Dating . Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $3,093,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(a)          a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and

 

(b)          an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state:

 

(1)         that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

 

(2)         that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders.

 

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

 

Section 2.2.           Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication . The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee  
   
By    
Authorized Signer  
     

 

Section 2.3.           Form and Denomination of Debentures . The Debentures shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $ 100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

Section 2.4.           Execution of Debentures . The Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

 

Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

Section 2.5.           Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures . The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the “ Debenture Register ”) for the Debentures issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture.

 

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All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Section 2.6.           Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures . In case any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

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The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.7.           Temporary Debentures . Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.8.           Payment of Interest and Additional Interest . Interest at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid.

 

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Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2007 at a rate per annum of 7.08%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2007 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 1.73% (the “ Coupon Rate ”), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in March 2007.

 

Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (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 at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable.

 

The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided , however , the Trustee in its sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical.

 

Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debentures.

 

The term “regular record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 15th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date.

 

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

 

Section 2.9.           Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc . All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

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Section 2.10.          Computation of Interest . The amount of interest payable for each Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

(a)          “ 3-Month LIBOR ” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority:

 

(1)         the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). “Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits;

 

(2)         if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations;

 

(3)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and

 

(4)         if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.

 

If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

 

(b)          The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

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(c)          “ Determination Date ” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined.

 

(d)          The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period.

 

(e)          Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

Section 2.11.          Extension of Interest Payment Period . So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “ Extension Period ”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “ Additional Interest ”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

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Section 2.12.          CUSIP Numbers . The Company in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE III.

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 3.1.           Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures .

 

(a)            The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee.

 

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(b)          The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period.

 

(d)          As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company’s ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures.

 

Section 3.2.           Offices for Notices and Payments, etc . So long as any of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

 

In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

 

Section 3.3.           Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office . The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 3.4.           Provision as to Paying Agent .

 

(a)          If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4,

 

(1)         that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures;

 

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(2)         that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(3)         that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.

 

(b)          If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.

 

(c)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

 

(d)          Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4.

 

Section 3.5.           Certificate to Trustee . The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof. A form of this Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit B .

 

Section 3.6.           Additional Sums . If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“ Additional Sums ”) on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided , however , that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

 

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Section 3.7.           Compliance with Consolidation Provisions . The Company will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with.

 

Section 3.8.           Limitation on Dividends . If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

Section 3.9.           Covenants as to the Trust . For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided , however , that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.

 

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Section 3.10.          Additional Junior Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company.

 

ARTICLE IV.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1.           Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)          on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and

 

(b)          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;

 

except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar.

 

Section 4.2.           Preservation and Disclosure of Lists .

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)          In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

(1)         afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or

 

(2)         inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

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If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c)          Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

 

ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 5.1.           Events of Default . “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(a)          the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or

 

(b)          the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or

 

(c)          the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, 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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(d)          a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(e)          the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of 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

 

(f)          the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

 

If an Acceleration Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise.

 

The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein — then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

Section 5.2.           Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor . The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i)          to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures,

 

(ii)         in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings,

 

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(iii)        to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and

 

(iv)        to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses.

 

Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

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

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings.

 

Section 5.3.           Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

 

Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and

 

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

 

Section 5.4.           Proceedings by Securityholders . No holder of any Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

Section 5.5.           Proceedings by Trustee . In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

Section 5.6.           Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver . Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.7.           Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders . The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding 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 such Debentures; provided , however , that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

Section 5.8.           Notice of Defaults . The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided , however , that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.9.           Undertaking to Pay Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI.

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1.           Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee . With respect to the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)          prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred

 

(1)         the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and

 

(2)         in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

 

(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(c)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, 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.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 6.2.           Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc . Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1:

 

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

 

(b)          any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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(c)          the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(e)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;

 

(f)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided , however , that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding;

 

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

 

(h)          with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or (b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.

 

Section 6.3.           No Responsibility for Recitals, etc . The recitals contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.4.           Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures . The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.

 

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Section 6.5.           Moneys to be Held in Trust . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

 

Section 6.6.           Compensation and Expenses of Trustee . The Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee’s counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), (e) or (f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section 6.7.           Officers’ Certificate as Evidence . Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 6.8.           Eligibility of Trustee . The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

 

The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.

 

In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of § 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture.

 

Section 6.9.           Resignation or Removal of Trustee

 

(a)          The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(b)          In case at any time any of the following shall occur —

 

(1)         the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or

 

(2)         the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3)         the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as 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,

 

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then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee.

 

(c)          Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

 

(d)          Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.10.          Acceptance by Successor Trustee . Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8.

 

In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

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Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 6.11.          Succession by Merger, etc . Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided , however , that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 6.12.          Authenticating Agents . There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided , however , that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $ 50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation 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, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

 

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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

 

The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE VII.

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.1.           Action by Securityholders . Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.

 

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided , however , that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date.

 

Section 7.2.           Proof of Execution by Securityholders . Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

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The record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6.

 

Section 7.3.           Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners . Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

Section 7.4.           Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding . In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided , however , that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.5.           Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound . At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

 

ARTICLE VIII.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 8.1.           Purposes of Meetings . A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:

 

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(a)          to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

 

(b)          to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

 

(c)          to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or

 

(d)          to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 8.2.           Call of Meetings by Trustee . The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Section 8.3.           Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders . In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2.

 

Section 8.4.           Qualifications for Voting . To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 8.5.           Regulations . Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

 

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

 

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Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 8.6.           Voting . The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

 

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

Section 8.7.           Quorum; Actions . The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided , however , that, except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding.

 

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Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1.           Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders . The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

 

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

 

(b)          to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided , however , that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;

 

(c)          to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(d)          to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided , however , that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);

 

(e)          to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

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(f)          to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or

 

(g)          to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.

 

Section 9.2.           Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders . With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further , however , that if the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3.           Effect of Supplemental Indentures . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 9.4.           Notation on Debentures . Debentures authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.

 

Section 9.5.           Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

 

ARTICLE X.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1.           Optional Redemption . The Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2011 (the “ Redemption Date ”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.2.           Special Event Redemption .   If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “ Special Redemption Date ”) at the Special Redemption Price.

 

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Section 10.3.           Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures . In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture.

 

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Section 10.4.           Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption . If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented.

 

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ARTICLE XI.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

Section 11.1.        Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms . Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided , however , that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.

 

Section 11.2.        Successor Entity to be Substituted . In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

Section 11.3.        Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 12.1.        Discharge of Indenture . When

 

(a)          the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or

 

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(b)          all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,

 

and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by 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 have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures.

 

Section 12.2.       Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee . Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.

 

Section 12.3.        Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held . Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 12.4.        Return of Unclaimed Moneys . Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

 

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ARTICLE XIII.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 13.1.        Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations . No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

ARTICLE XIV.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 14.1.        Successors . All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 14.2.        Official Acts by Successor Entity . Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 

Section 14.3.        Surrender of Company Powers . The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor.

 

Section 14.4.        Addresses for Notices, etc . Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 100 North Laura Street, Suite 1000, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, Attention: Valerie A. Kendall. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.

 

Section 14.5.        Governing Law . This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

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Section 14.6.        Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he 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 or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 14.7.        Table of Contents, Headings, etc . The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 14.8.        Execution in Counterparts . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 14.9.        Separability . In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

 

Section 14.10.      Assignment . The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.

 

Section 14.11.      Acknowledgment of Rights . The Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.

 

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ARTICLE XV.

SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

 

Section 15.1.        Agreement to Subordinate . The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided , however , that the Debentures shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all outstanding junior subordinated debentures issued by the Company or its predecessor to trust subsidiaries of the Company in similar transactions to that contemplated by this Indenture.

 

No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 15.2.        Default on Senior Indebtedness . In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.3.        Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy . Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness ( pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee.

 

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In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section 15.4.        Subrogation . Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

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Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.5.        Trustee to Effectuate Subordination . Each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.6.        Notice by the Company . The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided , however , that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least 2 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 premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

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Section 15.7.        Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness . The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 15.8.        Subordination May Not Be Impaired . No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By /s/ Valerie A Kendall
    Name: VALERIE A KENDALL
    Title: EVP/CFO
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
     
  By /s/ Christopher J. Monigle
    Name: Christopher J. Monigle
    Title: Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST

DEBENTURE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATIONS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

  A- 1  

 

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

of

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.

 

December 14, 2006

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Jacksonville Statutory Trust II (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal sum of three million ninety-three thousand dollars ($3,093,000.00) on December 15, 2036, and to pay interest on said principal sum from December 14, 2006, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in March 2007, at an annual rate equal to 7.08% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in March 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in March 2007, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 1.73% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date.

 

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“3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, “Determination Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.

 

The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

 

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

 

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The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.

 

So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as “Additional Interest”). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided   further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period.

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

 

This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
   
  By  
    Name:
    Title:

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]

 

This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2011, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2011, at the Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals.

 

In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.

 

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The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided , however , that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided , further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

 

The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,

 

(4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

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The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $ 100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures.

 

Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company.

 

THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE

 

Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., as the Company (the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Indenture”), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture.

 

2. [To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture.

 

or, alternatively:

 

I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.]

 

Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate.

 

Date:  
   
   
  Name:
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 4.8

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

(Jacksonville Statutory Trust II)

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of March 11, 2016, is by and among Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Trustee (herein, together with its successors in interest, the “Trustee”), Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (the “Successor Company”), and Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), under the Indenture referred to below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Trustee, the Company and the Successor Company hereby agree as follows:

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

The Trustee and the Company are parties to that certain Indenture dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company issued U.S. $3,093,000 of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2036.

 

As permitted by the terms of the Indenture, the Company, simultaneously with the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall merge (referred to herein for purposes of Article XI of the Indenture as the “Merger”) with and into the Successor Company with the Successor Company as the surviving corporation. The parties hereto are entering into this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to, and in accordance with, Articles IX and XI of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 1.     Definitions . All capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Indenture, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the respective meanings assigned them in the Indenture except as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires.

 

SECTION 2.      Interpretation .

 

(a) In this First Supplemental Indenture, unless a clear contrary intention appears:

 

(i) the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;

 

(ii) reference to any gender includes the other gender;

 

(iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision;

 

(iv) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually, provided that nothing in this clause (iv) is intended to authorize any assignment not otherwise permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture;

 

 

 

 

(v) reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof, as well as any substitution or replacement therefor, and reference to any note includes modifications thereof and any note issued in extension or renewal thereof or in substitution or replacement therefor;

 

(vi) reference to any Section means such Section of this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(vii) the word “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term.

 

(b) No provision in this First Supplemental Indenture shall be interpreted or construed against any Person because that Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.

 

SECTION 3.     Assumption of Obligations .

 

(a) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.1 and Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept, performed, or observed by the Company under the Indenture.

 

(b) Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor Company succeeds to and is substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in the Indenture as the Company.

 

(c) The Successor Company also succeeds to and is substituted for the Company with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named in (i) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”), as Sponsor (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and (ii) the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Guarantee”), as Guarantor (as defined in the Guarantee).

 

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SECTION 4.     Representations and Warranties . The Successor Company represents and warrants that (a) it has all necessary power and authority to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture and to perform the Indenture, (b) it is the successor of the Company pursuant to the Merger effected in accordance with applicable law, (c) it is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia, (d) both immediately before and after giving effect to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture, no Default or Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing and (e) this First Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and Article XI of the Indenture and does not require the consent of the Securityholders.

 

SECTION 5.     Conditions of Effectiveness . This First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the Merger; provided , however , that:

 

(a) the Trustee shall have executed a counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture and shall have received one or more counterparts of this First Supplemental Indenture executed by the Successor Company and the Company;

 

(b) the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate stating that (i) this First Supplemental Indenture complies with the requirements of Article IX of the Indenture; and (ii) in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with;

 

(c) the Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; (ii) the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture comply with Articles IX and XI of the Indenture; (iii) this First Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of Article IX of the Indenture; and (iv) it is proper for the Trustee, under the provisions of Article IX of the Indenture, to join in the execution of this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(d) the Successor Company and the Company shall have duly executed and filed with the Department of State of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia articles or a certificate of merger in connection with the Merger.

 

SECTION 6.     Reference to the Indenture .

 

(a) Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture to “this Indenture,” “hereunder,” “herein” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

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(b) Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Debentures to the Indenture, including each term defined by reference to the Indenture, shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture or such term, as the case may be, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.

 

(c) The Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

SECTION 7.     Execution in Counterparts . This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

SECTION 8.     Governing Law; Binding Effect . This First Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

 

SECTION 9.     The Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company or the Successor Company. The recitals of fact contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company or the Successor Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.

 

[Signatures on following page.]

 

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

 

  JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Kendall L. Spencer
    Kendall L. Spencer
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  AMERIS BANCORP
     
  By: /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY , not in its
individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Michael H. Wass
    Michael H. Wass
    Vice President

 

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Exhibit 4.10

 

JACKSONVILLE BANCORP, INC.

as Company

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of June 20, 2008

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

As Trustee

 

JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

Due September 15, 2038

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
  ARTICLE I  
  DEFINITIONS  
     
SECTION 1.01. Definitions 1
     
  ARTICLE II  
  DEBT SECURITIES  
SECTION 2.01. Authentication and Dating 9
SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 9
SECTION 2.03. Form and Denomination of Debt Securities 10
SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities 10
SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities 10
SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities 14
SECTION 2.07. Temporary Debt Securities 14
SECTION 2.08. Payment of Interest 15
SECTION 2.09. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc 16
SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest 16
SECTION 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period 18
SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers 19
SECTION 2.13. Income Tax Certification 19
SECTION 2.14. Global Debentures 19
     
  ARTICLE III  
  PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY  
     
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debt Securities 21
SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc 22
SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office 23
SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent 23
SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee 24
SECTION 3.06. Additional Interest 24
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions 24
SECTION 3.08. Limitation on Dividends 25
SECTION 3.09. Covenants as to the Trust 25

 

  - i -  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

    Page
     
  ARTICLE IV  
  LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE  
     
SECTION 4.01. Securityholders’ Lists 26
SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists 26
SECTION 4.03. Financial and Other Information 27
     
  ARTICLE V  
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT
     
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default 28
SECTION 5.02. Payment of Debt Securities on Default; Suit Therefor 30
SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee 31
SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders 32
SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee 32
SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing 32
SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders 33
SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults 34
SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to pay Costs 34
     
  ARTICLE VI  
  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE  
     
SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 34
SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc 36
SECTION 6.03. No Responsibilities of trustee 37
SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities 37
SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust 37
SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 38
SECTION 6.07. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence 38
SECTION 6.08. Eligibility of Trustee 39
SECTION 6.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar 39
SECTION 6.10. Acceptance by Successor 41

 

  - ii -  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

    Page
     
SECTION 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. 41
SECTION 6.12. Authenticating Agents 42
     
  ARTICLE VII  
  CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS  
     
SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders 43
SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by securityholders 44
SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 44
SECTION 7.04. Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding 44
SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound 45
     
  ARTICLE VIII  
  SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS  
     
SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings 45
SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings Trustee 46
SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders 46
SECTION 8.04. Qualification for Voting 46
SECTION 8.05. Regulations 46
SECTION 8.06. Voting 47
SECTION 8.07. Quorum; Actions 47
SECTION 8.08. Written Consent Without a Meeting 48
     
  ARTICLE IX  
  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES  
     
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders 48
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders 50
SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 51
SECTION 9.04. Notation on Debt Securities 51
SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be furnished to Trustee 51
     
  ARTICLE X  
  REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES  
     
SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption 51
SECTION 10.02. Special Event Redemption 52

 

  - iii -  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

    Page
     
SECTION 10.03. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities 52
SECTION 10.04. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption 53
     
  ARTICLE XI  
  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE  
     
SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms 54
SECTION 11.02. Successor Entity to be Subtituted 54
SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee 55
     
  ARTICLE XII  
  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE  
SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture 55
SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee 56
SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held 56
SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys 56
     
  ARTICLE XIII  
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
     
SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate Obligations 56
     
  ARTICLE XIV  
  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS  
     
SECTION 14.01. Successors 57
SECTION 14.02. Official Acts by Successor Entity 57
SECTION 14.03. Surrender of Company Powers 57
SECTION 14.04. Addresses for Notices, etc 57
SECTION 14.05. Governing Law 58
SECTION 14.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent 58
SECTION 14.07. Non-Business Days 58
SECTION 14.08. Table of Contents, Headings, etc 58
SECTION 14.09. Execution in Counterparts 59
SECTION 14.10. Severability 59
SECTION 14.11. Assignment 59
SECTION 14.12. Acknowledgment of Rights 59

 

  - iv -  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

    Page
     
  ARTICLE XV  
  SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES  
     
SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate 60
SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness 60
SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy 61
SECTION 15.04. Subrogation 62
SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination 63
SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company 63
SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee, Holders of Senior Indebtedness 63
SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired 64
     
EXHIBITS    
     
EXHIBIT A FORM OF DEBT SECURITY  

 

  - v -  

 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of June 20, 2008, between Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Florida (hereinafter sometimes called the “Company”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2038 (the “Debt Securities”) under this Indenture and to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debt Securities by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debt Securities as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions .

 

The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. 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.

 

“Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

“Additional Provisions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.01.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

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

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

 

 

 

 

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

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in Wilmington, Delaware, New York City or the city of the Principal Office of the Trustee or the Company are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close.

 

“Calculation Agent” means the Person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof with respect to the Debt Securities and the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities.

 

“Capital Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which are designated as “TP Securities” and rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. The Capital Securities sold by the Trust to the initial purchaser(s) pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement(s) shall be issued in book entry form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee on behalf of the Depository Trust Company, without coupons, and held by the Institutional Trustee as custodian for the Depository Trust Company.

 

“Capital Securities Guarantee” means the guarantee agreement that the Company will enter into with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

“Capital Treatment Event” means, if the Company is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or any rules, guidelines or policies of any applicable regulatory authority for the Company or (b) any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debt Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that, within 90 days of the receipt of such opinion, the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities will not be eligible to be treated by the Company as “Tier 1 Capital” (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank or financial holding companies), as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as Tier 1 Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the distribution of the Debt Securities in connection with the liquidation of the Trust by the Company shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

“Certificate” means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Common Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which are designated as “Common Securities” and rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

“Company” means Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Florida, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

“Debt Security” or “Debt Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture.

 

“Debt Security Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

“Debt Security Registrar” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

“Declaration” means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of June 20, 2008, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08.

 

“Deferred Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Depositary” means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Company or any successor thereto. DTC will be the initial Depositary.

 

“Depositary Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

“Event of Default” means any event specified in Section 5.01, which has continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

 

“Extension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

“Global Debenture” means a security that evidences all or part of the Debt Securities, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.

 

“Initial Purchaser” means the initial purchaser of the Capital Securities.

 

“Institutional Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on September 15, 2008, during the term of this Indenture.

 

“Interest Payment Period” means the period from and including an Interest Payment Date, or in the case of the first Interest Payment Period, the original date of issuance of the Debt Securities, to, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the last Interest Payment Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be.

 

“Interest Rate” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Period, a per annum rate of interest, equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Interest Payment Date, plus 3.75%; provided, however, that the Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability.

 

“Investment Company Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the original issuance of the Debt Securities.

 

  - 4 -  

 

 

“LIBOR” means the London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe as determined by the Calculation Agent according to Section 2.10(b).

 

“LIBOR Banking Day” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(1).

 

“LIBOR Business Day” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(1).

 

“LIBOR Determination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b).

 

“Liquidation Amount” means the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Trust Security.

 

“Maturity Date” means September 15, 2038.

 

“Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

“OTS” means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies.

 

“Outstanding” means, when used with reference to Debt Securities, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, as of any particular time, all Debt Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except

 

(a)                  Debt Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)                  Debt Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided , that, if such Debt Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Articles X and XIV or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

(c)                  Debt Securities paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debt Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debt Securities are held by bona fide holders in due course.

 

  - 5 -  

 

 

“Paying Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(e).

 

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

 

“Placement Agent” means Silverton Capital Corporation.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Debt Security means every previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security.

 

“Principal Office of the Trustee” means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at all times shall be located within the United States and at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be 919 North Market Street, Suite 1600, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, Attn: Corporate Trust Division - Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. Statutory Trust III.

 

“Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01.

 

“Redemption Price” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt Securities to the Redemption Date.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Principal Office of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

 

“Securityholder,” “holder of Debt Securities” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debt Security is registered on the Debt Security Register.

 

  - 6 -  

 

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, with the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if not otherwise generally approved, it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, that such obligations are not superior or are pari passu in right of payment to the Debt Securities; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (A) any debt securities issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of such trust) that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a “financing entity”), in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of equity or other securities in transactions substantially similar in structure to the transactions contemplated hereunder and in the Declaration, (B) any guarantees of the Company in respect of the equity or other securities of any financing entity referred to in clause (A) above or (C) any other instruments classified as subordinated or pari passu to the Debt Securities by the Federal Reserve from time to time hereafter.

 

“Special Event” means any of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event.

 

“Special Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.

 

“Special Redemption Price” means, with respect to the redemption of any Debt Security following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2009 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date:

 

Special Redemption During the   Percentage of Principal  
12-Month Period Beginning September 15   Amount  
       
2009     102.820 %
2010     102.115 %
2011     101.410 %
2012     100.705 %
2013 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

 

“Tax Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement (an “Administrative Action”)) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debt Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debt Securities; (ii) if the Company is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, interest payable by the Company on the Debt Securities 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; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to or otherwise required to pay, or required to withhold from distributions to holders of Trust Securities, more than a de minimis amount of other taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges.

 

“Trust” means Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. Statutory Trust III, the Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debt Securities under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time-to-time, or any successor legislation.

 

“Trust Securities” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. Statutory Trust III.

 

  - 8 -  

 

 

“Trustee” means the Person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.

 

“United States” means the United States of America and the District of Columbia.

 

“U.S. Person” has the meaning given to United States Person as set forth in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01. Authentication and Dating .

 

Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $7,784,000 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debt Securities to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, President or Chief Financial Officer or one of its Vice Presidents, without any further action by the Company hereunder. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or other officers with appropriate delegated authority of the Company as the case may be.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Securityholders. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel to the effect that (1) all conditions precedent to the execution, delivery and authentication of the Debt Securities have been complied with; (2) the Debt Securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Act; and (3) the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

 

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This represents Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  - 9 -  

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee

 

  By    
    Authorized Signatory  

 

SECTION 2.03. Form and Denomination of Debt Securities .

 

The Debt Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Debt Securities shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Debt Securities shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities .

 

The Debt Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, President or Chief Financial Officer or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal (if legally required, which the Trustee has no duty to determine), which may be affixed thereto or printed, engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise, and which need not be attested. Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized officer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debt Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Securityholders is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

 

Every Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities .

 

The Trustee, in its capacity as “Debt Security Registrar”, shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.02, a register (the “Debt Security Register”) for the Debt Securities issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Debt Security Registrar shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debt Securities as provided in this Article II. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

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Debt Securities to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debt Security by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.02, and delivery of such Debt Security, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debt Security.

 

All Debt Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by, a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and either the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by, the Securityholder or such Securityholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Neither the Trustee nor the Debt Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act (under and as defined in the Declaration), applicable state securities laws or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Investment Company Act (under and as defined in the Declaration).

 

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

 

The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debt Security for a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date of selection of Debt Securities for redemption.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt Securities may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable law, which legend shall be placed on each Debt Security:

 

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THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) TO A “NON U.S. PERSON” IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

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THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.

 

THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL AND SECURED CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS NOT SECURED.

 

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SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities .

 

In case any Debt Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debt Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debt Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debt Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof.

 

The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debt Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substituted Debt Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any such Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

SECTION 2.07. Temporary Debt Securities .

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debt Securities that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debt Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debt Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debt Securities and thereupon any or all temporary Debt Securities may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debt Securities a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debt Securities. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debt Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

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SECTION 2.08. Payment of Interest .

 

Each Debt Security will bear interest at the then applicable Interest Rate from and including each Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the first Interest Payment Period, the original date of issuance of such Debt Security to, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the last Interest Payment Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as applicable, on the principal thereof, on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on Deferred Interest and on any overdue installment of interest (including Defaulted Interest), payable on each Interest Payment Date commencing on September 15, 2008. Interest and any Deferred Interest on any Debt Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date, the Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or the Special Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. In the event that any Debt Security or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and either on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Debt Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Security.

 

Any interest on any Debt Security, other than Deferred Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Securityholder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such Securityholder, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities (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 such Debt Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than fifteen nor less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than ten days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and thereafter the Company shall have no further payment obligation in respect of the Defaulted Interest.

 

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Any interest scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Securities.

 

The term “regular record date” as used in this Indenture shall mean the fifteenth day prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date whether or not such date is a Business Day.

 

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

 

SECTION 2.09. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc.

 

All Debt Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Debt Securities in accordance with its customary practices, unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing, in which case the Trustee shall dispose of such Debt Securities as directed by the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debt Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest .

 

(a)                  The amount of interest payable for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period; provided however , that upon the occurrence of a Special Event Redemption pursuant to Section 10.02 the amounts payable pursuant to this Indenture shall be calculated as set forth in the definition of Special Redemption Price.

 

(b)                  LIBOR, for any Interest Payment Period, shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions:

 

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(1)         On the second LIBOR Business Day (provided, that on such day commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a “LIBOR Banking Day”), and otherwise the next preceding LIBOR Business Day that is also a LIBOR Banking Day) prior to March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (or, with respect to the first Interest Payment Period, on June 18, 2008) (each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date” for the following Interest Payment Period), the Calculation Agent shall obtain the rate for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR 01 Page (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions) or such other page as may replace such page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date, as reported by Bloomberg Financial markets Commodities News or any successor service (“Reuters Screen”), and the rate so obtained shall be LIBOR for such Interest Payment Period. “LIBOR Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in The City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed. If such rate is superseded on Reuters Screen by a corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on the same LIBOR Determination Date, the corrected rate as so substituted will be LIBOR for that Interest Payment Period.

 

(2)         If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London Interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent) by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such a quotation, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that at least two leading banks in the City of New York (as selected by the Calculation Agent) are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent). As used herein, “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London Interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent.

 

(3)         If the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR for the applicable Interest Payment Period shall be LIBOR in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Payment Period.

 

(c)                  All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debt Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward).

 

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(d)                  As soon as practicable following each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event later than the 30th day following such LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent shall notify, in writing, the Company, the Institutional Trustee and the Paying Agent of the applicable Interest Rate in effect for the related Interest Payment Period. The Calculation Agent shall, upon the request of any Securityholder, provide the Interest Rate then in effect. All calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and the Securityholders. Any error in a calculation of the Interest Rate by the Calculation Agent may be corrected at any time by the delivery of notice of such corrected Interest Rate as provided above. The Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on information received from the Calculation Agent or the Company as to the Interest Rate. The Company shall, from time to time, provide any necessary information to the Paying Agent relating to any original issue discount and interest on the Debt Securities that is included in any payment and reportable for taxable income calculation purposes. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable Interest Rate shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on Debentures at such Interest Rate.

 

SECTION 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period .

 

So long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right under the Indenture, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to twenty consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest distribution period, an ’‘Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as ’‘Deferred Interest”) will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities; provided however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided   further , however , that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.08 of this Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided , that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed twenty consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin any Extension Period or extend an Extension Period (“Notice”) not later than the related regular record date for the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Notice shall describe, in reasonable detail, why the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company’s understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the Placement Agent shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period and other information that such Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems relevant to the Company’s election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

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SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers .

 

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

 

SECTION 2.13. Income Tax Certification,

 

As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the Debt Securities without the imposition of withholding tax, the Trustee shall require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S. federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701 (a)(30) of the Code (under and as defined in the Declaration) or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, and any other certification acceptable to it to enable the Trustee or any Paying Agent to determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or other charges that they may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of such Debt Securities.

 

SECTION 2.14. Global Debentures.

 

(a)                  Upon the election of the holder of Outstanding Debt Securities, which election need not be in writing, the Debt Securities owned by such holder shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Debentures registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Each Global Debenture issued under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Debenture shall constitute a single Debt Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

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(b)                  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Debenture may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Debenture in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee and the Company in writing that such Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Debenture, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days of receipt by the Company of such notice, (ii) such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and no successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days after obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a company order stating that the Company elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Trustee shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all owners of beneficial interests in such Global Debenture of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of Debt Securities to such owners of beneficial interests requesting the same. Upon the issuance of such Debt Securities and the registration in the Debt Security Register of such Debt Securities in the names of such owners of the beneficial interests therein, the Trustee shall recognize such owners of beneficial interests as holders hereof.

 

(c)          If any Global Debenture is to be exchanged for other Debt Securities or canceled in part, or if another Debt Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Debenture, then either (i) such Global Debenture shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article II or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the principal amount of such other Debt Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Debt Security Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with the applicable depository procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Debenture by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Debenture (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.

 

(d)                  Every Debt Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Debenture or any portion thereof shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Debenture, unless such Debt Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof.

 

(e)                  Debt Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Capital Securities (as defined in the Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of the Trust shall be distributed in the form of one or more Global Debentures registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the Debt Security Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct). Debt Securities distributed to holders of Capital Securities other than Book-Entry Capital Securities upon the dissolution of the Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global Debenture or any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such Debt Securities.

 

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(f)                  The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global Debenture, shall be the holder of such Global Debenture for all purposes under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Debenture shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depository Procedures. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in a Global Debenture shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Depositary Participants. The Debt Security Registrar and the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Indenture relating to a Global Debenture (including the payment of principal and interest thereon and the giving of instructions or directions by owners of beneficial interests therein and the giving of notices) as the sole holder of the Debt Security and shall have no obligations to the owners of beneficial interests therein. Neither the Trustee nor the Debt Security Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers affected by the Depositary.

 

(g)                  The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Debenture shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or its Depositary Participants.

 

(h)                  No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Debenture held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Debenture, 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 Debenture 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 Debenture or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as holder of any Debt Security.

 

ARTICLE III

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debt Securities .

 

(a)                  The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid all payments due on the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debt Securities. At the option of the Company, each installment of interest on the Debt Securities may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the Securityholders entitled thereto as they appear on the Debt Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated by such Securityholders to the Paying Agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or any Debt Security, if the Trust or the Trustee of the Trust is the holder of any Debt Security, then all payments in respect of such Debt Security shall be made by the Company in immediately available funds when due.

 

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(b)                  The Company and each of the Securityholders will treat the Debt Securities as indebtedness, and the amounts, other than payments of principal, payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debt Securities as interest, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of the Debt Securities will be made free and clear of U.S. withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided (i) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its U.S. or non-U.S. status for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and establishing a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax, or (ii) any other applicable form establishing a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax.

 

(c)                  As of the date of this Indenture, the Company represents that it has no intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by commencing an Extension Period.

 

SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.

 

So long as any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in this Indenture and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities or of this Indenture may be served. Until otherwise designated by the Company in a Notice to the Trustee, such office or agency for all above purposes shall be at the Principal Office of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

 

In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

 

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SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office .

 

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent .

 

(a)                  If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.04:

 

(1)         that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of all payments due on the Debt Securities (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders;

 

(2)         that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities) to make any payment on the Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(3)         that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

(b)                  If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the payments due on the Debt Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders a sum sufficient to pay such payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debt Securities) to make any payment on the Debt Securities when the same shall become due and payable.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Debt Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the payments on the Debt Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act.

 

(c)                  Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debt Securities, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions herein contained.

 

(d)                  Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject to Sections 12.03 and 12.04.

 

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(e)                  The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent (the “Paying Agent”).

 

SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee .

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debt Securities are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof.

 

SECTION 3.06. Additional Interest .

 

If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debt Securities and is subject to or otherwise required to pay, or is required to withhold from distributions to holders of Trust Securities, any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (the “Additional Interest”) on the Debt Securities as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust for distribution to holders of Trust Securities after paying all taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received and retained for distribution to holders of Trust Securities after paying all taxes (including withholding taxes on distributions to holders of Trust Securities), duties, assessments or other governmental charges if no such additional taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debt Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Interest provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided , however , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or any Debt Security, the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Interest that may be due and payable.

 

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions .

 

The Company will not, while any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into any other Person, or merge into itself, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property or capital stock to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with.

 

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SECTION 3.08. Limitation on Dividends .

 

If Debt Securities are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debt Securities continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Company may not (A) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or (B) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (C) make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (I) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (II) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (III) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder’s rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder’s rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).

 

SECTION 3.09. Covenants as to the Trust .

 

For so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however , that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, except in connection with a distribution of Debt Securities to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debt Securities.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 4.01. Securityholders’ Lists .

 

The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)          on each regular record date for an Interest Payment Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of such record date; and

 

(b)          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;

 

except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.01 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debt Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists .

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debt Security Registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)          In case three or more Securityholders (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debt Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debt Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at the election of the Company, either:

 

(1)         afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, or

 

(2)         inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Securityholders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

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If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants, and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement of the Company to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debt Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c)          Each and every Securityholder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.02, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

 

SECTION 4.03. Financial and Other Information .

 

The Company shall deliver to each Securityholder (1) if the Company is not (y) subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (z) exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, each Securityholder shall have the right to obtain from the Company, upon request of such Securityholder, the information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act and (2) within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company, Form 1099 or such other annual U.S. federal income tax information statement required by the Code containing such information with regard to the Debt Securities held by such Securityholder as is required by the Code and the income tax regulations of the U.S. Treasury thereunder.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF
DEFAULT

 

SECTION 5.01. Events of Default .

 

The following events shall be “Events of Default” with respect to Debt Securities:

 

(a)          the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debt Security when it becomes due and payable (unless the Company has elected and may defer interest payments pursuant to Section 2.11), and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; for the avoidance of doubt, an extension of any interest distribution period by the Company in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture shall not constitute a default under this clause 5.01(a); or

 

(b)          the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debt Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 5.01 of this Indenture or otherwise; or

 

(c)          the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debt Security when it becomes due and payable following the nonpayment of any such interest for 20 or more consecutive quarterly periods; or

 

(d)          the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in Sections 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 or 3.09 of this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach 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 not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities, 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

 

(e)          a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or orders the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(f)          the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of 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

 

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(g)          the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (1) the distribution of the Debt Securities to holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (2) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (3) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

 

If an Event of Default specified under clause (c) of this Section 5.01 occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debt Securities, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debt Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debt Securities and any premium and interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified under clause (e), (f) or (g) of this Section 5.01 occurs, then, in each and every such case, the entire principal amount of the Debt Securities and any premium and interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon shall ipso facto become immediately due and payable without further action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01, if at any time during the period in which this Indenture remains in force and effect, the Company ceases or elects to cease to be subject to the supervision and regulations of the Federal Reserve, OTS, OCC or similar regulatory authority overseeing bank, thrift, savings and loan or financial holding companies or similar institutions requiring specifications for the treatment of capital similar in nature to the capital adequacy guidelines under the Federal Reserve rules and regulations, then the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include clauses (a), (b) and (d) under this Section 5.1 as an Event of Default resulting in an acceleration of payment of the Debt Securities to the same extent as provided herein for clause (c).

 

With respect to clause (d) of this Section 5.01, the Company agrees that in the event of a breach by the Company of its covenants or agreements mentioned therein, any remedy at law or in damages may prove inadequate and therefore the Company agrees that the Trustee shall be entitled to injunctive relief against the Company in the event of any breach or threatened breach by the Company, in addition to any other relief (including damages) available to the Trustee under this Indenture or under law.

 

The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debt Securities shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debt Securities and all payments on the Debt Securities which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon all such payments and Deferred Interest, to the extent permitted by law) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the payments on Debt Securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, and in each and every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon; provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or rescission and annulment shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or rescission and annulment.

 

  - 29 -  

 

  

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

SECTION 5.02. Payment of Debt Securities on Default: Suit Therefor .

 

The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01, and upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Securityholders, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debt Securities including Deferred Interest accrued on the Debt Securities; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debt Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debt Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Securityholders in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06.

 

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

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debt Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Securityholders.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Securityholders, and it shall not be necessary to make any Securityholders parties to any such proceedings.

 

SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee .

 

Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06;

 

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Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

 

Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debt Securities, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debt Securities; and

 

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

 

SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders .

 

No Securityholder shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such Securityholder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; provided , that no Securityholder shall have any right to prejudice the rights of any other Securityholder, obtain priority or preference over any other such Securityholder or enforce any right under this Indenture except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Securityholders.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any Securityholder to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Securityholder. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee .

 

In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing .

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debt Securities, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

 

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SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders .

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding and, if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust 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 such Debt Securities; provided however , that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such time, method and place or such exercise, as the case may be, may not be so directed until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have directed such time, method and place or such exercise, as the case may be; provided, further, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any declaration of acceleration, or ipso facto acceleration, of the maturity of the Debt Securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debt Securities waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.09; provided however , that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver; provided further , that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver. Upon any such waiver or modification to such waiver, the Default or Event of Default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver or modification to such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 5.07, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debt Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

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SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults .

 

The Trustee shall, within 90 days after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge or received written notice of the occurrence of a Default with respect to the Debt Securities, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such Securityholders appear upon the Debt Security Register, notice of all Defaults with respect to the Debt Securities actually known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.08 being hereby defined to be the events specified in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of Section 5.01, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders.

 

SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs .

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debt Securities (or, if such Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, more than 10% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities), to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable, or to any suit instituted in accordance with Section 14.12.

 

ARTICLE VI

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee .

 

With respect to the holders of Debt Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debt Securities, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)          prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred

 

(1)         the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debt Securities as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2)         in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture;

 

(b)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(c)          the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07, 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;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities or by any Securityholder, except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), 5.01(b) or 5.01(c) hereof (other than an Event of Default resulting from the default in the payment of Additional Interest or premium, if any, if the Trustee does not have actual knowledge or written notice that such payment is due and payable), of which the Trustee shall be deemed to have knowledge; and

 

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(e)          in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may seek and rely on reasonable instructions from the Company.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:

 

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

 

(b)          any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

(c)          the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or 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 accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)          the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;

 

(e)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the Debt Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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;

 

(f)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby; provided , however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding; and

 

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

 

SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc .

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debt Securities or the proceeds of any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities .

 

The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any Paying Agent or any transfer agent or any Debt Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, transfer agent or Debt Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys received by the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys, if any, shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company.

 

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SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee .

 

Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith among Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, the Trustee and the Company, the Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its written request for all documented reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance that arises from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee (including in its individual capacity) and any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee), except to the extent such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense results from the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such indemnitee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for documented expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by (and the Company hereby grants and pledges to the Trustee) a lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debt Securities.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in subsections (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debt Security to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debt Securities or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

 

SECTION 6.07. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence .

 

Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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SECTION 6.08. Eligibility of Trustee .

 

The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a U.S. Person that is a banking corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or of the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national banking association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.08 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national banking association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

 

The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee, notwithstanding that such corporation or national banking association shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.09.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of § 310 (b) 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 this Indenture.

 

SECTION 6.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar .

 

(a)          The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security Registrar may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the Securityholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor or successors by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning party and one copy to the successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning party may, at the Company’s expense, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor.

 

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(b)          In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

 

(1)         the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months,

 

(2)         the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3)         the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, if no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days of the occurrence of any of (1), (2) or (3) above, the Trustee or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(c)          Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within ten Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case or in the case of a failure by such Securityholders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.09 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

 

(d)          Any resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security Registrar and appointment of a successor pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.09 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor as provided in Section 6.10.

 

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SECTION 6.10. Acceptance by Successor .

 

Any successor Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar appointed as provided in Section 6.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring party shall become effective and such successor, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debt Securities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor, the party ceasing to act shall, upon payment of the amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all the rights and powers of the party so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor all property and money held by such retiring party hereunder. Upon reasonable request of any such successor, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor all such rights and powers. Any party ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06.

 

If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible and qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08.

 

In no event shall a retiring Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor hereunder.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession to the Securityholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor, the successor shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc.

 

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, that such Person shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

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In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided , however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debt Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

SECTION 6.12. Authenticating Agents .

 

There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debt Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section.

 

Any Person into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor Person is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

 

Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debt Securities by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Securityholders as the names and addresses of such Securityholders appear on the Debt Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debt Securities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

 

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Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith among Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Company, the Company and the Trustee, the Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee and shall receive such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in furtherance of its duties under this Section 6.12.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders .

 

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities or aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such Securityholders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII or of such holders of Capital Securities duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory.

 

If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debt Securities for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debt Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debt Securities shall be computed as of the record date; provided however , that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

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SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders .

 

Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or such Securityholder’s agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Debt Security Registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

The record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.06.

 

SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any transfer agent and any Debt Security Registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debt Security shall be registered upon the Debt Security Register to be, and may treat such Person as, the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any Securityholder for the time being or upon such Securityholder’s order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security.

 

SECTION 7.04. Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding .

 

In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debt Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company (other than the Trust) or any other obligor on the Debt Securities shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided , that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents: Future Securityholders Bound .

 

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Securityholder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.01) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.01) of a Debt Security (or any Debt Security issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debt Security). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Securityholder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debt Security, and of any Debt Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or any Debt Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings .

 

A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)          to give any. notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

 

(b)          to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

 

(c)          to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; or

 

(d)          to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

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SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee .

 

The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such place in Wilmington, Delaware as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to Securityholders affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Securities Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders .

 

In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.02.

 

SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting .

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall be (a) a holder of one or more Debt Securities with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debt Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 8.05. Regulations .

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debt Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate.

 

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote at the meeting.

 

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Subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, at any meeting each Securityholder with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities held or represented by such Securityholder; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debt Security challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debt Securities held by such chairman or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating such chairman as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 8.06. Voting .

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such Securityholders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debt Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.02. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debt Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

SECTION 8.07. Quorum; Actions .

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.02, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities which shall constitute a quorum.

 

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Except as limited by the proviso in the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities; provided however , that, except as limited by the proviso in the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than such specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Securityholders duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

SECTION 8.08. Written Consent Without a Meeting .

 

Whenever under this Indenture, Securityholders are required or permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the Securityholders of all outstanding Debt Securities entitled to vote thereon. No consent shall be effective to take the action referred to therein unless, within sixty days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this paragraph to the Trustee, written consents signed by a sufficient number of Securityholders to take action are delivered to the Trustee at its Principal Office. Delivery made to the Trustee at its Principal Office, shall be by hand or by certificated or registered mail, return receipt requested. Written consent thus given by the Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities as is required hereunder, shall have the same effect as a valid vote of Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders .

 

The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

 

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

 

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(b)          to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the Securityholders as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of such Securityholders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided however , that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default;

 

(c)          to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make or amend such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Securityholders;

 

(d)          to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debt Securities, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debt Securities, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities, as required by Section 2.05 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debt Securities is required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended); provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debt Securities then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debt Securities substantially similar to those applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to adversely affect the Securityholders);

 

(e)          to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10;

 

(f)          to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or

 

(g)          to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debt Securities, or to add to the rights of the Securityholders.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Securityholders at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

 

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders .

 

With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, then in effect, applicable to indentures qualified thereunder) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders; provided , however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without such consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce (other than as a result of the maturity or earlier redemption of any such Debt Security in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Debt Security) or increase the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding, or change any of the redemption provisions, or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the Securityholder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; and provided , further, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided, further, that if the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders (and holders of Capital Securities, if required) as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debt Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Securityholders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

SECTION 9.04. Notation on Debt Securities .

 

Debt Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debt Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities then outstanding.

 

SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be furnished to Trustee .

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.06, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

 

ARTICLE X

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption .

 

At any time the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, to redeem the Debt Securities, in whole or (provided that all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid on all Debt Securities for all Interest Payment Periods terminating on or prior to such date) from time to time in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2013 (the “Redemption Date”), at the Redemption Price.

 

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SECTION 10.02. Special Event Redemption .

 

If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, to redeem the Debt Securities, in whole or in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “Special Redemption Date”), at the Special Redemption Price.

 

SECTION 10.03. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities .

 

In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail, or cause the Trustee to mail (at the expense of the Company) a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Securityholders so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debt Security Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debt Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security.

 

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debt Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price (or manner of calculation of the price) at which Debt Securities are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debt Securities are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debt Securities to be redeemed. In case the Debt Securities are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

On the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Debt Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued to such date.

 

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The Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date as to the Redemption Price at which the Debt Securities are to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $ 1,000) to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 10.04. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption .

 

If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.03, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be) and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to said date) interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be).

 

Upon presentation of any Debt Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debt Security so presented.

 

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ARTICLE XI

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc.. on Certain Terms .

 

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property or capital stock of the Company or its successor or successors to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided however , that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the successor entity shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia (unless such corporation has (1) agreed to make all payments due in respect of the Debt Securities or, if outstanding, the Capital Securities and Capital Securities Guarantee without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges under the laws or regulations of the jurisdiction of organization or residence (for tax purposes) of such corporation or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein unless required by applicable law, in which case such corporation shall have agreed to pay such additional amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, after payment of all taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges, will be equal to the amounts that such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities would have received and retained had no such taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed, (2) irrevocably and unconditionally consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any United States federal court Dairy New York state court, in each case located in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, in respect of any action, suit or proceeding against it arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Debt Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantee or the Declaration and irrevocably and unconditionally waived, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the laying of venue in any such court or that any such action, suit or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (3) irrevocably appointed an agent in The City of New York for service of process in any action, suit or proceeding referred to in clause (2) above) and such corporation expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Declaration and (ii) after giving effect to any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

SECTION 11.02. Successor Entity to be Substituted .

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition contemplated in Section 11.01 and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debt Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debt Securities. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debt Securities which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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SECTION 11.03.    Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee .

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.05, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

SECTION 12.01.    Discharge of Indenture .

 

When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Debt Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debt Securities (other than any Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.06, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 hereof, which shall survive until such Debt Securities shall mature or are redeemed, as the case may be, and are paid in full. Thereafter, Sections 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by 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 have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debt Securities.

 

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SECTION 12.02.    Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent), to the holders of the particular Debt Securities for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.

 

SECTION 12.03.     Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held .

 

Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent of the Debt Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to the Company or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

SECTION 12.04.    Return of Unclaimed Moneys .

 

Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debt Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Securityholders for two years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such Paying Agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debt Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Securityholder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 13.01.    Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate Obligations .

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debt Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee or agent, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debt Securities.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

SECTION 14.01.    Successors .

 

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

 

SECTION 14.02.    Official Acts by Successor Entity .

 

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 

SECTION 14.03.    Surrender of Company Powers .

 

The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any permitted successor.

 

SECTION 14.04.    Addresses for Notices, etc.

 

Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on the Company may be given or served in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered by facsimile (which shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail to the Company at:

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.

100 North Laura Street, Suite 1000

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Attention: Valerie A. Kendall

 

Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association at:

 

919 North Market Street

Suite 1600

Wilmington, DE 19801

Attention: Corporate Trust Division - Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. Statutory Trust III

 

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SECTION 14.05.    Governing Law .

 

This Indenture and the Debt Securities shall each be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles of said State other than Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

 

SECTION 14.06.    Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent .

 

Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with (except that no such Opinion of Counsel is required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication and issuance of Debt Securities issued on the date of this Indenture).

 

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except certificates delivered pursuant to Section 3.05) shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

SECTION 14.07.    Non-Business Days .

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Interest Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day).

 

SECTION 14.08.    Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

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SECTION 14.09.    Execution in Counterparts .

 

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

 

SECTION 14.10.     Severability .

 

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debt Securities, but this Indenture and such Debt Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

 

SECTION 14.11.     Assignment .

 

Subject to Article XI, the Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company; provided , however , that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding, upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

 

SECTION 14.12.    Acknowledgment of Rights .

 

The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Debt Securities held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the Securityholder held as the assets of the Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of the Trust have so directed in writing such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may to the fullest extent permitted by law institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such Institutional Trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debt Securities on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise due and payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debt Securities.

 

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ARTICLE XV

 

SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

SECTION 15.01.    Agreement to Subordinate .

 

The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debt Securities issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture (the “Additional Provisions”) by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debt Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each Securityholder, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment by the Company of the payments due on all Debt Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

SECTION 15.02.     Default on Senior Indebtedness .

 

In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any applicable grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default, and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the payments due on the Debt Securities.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.02, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.06, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

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SECTION 15.03.    Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy .

 

Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on the Debt Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debt Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, that may at the time be outstanding, provided , that (a) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (b) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance, transfer or other disposition of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.02 or in this Section 15.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 15.04. Subrogation .

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all payments due on the Debt Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Securityholders be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Securityholders, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Debt Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Securityholders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Securityholders all payments on the Debt Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Securityholders and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debt Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

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SECTION 15.05.    Trustee to Effectuate Subordination .

 

Each Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

SECTION 15.06.     Notice by the Company .

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however , that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 15.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

SECTION 15.07.    Rights of the Trustee, Holders of Senior Indebtedness .

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

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With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not owe or be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06.

 

SECTION 15.08.     Subordination May Not Be Impaired .

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the Securityholders to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Trustee, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions herein above set forth.

 

  - 64 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

  Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Valerie A. Kendall
  Name: VALERIE A. KENDALL
  Title: EVP/CEO
   
  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as
Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Amy L. Martin
  Name:

Amy L. Martin

  Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY DUE 2038

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) TO A “NON U.S. PERSON” IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.

 

  A- 1  

 

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY.

 

THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL AND SECURED CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS NOT SECURED.

 

  A- 2  

 

 

Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security due 2038

 

of

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.

 

Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Florida (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. Statutory Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Securityholder”), or registered assigns, the principal sum of Seven Million Seven Hundred Eighty Four Thousand Dollars ($7,784,000) on September 15, 2038 and to pay interest on said principal sum from June 20, 2008, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year commencing September 15, 2008, at a variable per annum rate equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Indenture) plus 3.75% (the “Interest Rate”) (provided, however, that the Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability) until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for each such Interest Payment Period compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Interest Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day). The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Securityholders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Securityholders not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of and interest on this Debt Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Securityholder at such address as shall appear in the Debt Security Register or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debt Security is the Institutional Trustee, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security shall be made in immediately available funds when due at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee. All payments in respect of this Debt Security shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

  A- 3  

 

 

Upon submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture) and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right under the Indenture, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest distribution period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as “Deferred Interest”) will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities; provided , however , that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided further , however, during any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (iii) make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank in all respects pari passu with or junior in respect to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder’s rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder’s rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period; provided , that no Extension Period (including all previous and further consecutive extensions that are part of such Extension Period) shall exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin any Extension Period or extend an Extension Period (“Notice”) not later than the related regular record date for the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Notice shall describe why the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company’s understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the Placement Agent shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period and other information that such Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems relevant to the Company’s election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders.

 

  A- 4  

 

 

The indebtedness evidenced by this Debt Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debt Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debt Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by such holder’s acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Securityholder upon said provisions.

 

The Company waives diligence, presentment, demand for payment, notice of nonpayment, notice of protest, and all other demands and notices.

 

This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to and shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

 

  A- 5  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the company has duly executed this certificate.

 

  Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc.
   
By:
  Name:    
  Title:  
Dated:_________________________, 2008    

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This represents Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee
     
  By:    
    Authorized Signatory
Dated:_____________________________, 2008    

 

  A- 6  

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

 

This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Debt Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of June 20, 2008, duly executed and delivered between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debt Securities (referred to herein as the “Debt Securities”) of which this Debt Security is a part. The summary of the terms of this Debt Security contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each a “Special Event”), this Debt Security may become due and payable, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event (the “Special Redemption Date”), as the case may be, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

The Company shall also have the right to redeem this Debt Security at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2013 (a “Redemption Date”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Any redemption pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs will be made, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, upon not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ notice. If the Debt Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company, the Debt Securities will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method utilized by the Trustee.

 

“Redemption Price” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt Securities to the Redemption Date.

 

“Special Redemption Price” means, with respect to the redemption of any Debt Security following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2009 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date:

 

Special Redemption During the   Percentage of Principal  
12-Month Period Beginning September 15   Amount  
2009     102.820 %
2010     102.115 %
2011     101.410 %
2012     100.705 %
2013 and thereafter     100.000 %

 

  A- 7  

 

 

In the event of redemption of this Debt Security in part only, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Securityholder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

 

In certain cases where an Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be declared, and, in certain cases, shall ipso facto become, due and payable, and upon such declaration of acceleration shall become due and payable, in each case, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding affected thereby, as specified in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other things, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any redemption premium thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce (other than as a result of the maturity or earlier redemption of any such Debt Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Security) or increase the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding, or change any of the redemption provisions, or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the Securityholders, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture, and its consequences, except (a) a default in payments due in respect of any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants of the Company relating to its ownership of Common Securities of the Trust. Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Securityholder and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay all payments due on this Debt Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

 

  A- 8  

 

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Debt Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in Wilmington, Delaware accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered holder hereof or such Securityholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

 

Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any transfer agent and the Debt Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

The Debt Securities are issuable only in registered certificated form without coupons. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, Debt Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Securityholder surrendering the same.

 

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

 

THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBT SECURITIES, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

 

  A- 9  

 

 

Exhibit 4.11

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) is dated as of March 11, 2016, by and between Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (“Ameris”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Jacksonville”), and the Trustee entered into an Indenture dated as of June 20, 2008 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2038 (the “Debt Securities”) have been issued by Jacksonville; and

 

WHEREAS, on the date of this Supplemental Indenture, Jacksonville has been merged with and into Ameris, with Ameris being the surviving corporation (the “Merger”), whereupon the separate corporate existence of Jacksonville has ceased; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 11.01 of the Indenture requires that Ameris expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee by Ameris, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on all of the Debt Securities in accordance with their terms, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept or performed by Jacksonville; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 9.01(a) of the Indenture authorizes, without the consent of any Securityholders, the execution of a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession of another corporation to Jacksonville, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements, and obligations of Jacksonville under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, Jacksonville has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Merger and this Supplemental Indenture comply with Article IX of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to the Merger have been complied with, and Ameris has delivered an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect; and

 

WHEREAS, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in compliance with Section 11.01 of the Indenture, and in consideration of the covenants contained herein and intending to be legally bound hereby, Ameris and the Trustee, for the benefit of the Securityholders, agree as follows:

 

1.           Assumption of Payment and Performance. Ameris hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debt Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture on the part of Jacksonville to be performed or observed.

 

2.          Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of this Supplemental Indenture, (i) the Indenture has been and hereby is modified in accordance herewith; (ii) this Supplemental Indenture forms a part of the Indenture for all purposes; (iii) except as modified and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture shall continue in full force and effect; (iv) the Debt Securities shall continue to be governed by the Indenture; and (v) every Securityholder heretofore or hereafter under the Indenture shall be bound by this Supplemental Indenture.

 

 

 

 

3.           Notation on Debt Securities. Debt Securities authenticated and delivered on or after the date hereof shall bear the following notation, which may be printed or typewritten thereon:

 

“Effective March 11, 2016, Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Jacksonville”), was merged with and into Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (“Ameris”). Pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 11, 2016, Ameris has assumed the obligations of Jacksonville and the performance of every covenant and condition of the Indenture on the part of Jacksonville to be performed or observed.”

 

If Ameris shall so determine, new Debt Securities so modified as to conform to the Indenture as hereby supplemented, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, may at any time hereafter be prepared and executed by Ameris and, upon receipt of a written order from Ameris, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in exchange for the Debt Securities then outstanding, and thereafter the notation herein provided shall no longer be required. Anything herein or in the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the failure to affix the notation herein provided as to any Debt Security or to exchange any Debt Security for a new Debt Security modified as herein provided shall not affect any of the rights of the holder of such Debt Security.

 

4.           The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by Ameris.

 

5.           Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles thereof.

 

6.           Successors and Assigns. This Supplemental Indenture shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto and the holders of any Debt Securities then outstanding.

 

7.           Headings. The headings used in this Supplemental Indenture are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

8.           Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

  AMERIS BANCORP
     
  By: /s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
  WELLS FARGO BANK,
  NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Melody Kitchen
    Melody Kitchen
    Assistant Vice President

 

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