As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2003

Registration No. 333-          

 


 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

BP Capital Markets America Inc.       BP Capital Markets p.l.c.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)       (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE       ENGLAND and WALES
(State or other jurisdiction of       (State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)       Incorporation or organization)
74-3028746       Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4101 Winfield Road

Warrenville, Illinois 60555

(630) 821-2222

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)

     

Breakspear Park

Breakspear Way

Hemel Hempstead

Herts HP2 4UL, England

01442 232323

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)


 
 
BP Canada Finance Company   BP p.l.c.   BP Australia Capital Markets Limited
(ACN 006 507 768)
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
NOVA SCOTIA   ENGLAND and WALES   AUSTRALIA
(State or other jurisdiction of   (State or other jurisdiction of   (State or other jurisdiction of
Incorporation or organization)   Incorporation or organization)   Incorporation or organization)
Not Applicable   Not Applicable   Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

240 – 4th Avenue S.W.

Calgary, Alberta

Canada, T2P 4H4

(403) 233-1313

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

1 St. James’s Square

London, SW1Y 4PD, England

(011) 44-20-7496-4000

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Daniel B. Pinkert

Corporate Secretary

BP America Inc.

4101 Winfield Road

Warrenville, Illinois 60555

(630) 821-2222

(Name, address and telephone number

of agent for service)

 

Level 29

The Tower

Melbourne Central

360 Elizabeth Street

Melbourne 3000

Victoria, Australia

(011) 61-3-9268-4111

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

Please send copies of all communications to:

Robert E. Buckholz, Jr., Esq.

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

(212) 558-4000

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement as determined by market conditions.

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

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box.   x

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

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

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.   ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 


Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered    Amount to
be
Registered(1)
   Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
per Unit(2)(3)
   Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)
   Amount of
Registration
Fee

Guaranteed Debt Securities(4)

   $9,147,000,000    100%    $9,147,000,000    $739,992.30

               

Guarantees of the Debt Securities

                   

(1) In U.S. dollars or their equivalent in foreign denominated currencies or composite currencies.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
(3) In no event will the aggregate initial public offering price of the securities issued under this Registration Statement exceed $9,147,000,000 or if any Debt Securities are issued (i) at an original issue discount, such greater amount as shall result in aggregate net proceeds not in excess of $9,147,000,000 to the Registrants or (ii) with a principal amount denominated in a foreign currency or composite currency, such amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price equivalent to a maximum of $9,147,000,000.
(4) Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no separate fee for the Guarantees is payable.

 


 

The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

 



The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion. Dated November 3, 2003

 

 

$9,147,000,000

 

 

BP CAPITAL MARKETS AMERICA INC.

 

BP CAPITAL MARKETS P.L.C.

 

BP CANADA FINANCE COMPANY

 

BP AUSTRALIA CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED

 

 

GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES

 

Fully and unconditionally guaranteed by

 

BP p.l.c.

 


 

BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited may use this prospectus to offer from time to time guaranteed debt securities.

 

You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. We may sell these securities to or through underwriters, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1.

 


 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


 

Prospectus dated                     , 2003


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   i

RISK FACTORS

   1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   2

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

   2

BP p.l.c.

   3

DESCRIPTION OF BP DEBT ISSUERS

   4

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

   5

CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS OF BP p.l.c.

   6

USE OF PROCEEDS

   6

LEGAL OWNERSHIP

   7

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES

   9

CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT

   19

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

   23

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   45

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

   47

EXPERTS

   47

ENFORCEABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL LIABILITIES

   48

EXPENSES

   49

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $9,147,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of those securities and their offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Us”.

 

In this prospectus, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited; “BP” refers to BP p.l.c.; the “BP Group” refers to BP and its subsidiaries; and “BP Debt Issuers” refers to BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, collectively, each a “BP Debt Issuer”. Each of the BP Debt Issuers may be the issuer in an offering of debt securities guaranteed by BP.

 

 

 

i


RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in the securities offered using this prospectus involves risk. You should consider carefully the risks described below, together with the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any risk factors included in the prospectus supplement, before you decide to buy our securities. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer, and the trading price and liquidity of the securities offered using this prospectus could decline, in which case you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Relating to BP’s Business

 

There is strong competition, both within the oil industry and with other industries, in supplying the fuel needs of commerce, industry and the home.

 

The oil industry is particularly subject to regulation and intervention by governments throughout the world in such matters as the award of exploration and production interests, the imposition of specific drilling obligations, environmental protection controls, control over the development and decommissioning of a field (including restrictions on production) and, possibly, nationalization, expropriation or cancellation of contract rights.

 

The oil industry is also subject to the payment of royalties and taxation, which tend to be high compared with those payable in respect of other commercial activities.

 

Exploration and production require high levels of investment and have particular economic risks and opportunities. They are subject to natural hazards and other uncertainties, including those relating to the physical characteristics of an oil or natural gas field.

 

Oil prices are subject to international supply and demand. Political developments (especially in the Middle East) and the outcome of meetings of OPEC can particularly affect world oil supply and oil prices.

 

Oil products marketing can be affected by intense competition.

 

Refining profitability can be volatile with both oversupply and periodic supply tightness in various regional markets.

 

Crude oil prices are generally set in dollars while sales of refined products may be in a variety of currencies. Fluctuation in exchange rates can therefore give rise to foreign exchange exposures.

 

Sectors of the chemicals industry are also subject to fluctuations in supply and demand within the chemicals market, with consequent effect on prices and profitability, and to governmental regulation and intervention in such matters as safety and environmental controls.

 

In addition to the adverse effect on revenues, margins and profitability from any future fall in oil and natural gas prices, a prolonged period of low prices or other indicators would lead to a review for impairment of the BP Group’s oil and natural gas properties. This review would reflect management’s view of long-term oil and natural gas prices. Such a review could result in a charge for impairment which could have a significant effect on the BP Group’s results of operations in the period in which it occurs.

 

1


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus, including documents incorporated by reference, and the related prospectus supplement may contain statements regarding our assumptions, projections, expectations, intentions or beliefs about future events. These statements are intended as “Forward-Looking Statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipates’, ‘should’, ‘expects’, ‘estimates’, ‘believes’ or similar expressions. In particular, forward-looking statements include:

 

    certain statements with regard to management aims and objectives, planned expansion, investment or other projects, expected or targeted production volume, capacity or rate, the date or period in which production is scheduled or expected to come on stream or a project or action is scheduled or expected to be completed,

 

    the statements with respect to the BP Group’s ratio of net debt to net debt plus equity, dividend policy, the manner in which BP uses cash surpluses, the target to reduce the combined cost structure of the BP Group, return on average capital employed, production targets, targeted performance improvements and effect on pre-tax results, and levels of annual investment, and

 

    the statements with regard to trends in the trading environment, oil and gas prices, refining, marketing and chemicals margins, inventory and product stock levels, supply capacity, profitability, results of operations, liquidity or financial position.

 

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including:

 

    future levels of industry product supply, demand and pricing;

 

    political stability and economic growth in relevant areas of the world;

 

    development and use of new technology and successful partnering;

 

    the actions of competitors;

 

    natural disasters and other changes in business conditions;

 

    wars and acts of terrorism or sabotage; and

 

    other factors discussed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this document.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US

 

BP files annual reports and other reports and information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document BP files at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, BP’s SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. For further information, call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or log on to http://www.sec.gov.

 

BP’s American depositary shares are listed on the New York, Chicago and Pacific stock exchanges. BP’s ordinary shares are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc and listed in France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. You can consult reports and other information about BP that it filed pursuant to the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange at those exchanges.

 

The SEC allows BP to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents filed with the SEC. This means that BP can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the

 

2


incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When BP updates the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

 

BP incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any documents BP files with the SEC in the future under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) until the offerings made under this prospectus are completed:

 

    Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

    Reports on Form 6-K filed on May 1, 2003, August 1, 2003 and October 31, 2003.

 

Furthermore, BP incorporates by reference any reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC by BP pursuant to the Exchange Act that indicate on their cover page that they are incorporated by reference in this prospectus after the date of this prospectus and before the date that any offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated.

 

The Annual Report on Form 20-F of BP contains a summary description of BP’s business and audited consolidated financial statements with a report by our independent auditors. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United Kingdom. We refer to these accounting principles as U.K. GAAP in this prospectus. The Annual Report on Form 20-F of BP also presents the effects of the differences on our audited consolidated financial statements between U.K. GAAP and generally accepted accounting principles applicable in the United States. We refer to the latter accounting principles as U.S. GAAP in this prospectus.

 

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

 

BP p.l.c.

1 St. James’s Square

London, SW1Y 4PD, England

(011) 44-20-7496-4000

 

You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.

 

BP p.l.c.

 

BP was created on December 31, 1998 by the merger of Amoco Corporation of the United States and The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. of the U.K Following this merger, Amoco Corporation became a wholly-owned subsidiary of The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. and was renamed BP Amoco Corporation, and The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. was renamed BP Amoco p.l.c. Amoco Corporation was incorporated in Indiana, USA, in 1889 and The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. was incorporated in 1909 in England. On April 14, 2000, BP acquired the Atlantic Richfield Company and on July 7, 2000, BP completed its successful tender offer for Burmah Castrol plc of England. To signify the single entity that has successfully been created through these combinations, the name of the company was changed to BP p.l.c. with effect from May 1, 2001.

 

3


DESCRIPTION OF BP DEBT ISSUERS

 

Financial Statements And Issuer Identity

 

We do not present separate financial statements of the BP Debt Issuers in this prospectus because management has determined that they would not be material to investors. BP will fully and unconditionally guarantee the guaranteed debt securities issued by the BP Debt Issuers as to payment of principal, premium, if any, interest and any other amounts due.

 

BP will determine the identity of an issuer relating to a particular series of debt securities in light of considerations related to the funding needs of BP and its consolidated subsidiaries. These include:

 

    the anticipated use of proceeds;

 

    related funding requirements of BP and its consolidated subsidiaries; and

 

    relevant tax considerations.

 

BP Capital Markets America Inc.

 

BP Capital Markets America Inc. (“BP Capital America”) is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BP and was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on February 15, 2002. BP Capital America is a financing vehicle for the BP Group and issues debt securities on behalf of the BP Group. BP Capital America will lend substantially all proceeds of its borrowings to the BP Group.

 

BP Capital Markets p.l.c.

 

BP Capital Markets p.l.c. (“BP Capital U.K.”) is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BP and was incorporated under the laws of England and Wales on December 14, 1976. BP Capital U.K. is a financing vehicle for the BP Group and issues debt securities and commercial paper on behalf of the BP Group. BP Capital U.K. will lend substantially all proceeds of its borrowings to the BP Group.

 

BP Canada Finance Company

 

BP Canada Finance Company (“BP Canada”) is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BP and was incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia on February 18, 2002. BP Canada is a financing vehicle for the BP Group and issues debt securities on behalf of the BP Group. BP Canada will lend substantially all proceeds of its borrowings to the BP Group.

 

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited

 

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (“BP Australia”) is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of BP and was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia on December 18, 1985. BP Australia is a financing vehicle for BP Group and issues debt securities and commercial paper on behalf of BP Group. BP Australia will lend substantially all proceeds of its borrowings to the BP Group.

 

4


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine months ended
September 30,


   Years ended December 31,

     2003

   2002

   2002

   2001

   2000

   1999

   1998

For the BP Group(1)

   16.2    9.3    8.4    8.3    9.7    5.7    4.3

For the BP Group adjusted to accord with U.S. GAAP(2)

   16.9    10.4    9.2    6.5    9.2    5.6    4.1

Fixed charges for both computations consist of interest (including capitalized interest) on all indebtedness, amortization of debt discount and expense and that portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor.

 

(1)   Earnings consist of profit before taxation, after eliminating the BP Group’s share of undistributed income of associated undertakings, plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest).

 

(2)   Earnings consist of the earnings available for payment of fixed charges as determined for BP Group, in accordance with U.K. GAAP, after taking account of adjustments to profit before taxation to accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

5


CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS OF BP p.l.c.

 

The following table shows the unaudited consolidated capitalization and indebtedness of the BP Group as of September 30, 2003:

 

    

As of September 30,
2003

(US$ million)


Share capital

    

Authorized share capital(1)

   9,021

Called up share capital(2,3)

   5,548

Share premium

   3,900

Merger reserve

   27,060

Capital redemption reserve

   523

Other reserves

   146
    

Total share capital

   37,177
    

Finance debt (4-7)

    

Due within one year

   6,811

Due after more than one year

   13,159
    

Total finance debt

   19,970
    

Total Capitalization (8)

   57,147
    

(1) Authorized share capital comprises 36 billion ordinary shares, par value US$0.25 per share, and 12,750,000 cumulative preference shares, par value £1 per share.

 

(2)   Issued and outstanding share capital as of September 30, 2003, comprised 22,107,715,082 ordinary shares, par value US$0.25 per share, and 12,706,252 preference shares, par value £1 per share.

 

(3)   Issued and outstanding share capital as of October 22, 2003, comprised 22,111,686,144 ordinary shares, par value US$0.25 per share, and 12,706,252 preference shares, par value £1 per share.

 

(4)   Finance debt recorded in currencies other than U.S. dollars has been translated into U.S. dollars at the relevant exchange rates existing on September 30, 2003.

 

(5)   Obligations under finance leases are included in the above table.

 

(6)   As of September 30, 2003, BP had outstanding guarantees totaling US$18,648 million, of which US$18,592 million related to guarantees in respect of borrowings by its subsidiary undertakings. Thus 93% of the finance debt had been guaranteed by BP. BP has no material outstanding contingent liabilities. All of BP’s debt is unsecured.

 

(7)   As of October 22, 2003, BP’s outstanding U.S. and Euro commercial paper, reported under Finance debt due within one year in the above table, had increased by US$505 million equivalent.

 

(8)   Apart from the changes in notes (3) and (7) above, there has been no material change since September 30, 2003 in the consolidated capitalization, indebtedness or contingent liabilities for BP.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of securities will be used for general corporate purposes. These include working capital for BP or other companies in the BP Group and the repayment of existing borrowings of BP and its subsidiaries.

 

6


LEGAL OWNERSHIP

 

Street Name and Other Indirect Holders

 

We generally will not recognize investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers as legal holders of securities. When we refer to the holders of securities, we mean only the actual legal and (if applicable) record holder of those securities. Holding securities in accounts at banks or brokers is called holding in street name. If you hold securities in street name, we will recognize only the bank or broker or the financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its securities. These intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along principal, interest and other payments on the securities, either because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required. If you hold securities in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

    how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

    whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

    how it would handle voting if it were ever required to vote;

 

    whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a direct holder as described below; and

 

    how it would pursue rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests.

 

Direct Holders

 

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, under the securities run only to persons who are registered as holders of securities. As noted above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in street name or other indirect means, either because you choose to hold securities in that manner or because the securities are issued in the form of global securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a street name customer but does not do so.

 

Global Securities

 

What is a Global Security?

 

A global security is a special type of indirectly held security, as described above under “Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”. If we choose to issue securities in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be indirect holders.

 

We require that the securities included in the global security not be transferred to the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of the global security is called the depositary. Any person wishing to own a security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary. The prospectus supplement relating to an offering of a series of securities will indicate whether the series will be issued only in the form of global securities.

 

Special Investor Considerations for Global Securities

 

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

 

7


If you are an investor in securities that are issued only in the form of global securities, you should be aware that:

 

    You cannot get securities registered in your own name.

 

    You cannot receive physical certificates for your interest in the securities.

 

    You will be a street name holder and must look to your own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of your legal rights relating to the securities, as explained earlier under “Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”.

 

    You may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in the form of physical certificates.

 

    The depositary’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to your interest in the global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way.

 

    The depositary will require that interests in a global security be purchased or sold within its system using same-day funds. By contrast, payment for purchases and sales in the market for corporate bonds and other securities is generally made in next-day funds. The difference could have some effect on how interests in global securities trade, but we do not know what that effect will be.

 

Special Situations When the Global Security Will Be Terminated

 

In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing securities. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name so that they will be direct holders. The rights of street name investors and direct holders in the securities have been previously described in the subsections entitled “—Street Name and Other Indirect Holders” and “—Direct Holders”.

 

The special situations for termination of a global security are:

 

    When the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary.

 

    When an event of default on the securities has occurred and has not been cured. Defaults on debt securities are discussed below under “Description of Debt Securities and Guarantees—Default and Related Matters—Events of Default”.

 

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or the trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

In the remainder of this description “you” means direct holders and not street name or other indirect holders of securities. Indirect holders should read the previous subsection entitled “Street Name and Other Indirect Holders”.

 

8


DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES

 

Each of the BP Debt Issuers may issue guaranteed debt securities using this prospectus. As required by U.S. federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a document called the indenture. Each of the BP Debt Issuers has entered or will enter into an indenture with JPMorgan Chase Bank.

 

The trustee under each of the indentures has two main roles:

 

    first, it can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described under “Default and Related Matters—Events of Default—Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs” below; and

 

    second, the trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending you interest payments, transferring your debt securities to a new buyer if you sell and sending you notices.

 

BP acts as the guarantor of the guaranteed debt securities issued under the BP Debt Issuers’ indentures. The guarantees are described under “Guarantees” below.

 

The indentures and their associated documents contain the full legal text governing the matters described in this section. The indentures, the debt securities and the guarantees are governed by New York law. The indentures are exhibits to our registration statement. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Us” for information on how to obtain a copy.

 

This section summarizes the material provisions of the indentures, which are substantially identical to each other, the debt securities and the guarantees. However, because it is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the indentures, the debt securities or the guarantees. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indentures, including some of the terms used in the indentures. We describe the meaning for only the more important terms. We also include references in parentheses to some sections of the indentures. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indentures in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series described in the prospectus supplement.

 

The BP Debt Issuers may each issue as many distinct series of debt securities under its respective indenture as it wishes. This section summarizes all material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series.

 

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which are debt securities that are offered and sold at a substantial discount to their stated principal amount. ( Section 101 ) Special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may apply to original issue discount securities. These considerations will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities that may be issued. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any such debt securities.

 

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities are described in the prospectus supplement and the pricing agreement relating to the series. Those terms may vary from the terms described here. Accordingly, this summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the terms of the series described in the prospectus supplement.

 

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The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

 

    which of the BP Debt Issuers is the issuer of the debt securities;

 

    the title of the series of debt securities;

 

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities or on the future offering of additional debt securities beyond any such limit;

 

    any stock exchange on which we will list the series of debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which we will pay the principal of the series of debt securities;

 

    the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, per annum at which the series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which that interest, if any, will accrue;

 

    the dates on which interest, if any, on the series of debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for the interest payment dates;

 

    any mandatory or optional sinking funds or analogous provisions or provisions for redemption at the option of the holder;

 

    the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the series of debt securities may, in accordance with any optional or mandatory redemption provisions that are not described in this prospectus, be redeemed and the other detailed terms and provisions of those optional or mandatory redemption provisions, if any;

 

    the denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000;

 

    the currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in the currency of the United States of America;

 

    any index used to determine the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities;

 

    the applicability of the provisions described later under “Covenants—Defeasance and Discharge”;

 

    whether we will be required to pay additional amounts for withholding taxes or other governmental charges and, if applicable, a related right to an optional tax redemption for such a series;

 

    whether the series of debt securities will be issuable in whole or part in the form of a global security as described under “Legal Ownership—Global Securities”, and the depositary or its nominee with respect to the series of debt securities, and any special circumstances under which the global security may be registered for transfer or exchange in the name of a person other than the depositary or its nominee; and

 

    any other special features of the series of debt securities.

 

Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

Guarantees

 

BP will fully and unconditionally guarantee the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the guaranteed debt securities, including certain additional amounts which may be payable under the guarantees, as described under “—Payment of Additional Amounts”. BP guarantees the payment of such amounts when such amounts become due and payable, whether at the stated maturity of the debt securities, by declaration or acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

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Overview of Remainder of This Description

 

The remainder of this description summarizes:

 

    Additional mechanics relevant to the debt securities under normal circumstances, such as how you transfer ownership and where we make payments.

 

    Your rights under several special situations, such as if we merge with another company or if we want to change a term of the debt securities.

 

    Your rights to receive payment of additional amounts due to changes in U.K., Canada and Australia tax withholding or deduction requirements.

 

    Your rights if we default or experience other financial difficulties.

 

    Our relationship with the trustee .

 

Additional Mechanics

 

Exchange and Transfer

 

You may have your debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Section 305) This is called an exchange.

 

You may exchange or transfer registered debt securities at the office of the trustee. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring registered debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform the service ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It will also register transfers of the registered debt securities. (Section 305)

 

You will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but you may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange of a registered debt security will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

 

If we have designated additional transfer agents, they are named in the prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. (Section 1002)

 

If the debt securities are redeemable and we redeem less than all of the debt securities of a particular series, we may block the transfer or exchange of debt securities during a specified period of time in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. The period begins 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ends on the day of that mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption. However, we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any security being partially redeemed. (Section 305)

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

We will pay interest to you if you are a direct holder listed in the trustee’s records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if you no longer own the security on the interest due date. That particular day, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the regular record date and is stated in the prospectus supplement. (Section 307)

 

We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the registered debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York City. That office is currently located at JPMorgan Chase Bank, 450 West

 

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33rd Street, New York, New York 10001. You must make arrangements to have your payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks. Interest on global securities will be paid to the holder thereof by wire transfer of same-day funds.

 

Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the one who is the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to pro rate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This pro rated interest amount is called accrued interest.

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments.

 

We may also arrange for additional payment offices, and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee’s corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent. We must notify you through the trustee of changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities. (Section 1002)

 

Notices

 

We and the trustee will send notices only to direct holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee’s records. (Section 106)

 

Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money that we pay to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to direct holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, you may look only to us for payment and not to the trustee, any other paying agent or anyone else. (Section 1006)

 

Special Situations

 

Mergers and Similar Events

 

We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company or firm. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another corporation or other entity or to buy or lease substantially all of the assets of another corporation or other entity. No vote by holders of debt securities approving any of these actions is required, unless as part of the transaction we make changes to the indenture requiring your approval, as described below under “—Modification and Waiver”. We may take these actions as part of a transaction involving outside third parties or as part of an internal corporate reorganization. We may take these actions even if they result in:

 

    a lower credit rating being assigned to the debt securities; or

 

    additional amounts becoming payable in respect of U.K., Canadian or Australian withholding tax, and the debt securities thus being subject to redemption at our option, as described below under “—Optional Tax Redemption”.

 

We have no obligation under the indenture to seek to avoid these results, or any other legal or financial effects that are disadvantageous to you, in connection with a merger, consolidation or sale or lease of assets that is permitted under the indenture. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

    Where a BP Debt Issuer or BP, as applicable, merges out of existence or sells or leases substantially all of its assets, the other entity must assume its obligations on the debt securities or the guarantees. Such other entity must be organized under the laws of such BP entity’s jurisdiction or a political subdivision thereof.

 

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    The merger, sale or lease of assets or other transaction must not cause a default on the debt securities, and we must not already be in default. For purposes of this no-default test, a default would include an event of default that has occurred and not been cured, as described below under “Default and Related Matters—Events of Default—What is An Event of Default?” A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

 

    It is possible that the merger, sale or lease of assets or other transaction would cause some of our property to become subject to a mortgage, security interest, lien or other legal mechanism giving lenders preferential rights in that property over other lenders or over our general creditors if we fail to pay them back.

 

It is possible that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service may deem a merger or other similar transaction to cause an exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes of debt securities for new securities by the holders of the debt securities. This could result in the recognition of taxable gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes and possible other adverse tax consequences.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

There are three types of changes we can make to the indentures and the debt securities.

 

Changes Requiring Your Approval.     First, there are changes that cannot be made to your debt securities without your specific approval. We must obtain your specified approval in order to:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on a debt security;

 

    reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

 

    reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a debt security following a default;

 

    change the place or currency of payment on a debt security;

 

    impair your right to sue for payment;

 

    reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indentures;

 

    reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with various provisions of the indentures or to waive various defaults;

 

    modify any other aspect of the provisions dealing with modification and waiver of the indentures; and

 

    change the obligations of BP to pay any principal, premium or interest under the guarantees. (Section 902)

 

Changes Requiring a Majority Vote.     The second type of change to the indentures and the debt securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by holders of debt securities owning a majority of the principal amount of the particular series affected. Most changes fall into this category, except for clarifying changes and other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the debt securities in any material respect. The same vote would be required for us to obtain a waiver of all or part of the covenants described below, or a waiver of a past default. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or any other aspect of the indentures or the debt securities listed in the first category described previously under “Changes Requiring Your Approval” unless we obtain your individual consent to the waiver. (Section 513)

 

Changes Not Requiring Approval.     The third type of change does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the debt securities in any material respect. (Section 901)

 

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Further Details Concerning Voting.     When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal amount to attribute to a security:

 

    For original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of the debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default.

 

    For debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that security described in the prospectus supplement.

 

    For debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date of original issuance.

 

    Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust for you money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Covenants—Defeasance and Discharge”. ( Section 101 )

 

    We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of a particular series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the record date and must be taken within 90 days following the record date or another period that we may specify (or as the trustee may specify, if it set the record date). We may shorten or lengthen (but not beyond 90 days) this period from time to time. (Sections 501, 502, 512, 513 and 902)

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

 

Redemption and Repayment

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, your debt security will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund—that is, we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate custodial account to repay your debt securities. In addition, we will not be entitled to redeem your debt security before its stated maturity unless the prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date. You will not be entitled to require us to buy your debt security from you, before its stated maturity, unless the related prospectus supplement specifies one or more repayment dates.

 

If the prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date or a repayment date, it will also specify one or more redemption prices or repayment prices, which may be expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of your debt security or by reference to one or more formulae used to determine the redemption price(s). It may also specify one or more redemption periods during which the redemption prices relating to a redemption of debt securities during those periods will apply.

 

If the prospectus supplement specifies a redemption commencement date, we may redeem your debt security at our option at any time on or after that date. If we redeem your debt security, we will do so at the specified redemption price, together with interest accrued to the redemption date. If different prices are specified for different redemption periods, the price we pay will be the price that applies to the redemption period during which your debt security is redeemed.

 

If the prospectus supplement specifies a repayment date, your debt security will be repayable by us at your option on the specified repayment date(s) at the specified repayment price(s), together with interest accrued to the repayment date.

 

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In the event that we exercise an option to redeem any debt security, we will give written notice of the principal amount of the debt security to be redeemed to the trustee at least 45 days before the applicable redemption date and to the holder not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days before the applicable redemption date. We will give the notice in the manner described above under “Additional Mechanics—Notices”.

 

If a debt security represented by a global security is subject to repayment at the holder’s option, the depositary or its nominee, as the holder, will be the only person that can exercise the right to repayment. Any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security and wish to exercise a repayment right must give proper and timely instructions to their banks or brokers through which they hold their interests, requesting that they notify the depositary to exercise the repayment right on their behalf. Different firms have different deadlines for accepting instructions from their customers, and you should take care to act promptly enough to ensure that your request is given effect by the depositary before the applicable deadline for exercise.

 

Street name and other indirect holders should contact their banks or brokers for information about how to exercise a repayment right in a timely manner.

 

We or our affiliates may purchase debt securities from investors who are willing to sell from time to time, either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Debt securities that we or they purchase may, in our discretion, be held, resold or canceled.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

The government of any jurisdiction where BP or BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia is incorporated may require BP or BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia to withhold or deduct amounts from payments on the principal or interest on a debt security or any amounts to be paid under the guarantees for or on account of taxes or any other governmental charges. If the jurisdiction requires a withholding or deduction of this type, BP or BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia, as the case may be, may be required to pay you an additional amount so that the net amount you receive will be the amount specified in the debt security to which you are entitled. However, in order for you to be entitled to receive the additional amount, you must not be resident in the jurisdiction that requires the withholding or deduction.

 

BP or BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia, as the case may be, will not have to pay additional amounts under any of the following circumstances:

 

    The U.S. government or any political subdivision of the U.S. government is the entity that is imposing the tax or governmental charge.

 

    The tax or governmental charge is imposed due to the presentation of a debt security, if presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the security became due or after the payment was provided for.

 

    The tax or governmental charge is on account of an estate, inheritance, gift, sale, transfer, personal property or similar tax or other governmental charge.

 

    The tax or governmental charge is for a tax or governmental charge that is payable in a manner that does not involve withholdings.

 

    The tax or governmental charge is imposed or withheld because the holder or beneficial owner failed:

 

    to provide information about the nationality, residence or identity of the holder or beneficial owner, or

 

    to make a declaration or satisfy any information requirements, that the statutes, treaties, regulations or administrative practices of the taxing jurisdiction require as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax or governmental charge.

 

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    The withholding or deduction is imposed pursuant to the European Union Directive approved on June 3, 2003, regarding taxation of, and information exchange among member states of the European Union with respect to, interest income, or any law implementing such directive.

 

    The withholding or deduction is imposed on a holder or beneficial owner who could have avoided such withholding or deduction by presenting its debt securities to another paying agent.

 

    The holder is a fiduciary or partnership or an entity that is not the sole beneficial owner of the payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any security, and the laws of the jurisdiction require the payment to be included in the income of a beneficiary or settlor for tax purposes with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the holder of such security.

 

In addition, BP Canada will not have to pay additional amounts under either of the following circumstances:

 

    The debt security is presented for payment by, or by a third party on behalf of, a holder in respect of whom such taxes or duties are required to be withheld or deducted by reason of the holder being a person with whom BP Canada or BP are not dealing at arm’s length (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)).

 

    The debt security is presented for payment by, or by a third party on behalf of, a holder in respect of whom such taxes or duties would not have been imposed but for the failure of the holder to comply with any requirement under relevant income tax treaties or Canadian statutes and regulations (or any administrative practice in Canada) to claim or establish entitlement to exemption from or reduction of such taxes or duties.

 

In addition, BP Australia will not have to pay additional amounts payable if the holder is an associate of BP Australia for the purposes of section 128F of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 of Australia.

 

These provisions will also apply to any taxes or governmental charges imposed by any jurisdiction in which a successor to BP is organized. The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities may describe additional circumstances in which BP would not be required to pay additional amounts. (Section 1010)

 

Optional Tax Redemption

 

We may also have the option to redeem the debt securities of a given series if, as a result of any change in United Kingdom, Canadian or Australian tax treatment, BP, BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia would be required to pay additional amounts as described above under “—Payment of Additional Amounts”. This option applies only in the case of changes in United Kingdom, Canadian or Australian tax treatment that occur on or after the date specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable series of debt securities. The redemption price for the debt securities, other than original issue discount debt securities, will be equal to the principal amount of the debt securities being redeemed plus accrued interest. The redemption price for original issue discount debt securities will be specified in the prospectus supplement for such securities. (Section 1108)

 

Event Risk Provisions

 

The debt securities do not contain event risk provisions designed to require BP or the BP Debt Issuers to redeem the debt securities, reset the interest rate or take other actions in response to highly leveraged transactions, changes in credit ratings or similar occurrences.

 

Defeasance and Discharge

 

The following discussion of full defeasance and discharge will be applicable to your series of debt securities only if we choose to have them apply to that series. If we do so choose, we will state that in the prospectus supplement. (Section 403)

 

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We can legally release ourselves from any payment or other obligations on the debt securities, except for various obligations described below, if we, in addition to other actions, put in place the following arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

    We must deposit in trust for your benefit and the benefit of all other direct holders of the debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates. In addition, on the date of such deposit, we must not be in default. For purposes of this no-default test, a default would include an event of default that has occurred and not been cured, as described below under “Default and Related Matters—Events of Default—What is An Event of Default?” A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded.

 

    We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that under current U.S. federal income tax law we may make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves. In the case of debt securities being discharged, we must deliver along with this opinion a private letter ruling from U.S. Internal Revenue Service to this effect or a revenue ruling pertaining to a comparable form of transaction to that effect published by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to the same effect.

 

    If the debt securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that the deposit, defeasance and discharge will not cause the debt securities to be delisted.

 

However, even if we take these actions, a number of our obligations relating to the debt securities will remain. These include the following obligations:

 

    to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities;

 

    to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities;

 

    to maintain paying agencies; and

 

    to hold money for payment in trust.

 

Default and Related Matters

 

Ranking

 

The debt securities are not secured by any of our property or assets. Accordingly, your ownership of debt securities means you are one of our unsecured creditors. The debt securities are not subordinated to any of our other debt obligations and therefore they rank equally with all our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

Events of Default

 

You will have special rights if an event of default occurs and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

 

What Is an Event of Default?     The term “event of default” means any of the following:

 

    We do not pay the principal or any premium on a debt security at maturity.

 

    We do not pay interest on a debt security within 30 days of its due date.

 

    We do not deposit any sinking fund payment on its due date.

 

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    We remain in breach of a covenant or any other term of the indentures for 90 days after we receive a notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the affected series.

 

    We file for bankruptcy or certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

    Any other event of default described in the prospectus supplement occurs. (Section 501 )

 

Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs.     If an event of default has occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series if certain conditions are met. (Section 502)

 

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability. This protection is called an indemnity. (Section 603) If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. These majority holders may also direct the trustee in performing any other action under the indenture. (Section 512)

 

Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

    You must give the trustee written notice that an event of default has occurred and remains uncured.

 

    The holders of 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default, and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action.

 

    The trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity. (Section 507)

 

Street name and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and to make or cancel a declaration of acceleration.

 

We will furnish to the trustee every year a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default. (Section 1008)

 

Regarding the Trustee

 

BP and several of its subsidiaries maintain banking relations with the trustee group of companies in the ordinary course of their business.

 

If an event of default occurs, or an event occurs that would be an event of default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded, the trustee may be considered to have a conflicting interest with respect to the debt securities or the applicable indenture for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. In that case, the trustee may be required to resign as trustee under the applicable indenture and we would be required to appoint a successor trustee.

 

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CLEARANCE AND SETTLEMENT

 

Securities we issue may be held through one or more international and domestic clearing systems. The principal clearing systems we will use are the book-entry systems operated by The Depositary Trust Company (“DTC”) in the United States, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, in Luxembourg (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”) and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. in Brussels, Belgium (“Euroclear”). These systems have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates.

 

Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market. Where payments for securities we issue in global form will be made in U.S. dollars, these procedures can be used for cross-market transfers and the securities will be cleared and settled on a delivery against payment basis.

 

Cross-market transfers of securities that are not in global form may be cleared and settled in accordance with other procedures that may be established among the clearing systems for these securities. Investors in securities that are issued outside of the United States, its territories and possessions must initially hold their interests through Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or the clearance system that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The policies of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchange and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in securities held by them. This is also true for any other clearance system that may be named in a prospectus supplement.

 

We have no responsibility for any aspect of the actions of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We also do not supervise these systems in any way. This is also true for any other clearing system indicated in a prospectus supplement.

 

DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.

 

The description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.

 

The Clearing Systems

 

DTC

 

DTC has advised us as follows:

 

    DTC is:

 

    a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

    a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

    a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

    a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

    DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes to accounts of its participants. This eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates.

 

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    Participants in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. DTC is partially owned by some of these participants or their representatives.

 

    Indirect access to the DTC system is also available to banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that have relationships with participants.

 

    The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC.

 

Clearstream, Luxembourg

 

Clearstream, Luxembourg has advised us as follows:

 

    Clearstream, Luxembourg is a duly licensed bank organized as a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier).

 

    Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its customers. This eliminates the need for physical movement of certificates.

 

    Clearstream, Luxembourg provides other services to its participants, including safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and lending and borrowing of securities. It interfaces with the domestic markets in over 30 countries through established depositary and custodial relationships.

 

    Clearstream, Luxembourg’s customers include worldwide securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include professional financial intermediaries. Its U.S. customers are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks.

 

    Indirect access to the Clearstream, Luxembourg system is also available to others that clear through Clearstream, Luxembourg customers or that have custodial relationships with its customers, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies.

 

Euroclear

 

Euroclear has advised us as follows:

 

    Euroclear is incorporated under the laws of Belgium as a bank and is subject to regulation by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission (Commission Bancaire et Financière) and the National Bank of Belgium (Banque Nationale de Belgique).

 

    Euroclear holds securities for its customers and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among them. It does so through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.

 

    Euroclear provides other services to its customers, including credit custody, lending and borrowing of securities and tri-party collateral management. It interfaces with the domestic markets of several other countries.

 

    Euroclear customers include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other professional financial intermediaries.

 

    Indirect access to the Euroclear system is also available to others that clear through Euroclear customers or that have relationships with Euroclear customers.

 

    All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis. This means that specific certificates are not matched to specific securities clearance accounts.

 

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Other Clearing Systems

 

We may choose any other clearing system for a particular series of securities. The clearance and settlement procedures for the clearing system we choose will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Primary Distribution

 

The distribution of the securities will be cleared through one or more of the clearing systems that we have described above or any other clearing system that is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Payment for securities will be made on a delivery versus payment or free delivery basis. These payment procedures will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Clearance and settlement procedures may vary from one series of securities to another according to the currency that is chosen for the specific series of securities. Customary clearance and settlement procedures are described below.

 

We will submit applications to the relevant system or systems for the securities to be accepted for clearance. The clearance numbers that are applicable to each clearance system will be specified in the prospectus supplement.

 

Clearance and Settlement Procedures—DTC

 

DTC participants that hold securities through DTC on behalf of investors will follow the settlement practices applicable to United States corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.

 

Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of these DTC participants against payment in same-day funds, for payments in U.S. dollars, on the settlement date. For payments in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities will be credited free of payment on the settlement date.

 

Clearance and Settlement Procedures—Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg

 

We understand that investors that hold their securities through Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form for debt securities, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.

 

Securities will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.

 

Secondary Market Trading

 

Trading between DTC Participants

 

Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to United States corporate debt obligations in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System for debt securities, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.

 

If payment is made in U.S. dollars, settlement will be in same-day funds. If payment is made in a currency other than U.S. dollars, settlement will be free of payment. If payment is made other than in U.S. dollars, separate payment arrangements outside of the DTC system must be made between the DTC participants involved.

 

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Trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg Participants

 

We understand that secondary market trading between Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in registered form for debt securities, or such other procedures as are applicable for other securities.

 

Trading between a DTC Seller and a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg Purchaser

 

A purchaser of securities that are held in the account of a DTC participant must send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg at least one business day prior to settlement. The instructions will provide for the transfer of the securities from the selling DTC participant’s account to the account of the purchasing Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participant. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will then instruct the common depositary for Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg to receive the securities either against payment or free of payment.

 

The interests in the securities will be credited to the respective clearing system. The clearing system will then credit the account of the participant, following its usual procedures. Credit for the securities will appear on the next day, European time. Cash debit will be back-valued to, and the interest on the securities will accrue from, the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If the trade fails and settlement is not completed on the intended date, the Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash debit will be valued as of the actual settlement date instead.

 

Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will need the funds necessary to process same-day funds settlement. The most direct means of doing this is to preposition funds for settlement, either from cash or from existing lines of credit, as for any settlement occurring within Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg. Under this approach, participants may take on credit exposure to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg until the securities are credited to their accounts one business day later.

 

As an alternative, if Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg has extended a line of credit to them, participants can choose not to preposition funds and will instead allow that credit line to be drawn upon to finance settlement. Under this procedure, Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants purchasing securities would incur overdraft charges for one business day (assuming they cleared the overdraft as soon as the securities were credited to their accounts). However, interest on the securities would accrue from the value date. Therefore, in many cases, the investment income on securities that is earned during that one business day period may substantially reduce or offset the amount of the overdraft charges. This result will, however, depend on each participant’s particular cost of funds.

 

Because the settlement will take place during New York business hours, DTC participants will use their usual procedures to deliver securities to the depositary on behalf of Euroclear participants or Clearstream, Luxembourg participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. For the DTC participants, then, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

 

Special Timing Considerations

 

You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the securities through Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.

 

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In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the securities, or to receive or make a payment or delivery of the securities, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear is used.

 

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

United States Taxation

 

This section describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of owning the debt securities described in this prospectus. It applies to you only if you acquire debt securities in the offering or offerings contemplated by this prospectus and you hold your debt securities as capital assets for tax purposes. It is the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, our U.S. counsel. This section does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

    a dealer in securities or currencies,

 

    a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings,

 

    a bank,

 

    a life insurance company,

 

    a tax-exempt organization,

 

    a person that owns debt securities that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate or currency risks,

 

    a person that owns debt securities as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes, or

 

    a United States holder (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar.

 

This section deals only with debt securities that are due to mature 30 years or less from the date on which they are issued. The United States federal income tax consequences of owning debt securities that are due to mature more than 30 years from their date of issue will be discussed in an applicable prospectus supplement. This section is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations under the Code, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the consequences of owning these debt securities in your particular circumstances under the Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

United States Holders

 

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States holder. You are a United States holder if you are a beneficial owner of a debt security and you are:

 

    a citizen or resident of the United States,

 

    a domestic corporation,

 

    an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source, or

 

    a trust if a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

 

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If you are not a United States holder, this subsection does not apply to you and you should refer to “—United States Alien Holders” below.

 

Payments of Interest.

 

Except as described below in the case of interest on a discount debt security that is not qualified stated interest each as defined below under “—Original Issue Discount—General”, you will be taxed on any interest on your debt security, whether payable in U.S. dollars or a foreign currency, including a composite currency or basket of currencies other than U.S. dollars, as ordinary income at the time you receive the interest or when it accrues, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes.

 

Interest paid on, and original issue discount (as described below under “Original Issue Discount”), if any, accrued with respect to the debt securities that are issued by BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia and any additional amounts paid with respect to withholding tax on the debt securities, including withholding tax on payments of such additional amounts, constitutes income from sources outside the United States, but, with certain exceptions, will be “passive” or “financial services” income, which is treated separately from other types of income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to a United States Holder.

 

Cash Basis Taxpayers .     If you are a taxpayer that uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting for tax purposes and you receive an interest payment that is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, you must recognize income equal to the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment, based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether you actually convert the payment into U.S. dollars.

 

Accrual Basis Taxpayers . If you are a taxpayer that uses an accrual method of accounting for tax purposes, you may determine the amount of income that you recognize with respect to an interest payment denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency by using one of two methods. Under the first method, you will determine the amount of income accrued based on the average exchange rate in effect during the interest accrual period or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, that part of the period within the taxable year.

 

If you elect the second method, you would determine the amount of income accrued on the basis of the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period, or, in the case of an accrual period that spans two taxable years, the exchange rate in effect on the last day of the part of the period within the taxable year. Additionally, under this second method, if you receive a payment of interest within five business days of the last day of your accrual period or taxable year, you may instead translate the interest accrued into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the day that you actually receive the interest payment. If you elect the second method it will apply to all debt instruments that you hold at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies and to all debt instruments that you subsequently acquire. You may not revoke this election without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service.

 

When you actually receive an interest payment, including a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or retirement of your debt security, denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency for which you accrued an amount of income, you will recognize ordinary income or loss measured by the difference, if any, between the exchange rate that you used to accrue interest income and the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether you actually convert the payment into U.S. dollars.

 

Original Issue Discount

 

General .     If you own a debt security, other than a short-term debt security with a term of one year or less, it will be treated as a discount debt security issued at an original issue discount if the amount by which the debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is more than a de minimis amount. Generally, a debt security’s issue price will be the first price at which a substantial amount of debt securities

 

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included in the issue of which the debt security is a part is sold to persons other than bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers. A debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity is the total of all payments provided by the debt security that are not payments of qualified stated interest. Generally, an interest payment on a debt security is qualified stated interest if it is one of a series of stated interest payments on a debt security that are unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate, with certain exceptions for lower rates paid during some periods, applied to the outstanding principal amount of the debt security. There are special rules for variable rate debt securities that are discussed under “—Variable Rate Debt Securities”.

 

In general, your debt security is not a discount debt security if the amount by which its stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price is less than the de minimis amount of ¼ of 1 percent of its stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to its maturity. Your debt security will have de minimis original issue discount if the amount of the excess is less than the de minimis amount. If your debt security has de minimis original issue discount, you must include the de minimis amount in income as stated principal payments are made on the debt security, unless you make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”. You can determine the includible amount with respect to each such payment by multiplying the total amount of your debt security’s de minimis original issue discount by a fraction equal to:

 

    the amount of the principal payment made; divided by:

 

    the stated principal amount of the debt security.

 

Generally, if your discount debt security matures more than one year from its date of issue, you must include original issue discount, or OID, in income before you receive cash attributable to that income. The amount of OID that you must include in income is calculated using a constant-yield method, and generally you will include increasingly greater amounts of OID in income over the life of your debt security. More specifically, you can calculate the amount of OID that you must include in income by adding the daily portions of OID with respect to your discount debt security for each day during the taxable year or portion of the taxable year that you hold your discount debt security. You can determine the daily portion by allocating to each day in any accrual period a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to that accrual period. You may select an accrual period of any length with respect to your discount debt security and you may vary the length of each accrual period over the term of your discount debt security. However, no accrual period may be longer than one year and each scheduled payment of interest or principal on the discount debt security must occur on either the first or final day of an accrual period.

 

You can determine the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period by:

 

    multiplying your discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period by your debt security’s yield to maturity, and then

 

    subtracting from this figure the sum of the payments of qualified stated interest on your debt security allocable to the accrual period.

 

You must determine the discount debt security’s yield to maturity on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and adjusting for the length of each accrual period. Further, you determine your discount debt security’s adjusted issue price at the beginning of any accrual period by:

 

    adding your discount debt security’s issue price and any accrued OID for each prior accrual period, and then

 

    subtracting any payments previously made on your discount debt security that were not qualified stated interest payments.

 

If an interval between payments of qualified stated interest on your discount debt security contains more than one accrual period, then, when you determine the amount of OID allocable to an accrual period, you must

 

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allocate the amount of qualified stated interest payable at the end of the interval, including any qualified stated interest that is payable on the first day of the accrual period immediately following the interval, pro rata to each accrual period in the interval based on their relative lengths. In addition, you must increase the adjusted issue price at the beginning of each accrual period in the interval by the amount of any qualified stated interest that has accrued prior to the first day of the accrual period but that is not payable until the end of the interval. You may compute the amount of OID allocable to an initial short accrual period by using any reasonable method if all other accrual periods, other than a final short accrual period, are of equal length.

 

The amount of OID allocable to the final accrual period is equal to the difference between:

 

    the amount payable at the maturity of your debt security, other than any payment of qualified stated interest, and

 

    your debt security’s adjusted issue price as of the beginning of the final accrual period.

 

Acquisition Premium .    If you purchase your debt security for an amount that is less than or equal to the sum of all amounts, other than qualified stated interest, payable on your debt security after the purchase date but is greater than the amount of your debt security’s adjusted issue price, as determined above under “—General”, the excess is acquisition premium. If you do not make the election described below under “—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”, then you must reduce the daily portions of OID by a fraction equal to:

 

    the excess of your adjusted basis in the debt security immediately after purchase over the adjusted issue price of the debt security; divided by:

 

    the excess of the sum of all amounts payable, other than qualified stated interest, on the debt security after the purchase date over the debt security’s adjusted issue price.

 

Pre-Issuance Accrued Interest .     An election may be made to decrease the issue price of your debt security by the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest if:

 

    a portion of the initial purchase price of your debt security is attributable to pre-issuance accrued interest,

 

    the first stated interest payment on your debt security is to be made within one year of your debt security’s issue date, and

 

    the payment will equal or exceed the amount of pre-issuance accrued interest.

 

If this election is made, a portion of the first stated interest payment will be treated as a return of the excluded pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount payable on your debt security.

 

Debt Securities Subject to Contingencies Including Optional Redemption .     Your debt security is subject to a contingency if it provides for an alternative payment schedule or schedules applicable upon the occurrence of a contingency or contingencies, other than a remote or incidental contingency, whether such contingency relates to payments of interest or of principal. In such a case, you must determine the yield and maturity of your debt security by assuming that the payments will be made according to the payment schedule most likely to occur if:

 

    the timing and amounts of the payments that comprise each payment schedule are known as of the issue date and

 

    one of such schedules is significantly more likely than not to occur.

 

If there is no single payment schedule that is significantly more likely than not to occur, other than because of a mandatory sinking fund, you must include income on your debt security in accordance with the general rules that govern contingent payment obligations. These rules will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Notwithstanding the general rules for determining yield and maturity, if your debt security is subject to contingencies, and either you or we have an unconditional option or options that, if exercised, would require payments to be made on the debt security under an alternative payment schedule or schedules, then:

 

    in the case of an option or options that we may exercise, we will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that minimizes the yield on your debt security and

 

    in the case of an option or options that you may exercise, you will be deemed to exercise or not exercise an option or combination of options in the manner that maximizes the yield on your debt security.

 

If both you and we hold options described in the preceding sentence, those rules will apply to each option in the order in which they may be exercised. You may determine the yield on your debt security for the purposes of those calculations by using any date on which your debt security may be redeemed or repurchased as the maturity date and the amount payable on the date that you chose in accordance with the terms of your debt security as the principal amount payable at maturity.

 

If a contingency, including the exercise of an option, actually occurs or does not occur contrary to an assumption made according to the above rules then, except to the extent that a portion of your debt security is repaid as a result of this change in circumstances and solely to determine the amount and accrual of OID, you must redetermine the yield and maturity of your debt security by treating your debt security as having been retired and reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to your debt security’s adjusted issue price on that date.

 

Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount .     You may elect to include in gross income all interest that accrues on your debt security using the constant-yield method described above under “—General”, with the modifications described below. For purposes of this election, interest will include stated interest, OID, de minimis original issue discount, market discount, de minimis market discount and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium, described below under “—Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium,” or acquisition premium.

 

If you make this election for your debt security, then, when you apply the constant-yield method:

 

    the issue price of your debt security will equal your cost,

 

    the issue date of your debt security will be the date you acquired it, and

 

    no payments on your debt security will be treated as payments of qualified stated interest.

 

Generally, this election will apply only to the debt security for which you make it; however, if the debt security has amortizable bond premium, you will be deemed to have made an election to apply amortizable bond premium against interest for all debt instruments with amortizable bond premium, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold as of the beginning of the taxable year to which the election applies or any taxable year thereafter. Additionally, if you make this election for a market discount debt security, you will be treated as having made the election discussed below under “—Market Discount” to include market discount in income currently over the life of all debt instruments that you currently own or later acquire. You may not revoke any election to apply the constant-yield method to all interest on a debt security or the deemed elections with respect to amortizable bond premium or market discount debt securities without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Variable Rate Debt Securities .     Your debt security will be a variable rate debt security if:

 

    your debt security’s issue price does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments by more than the lesser of:

 

    .015 multiplied by the product of the total noncontingent principal payments and the number of complete years to maturity from the issue date, or

 

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    15 percent of the total noncontingent principal payments; and

 

    your debt security provides for stated interest, compounded or paid at least annually, only at:

 

    one or more qualified floating rates,

 

    a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates,

 

    a single objective rate, or

 

    a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate.

 

Your debt security will have a variable rate that is a qualified floating rate if:

 

    variations in the value of the rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which your debt security is denominated; or

 

    the rate is equal to such a rate multiplied by either:

 

    a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35 or

 

    a fixed multiple greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate; and

 

    the value of the rate on any date during the term of your debt security is set no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

 

If your debt security provides for two or more qualified floating rates that are within 0.25 percentage points of each other on the issue date or can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the debt security, the qualified floating rates together constitute a single qualified floating rate.

 

Your debt security will not have a qualified floating rate, however, if the rate is subject to certain restrictions (including caps, floors, governors, or other similar restrictions) unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the debt security or are not reasonably expected to significantly affect the yield on the debt security.

 

Your debt security will have a variable rate that is a single objective rate if:

 

    the rate is not a qualified floating rate,

 

    the rate is determined using a single, fixed formula that is based on objective financial or economic information that is not within the control of or unique to the circumstances of the issuer or a related party, and

 

    the value of the rate on any date during the term of your debt security is set no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

 

Your debt security will not have a variable rate that is an objective rate, however, if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of your debt security’s term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the final half of your debt security’s term.

 

An objective rate as described above is a qualified inverse floating rate if:

 

    the rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate and

 

    the variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds.

 

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Your debt security will also have a single qualified floating rate or an objective rate if interest on your debt security is stated at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate for a subsequent period, and either:

 

    the fixed rate and the qualified floating rate or objective rate have values on the issue date of the debt security that do not differ by more than 0.25 percentage points or

 

    the value of the qualified floating rate or objective rate is intended to approximate the fixed rate.

 

In general, if your variable rate debt security provides for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, or one of those rates after a single fixed rate for an initial period, all stated interest on your debt security is qualified stated interest. In this case, the amount of OID, if any, is determined by using, in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or, for any other objective rate, a fixed rate that reflects the yield reasonably expected for your debt security.

 

If your variable rate debt security does not provide for stated interest at a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate, and also does not provide for interest payable at a fixed rate other than a single fixed rate for an initial period, you generally must determine the interest and OID accruals on your debt security by:

 

    determining a fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under your variable rate debt security,

 

    constructing the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, using the fixed rate substitute described above,

 

    determining the amount of qualified stated interest and OID with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, and

 

    adjusting for actual variable rates during the applicable accrual period.

 

When you determine the fixed rate substitute for each variable rate provided under the variable rate debt security, you generally will use the value of each variable rate as of the issue date or, for an objective rate that is not a qualified inverse floating rate, a rate that reflects the reasonably expected yield on your debt security.

 

If your variable rate debt security provides for stated interest either at one or more qualified floating rates or at a qualified inverse floating rate, and also provides for stated interest at a single fixed rate other than at a single fixed rate for an initial period, you generally must determine interest and OID accruals by using the method described in the previous paragraph. However, your variable rate debt security will be treated, for purposes of the first three steps of the determination, as if your debt security had provided for a qualified floating rate, or a qualified inverse floating rate, rather than the fixed rate. The qualified floating rate, or qualified inverse floating rate, that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of your variable rate debt security as of the issue date approximates the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the qualified floating rate, or qualified inverse floating rate, rather than the fixed rate.

 

Short-Term Debt Securities.     In general, if you are an individual or other cash basis United States holder of a short-term debt security, you are not required to accrue OID, as specially defined below for the purposes of this paragraph, for United States federal income tax purposes unless you elect to do so (although it is possible that you may be required to include any stated interest in income as you receive it). If you are an accrual basis taxpayer, a taxpayer in a special class, including, but not limited to, a regulated investment company, common trust fund, or a certain type of pass-through entity, or a cash basis taxpayer who so elects, you will be required to accrue OID on short-term debt securities on either a straight-line basis or under the constant-yield method, based on daily compounding. If you are not required and do not elect to include OID in income currently, any gain you realize on the sale or retirement of your short-term debt security will be ordinary income to the extent of the accrued OID, which will be determined on a straight-line basis unless you make an election to accrue the OID under the constant-yield method, through the date of sale or retirement. However, if you are not required and do not elect to accrue OID on your short-term debt securities, you will be required to defer deductions for interest on

 

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borrowings allocable to your short-term debt securities in an amount not exceeding the deferred income until the deferred income is realized.

 

When you determine the amount of OID subject to these rules, you must include all interest payments on your short-term debt security, including stated interest, in your short-term debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity.

 

Foreign Currency Discount Debt Securities.     If your discount debt security is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, you must determine OID for any accrual period on your discount debt security in the foreign currency and then translate the amount of OID into U.S. dollars in the same manner as stated interest accrued by an accrual basis United States holder, as described under “—United States Holders—Payments of Interest”. You may recognize ordinary income or loss when you receive an amount attributable to OID in connection with a payment of interest or the sale or retirement of your debt security.

 

Market Discount

 

You will be treated as if you purchased your debt security, other than a short-term debt security, at a market discount, and your debt security will be a market discount debt security if:

 

    you purchase your debt security for less than its issue price as determined above under “Original Issue Discount—General” and

 

    the difference between the debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a discount debt security, the debt security’s revised issue price, and the price you paid for your debt security is equal to or greater than ¼ of 1 percent of your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or revised issue price, respectively, multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity. To determine the revised issue price of your debt security for these purposes, you generally add any OID that has accrued on your debt security to its issue price.

 

If your debt security’s stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of a discount debt security, its revised issue price, exceeds the price you paid for the debt security by less than ¼ of 1 percent multiplied by the number of complete years to the debt security’s maturity, the excess constitutes de minimis market discount, and the rules discussed below are not applicable to you.

 

You must treat any gain you recognize on the maturity or disposition of your market discount debt security as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount on your debt security. Alternatively, you may elect to include market discount in income currently over the life of your debt security. If you make this election, it will apply to all debt instruments with market discount that you acquire on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke this election without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service. If you own a market discount debt security and do not make this election, you will generally be required to defer deductions for interest on borrowings allocable to your debt security in an amount not exceeding the accrued market discount on your debt security until the maturity or disposition of your debt security.

 

You will accrue market discount on your market discount debt security on a straight-line basis unless you elect to accrue market discount using a constant-yield method. If you make this election, it will apply only to the debt security with respect to which it is made and you may not revoke it.

 

Debt Securities Purchased at a Premium.     If you purchase your debt security for an amount in excess of its principal amount, you may elect to treat the excess as amortizable bond premium. If you make this election, you will reduce the amount required to be included in your income each year with respect to interest on your debt security by the amount of amortizable bond premium allocable to that year, based on your debt security’s yield to maturity. If your debt security is denominated in, or determined by reference to, a foreign currency, you will

 

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compute your amortizable bond premium in units of the foreign currency and your amortizable bond premium will reduce your interest income in units of the foreign currency. Gain or loss recognized that is attributable to changes in exchange rates between the time your amortized bond premium offsets interest income and the time of the acquisition of your debt security is generally taxable as ordinary income or loss. If you make an election to amortize bond premium, it will apply to all debt instruments, other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludible from gross income, that you hold at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or that you thereafter acquire, and you may not revoke it without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service. See also “Original Issue Discount—Election to Treat All Interest as Original Issue Discount”.

 

Purchase, Sale and Retirement of the Debt Securities.     Your tax basis in your debt security will generally be the U.S. dollar cost, as defined below, of your debt security, adjusted by:

 

    adding any OID or market discount, de minimis original issue discount and de minimis market discount previously included in income with respect to your debt security, and then

 

    subtracting any payments on your debt security that are not qualified stated interest payments and any amortizable bond premium applied to reduce interest on your debt security.

 

If you purchase your debt security with foreign currency, the U.S. dollar cost of your debt security will generally be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the date of purchase. However, if you are a cash basis taxpayer, or an accrual basis taxpayer if you so elect, and your debt security is traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations, the U.S. dollar cost of your debt security will be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price on the settlement date of your purchase.

 

You will generally recognize gain or loss on the sale or retirement of your debt security equal to the difference between the amount you realize on the sale or retirement and your tax basis in your debt security. If your debt security is sold or retired for an amount in foreign currency, the amount you realize will be the U.S. dollar value of such amount on:

 

    the date payment is received, if you are a cash basis taxpayer and the debt securities are not traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations,

 

    the date of disposition, if you are an accrual basis taxpayer, or

 

    the settlement date for the sale, if you are a cash basis taxpayer, or an accrual basis taxpayer that so elects, and the debt securities are traded on an established securities market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations.

 

You will recognize capital gain or loss when you sell or retire your debt security, except to the extent:

 

    described above under “—Original Issue Discount—Short-Term Debt Securities” or “—Market Discount”,

 

    attributable to accrued but unpaid interest,

 

    the rules governing contingent payment obligations apply, or

 

    attributable to changes in exchange rates as described below.

 

Capital gain of a noncorporate United States holder that is recognized before January 1, 2009 is generally taxed at a maximum rate of 15% where the holder has a holding period greater than one year.

 

You must treat any portion of the gain or loss that you recognize on the sale or retirement of a debt security as ordinary income or loss to the extent attributable to changes in exchange rates. However, you take exchange gain or loss into account only to the extent of the total gain or loss you realize on the transaction.

 

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Exchange of Amounts in Other Than U.S. Dollars

 

If you receive foreign currency as interest on your debt security or on the sale or retirement of your debt security, your tax basis in the foreign currency will equal its U.S. dollar value when the interest is received or at the time of the sale or retirement. If you purchase foreign currency, you generally will have a tax basis equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency on the date of your purchase. If you sell or dispose of a foreign currency, including if you use it to purchase debt securities or exchange it for U.S. dollars, any gain or loss recognized generally will be ordinary income or loss.

 

Indexed Debt Securities

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will discuss any special United States federal income tax rules with respect to debt securities the payments on which are determined by reference to any index and other debt securities that are subject to the rules governing contingent payment obligations which are not subject to the rules governing variable rate debt securities.

 

United States Alien Holders (BP Capital America)

 

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States alien holder of debt securities issued by BP Capital America. You are a United States alien holder if you are the beneficial owner of a debt security and are, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

    a nonresident alien individual,

 

    a foreign corporation,

 

    a foreign partnership, or

 

    an estate or trust that in either case is not subject to United States federal income tax on a net income basis on income or gain from a debt security.

 

If you are a United States holder, or a holder of debt securities issued by a BP Debt Issuer other than BP Capital America, this subsection does not apply to you.

 

This discussion assumes that the debt security is not subject to the rules of Section 871(h)(4)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to interest payments that are determined by reference to the income, profits, changes in the value of property or other attributes of the debtor or a related party.

 

Under United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, if you are a United States alien holder of a debt security:

 

    we and other U.S. payors generally will not be required to deduct United States withholding tax from payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, including OID, to you if, in the case of payments of interest:

 

    you do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the issuer entitled to vote,

 

    you are not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to the issuer through stock ownership, and

 

    the U.S. payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and:

 

    you have furnished to the U.S. payor an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person,

 

    in the case of payments made outside the United States to you at an offshore account (generally, an account maintained by you at a bank or other financial institution at any location outside the United States), you have furnished to the U.S. payor documentation that establishes your identity and your status as a non-United States person,

 

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    the U.S. payor has received a withholding certificate (furnished on an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an acceptable substitute form) from a person claiming to be:

 

    a withholding foreign partnership (generally a foreign partnership that has entered into an agreement with the Internal Revenue Service to assume primary withholding responsibility with respect to distributions and guaranteed payments it makes to its partners),

 

    a qualified intermediary (generally a non-United States financial institution or clearing organization or a non-United States branch or office of a United States financial institution or clearing organization that is a party to a withholding agreement with the Internal Revenue Service), or

 

    a U.S. branch of a non-United States bank or of a non-United States insurance company, and the withholding foreign partnership, qualified intermediary or U.S. branch has received documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations (or, in the case of a qualified intermediary, in accordance with its agreement with the Internal Revenue Service),

 

    the U.S. payor receives a statement from a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business,

 

    certifying to the U.S. payor under penalties of perjury that an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form has been received from you by it or by a similar financial institution between it and you, and

 

    to which is attached a copy of the Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or acceptable substitute form, or

 

    the U.S. payor otherwise possesses documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations;

 

    no deduction for any United States federal withholding tax will be made from any gain that you realize on the sale or exchange of your debt security.

 

Further, a debt security held by an individual who at death is not a citizen or resident of the United States will not be includible in the individual’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes if:

 

    the decedent did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the issuer entitled to vote at the time of death, and

 

    the income on the debt security would not have been effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the decedent at the same time.

 

United States Alien Holders (BP Capital U.K., BP Canada and BP Australia)

 

This subsection describes the tax consequences to a United States alien holder of debt securities issued by BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia. If you are a United States holder, or a holder of debt securities issued by BP Capital America, this subsection does not apply to you.

 

Payments of Interest

 

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, including OID, on a debt security is exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including withholding tax, whether or not you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States, unless:

 

    you are an insurance company carrying on a U.S. insurance business to which interest is attributable, within the meaning of the Code; or

 

    you have an office or other fixed place of business in the United States to which the interest is attributable and you derive the interest in the active conduct of a banking, financing or similar business within the United States.

 

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Purchase, Sale or Retirement of Debt Securities

 

You generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a debt security unless:

 

    the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States; or

 

    you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days during the taxable year in which the gain is realized and certain other conditions exist.

 

For purposes of U.S. federal estate tax, the debt securities will be treated as situated outside the United States and will not be includable in the gross estate of a holder who is neither a citizen nor a resident of the United States at the time of death.

 

Treasury Regulations Requiring Disclosure of Reportable Transactions

 

Recently-promulgated Treasury regulations require United States taxpayers to report certain transactions that give rise to a loss in excess of certain thresholds (a “Reportable Transaction”). Under these regulations, if the debt securities are denominated in a foreign currency, a United States holder (or a United States alien holder that holds the debt securities in connection with a U.S. trade or business) that recognizes a loss with respect to the debt securities that is characterized as an ordinary loss due to changes in currency exchange rates (under any of the rules discussed above) would be required to report the loss on Internal Revenue Service Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Statement) if the loss exceeds the thresholds set forth in the regulations. For individuals and trusts, this loss threshold is $50,000 in any single taxable year. For other types of taxpayers and other types of losses, the thresholds are higher. You should consult with your tax advisor regarding any tax filing and reporting obligations that may apply in connection with acquiring, owning and disposing of debt securities.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting (BP Capital America)

 

This section describes the backup withholding and information reporting requirements relating to holders of debt securities issued by BP Capital America.

 

In general, if you are a noncorporate United States holder, we and other payors are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service all payments of principal, any premium and interest on your debt security, and the accrual of OID on a discount debt security. In addition, we and other payors are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service any payment of proceeds of the sale of your debt security before maturity within the United States. Additionally, backup withholding will apply to any payments, including payments of OID, if you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number, or you are notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns.

 

In general, if you are a United States alien holder, payments of principal, premium or interest, including OID, made by us and other payors to you will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting, provided that the certification requirements described above under “—United States Alien Holders” are satisfied or you otherwise establish an exemption. However, we and other payors are required to report payments of interest on your debt securities on Internal Revenue Service Form 1042-S even if the payments are not otherwise subject to information reporting requirements. In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale of debt securities effected at a United States office of a broker will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting provided that:

 

    the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished to the broker:

 

    an appropriate Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person, or

 

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    other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payment as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations, or

 

    you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

If you fail to establish an exemption and the broker does not possess adequate documentation of your status as a non-United States person, the payments may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. However, backup withholding will not apply with respect to payments made to an offshore account maintained by you unless the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

 

In general, payment of the proceeds from the sale of debt securities effected at a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if:

 

    the proceeds are transferred to an account maintained by you in the United States,

 

    the payment of proceeds or the confirmation of the sale is mailed to you at a United States address, or

 

    the sale has some other specified connection with the United States as provided in U.S. Treasury regulations,

 

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above (relating to a sale of debt securities effected at a United States office of a broker) are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

In addition, payment of the proceeds from the sale of debt securities effected at a foreign office of a broker will be subject to information reporting if the broker is:

 

    a United States person,

 

    a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes,

 

    a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business for a specified three-year period, or

 

    a foreign partnership, if at any time during its tax year:

 

    one or more of its partners are “U.S. persons”, as defined in U.S. Treasury regulations, who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, or

 

    such foreign partnership is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business,

 

unless the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and the documentation requirements described above (relating to a sale of debt securities effected at a United States office of a broker) are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. Backup withholding will apply if the sale is subject to information reporting and the broker has actual knowledge that you are a United States person.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting (BP Capital U.K., BP Canada and BP Australia)

 

This section describes the backup withholding and information reporting requirements regarding holders of debt securities issued by BP Capital U.K., BP Canada or BP Australia.

 

United States Holders

 

If you are a noncorporate United States holder, information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments of principal and interest on a debt security within the United States, including payments made by wire transfer from outside the United States to an account you maintain in the United States.

 

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Additionally, backup withholding will apply to such payments if you are a noncorporate United States holder that:

 

    fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number,

 

    is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns, or

 

    in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

 

United States Alien Holders

 

If you are a United States alien holder, you are generally exempt from backup withholding and information reporting requirements with respect to:

 

    payments of principal and interest made to you outside the United States by the Company or another non-United States payor and

 

    other payments of principal and interest, as long as the income associated with such payments is otherwise exempt from United States federal income tax, and:

 

    the payor or broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person and you have furnished to the payor or broker:

 

    an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or an acceptable substitute form upon which you certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are a non-United States person, or

 

    other documentation upon which it may rely to treat the payments as made to a non-United States person in accordance with U.S. Treasury regulations, or

 

    you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of debt securities issued by BP Capital U.K., BP Canada and BP Australia will have the same information reporting and backup withholding consequences as payments of the proceeds from the sale of debt securities issued by BP Capital America described above.

 

United Kingdom Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the United Kingdom withholding tax treatment at the date hereof in relation to the payment of principal, interest, discount and premium in respect of the debt securities and also contains a summary of some other salient points relating to the United Kingdom taxation treatment of holders of debt securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, the comments relate only to the position of persons who are absolute beneficial owners of the debt securities and do not deal with the position of certain classes of holders such as dealers. This section is the opinion of the Group General Counsel to BP. Prospective investors who are in any doubt as to their tax positions should consult their professional advisers.

 

1.    Debt securities issued by BP Capital U.K. (“U.K. debt securities”)

 

(A)  While U.K. debt securities continue to be listed on a recognized stock exchange as defined in Section 841 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (which includes the London and Paris Stock Exchanges), payments of interest may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of United Kingdom income tax.

 

(B)  Interest on the debt securities may also be paid without withholding or deduction on account of United Kingdom tax where interest on the debt securities is paid to a person who belongs in the United Kingdom and the Issuer reasonably believes (and any person by or through whom interest on the debt securities is paid reasonably believes) that the beneficial owner is within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax as regards the

 

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payment of interest at the time the payment is made, provided that the Inland Revenue has not given a direction that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it is likely that the beneficial owner is not within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax in respect of such payment of interest at the time the payment is made.

 

(C)  In all cases not falling within paragraph (A) or (B) above, subject to relief under an applicable double taxation treaty, interest on U.K. debt securities will be paid under deduction of United Kingdom income tax at the lower rate (currently 20%) except in the case of interest on U.K. debt securities with a maturity date of less than one year from the date of issue (and the borrowing under such debt securities at no time forms part of a borrowing which is intended to have a total term of one year or more).

 

(D)  Payments on debt securities that, although not expressed to be interest, fail to be treated as yearly interest for United Kingdom tax purposes will also be subject to the withholding tax rules described above. A premium payable on a redemption of a debt security may fall to be treated as yearly interest for United Kingdom tax purposes. When U.K. debt securities are issued at a discount or redeemable at a premium, United Kingdom withholding tax will not apply to the payment of such discount or premium so long as it does not constitute yearly interest for U.K. tax purposes.

 

(E)  Payments, or parts thereof, constituting income in respect of U.K. debt securities have a United Kingdom source and accordingly will be chargeable to United Kingdom tax by direct assessment even if paid without withholding or deduction. However, income in respect of debt securities with a United Kingdom source received without deduction or withholding on account of United Kingdom tax will not be chargeable to United Kingdom tax unless that securities holder carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a United Kingdom branch or agency in connection with which the income is received or to which the debt securities are attributable. There are certain exemptions for income received by certain categories of agent (such as some brokers and investment managers).

 

2.    Debt Securities issued by BP Capital America, BP Canada and BP Australia (“non-U.K. debt securities”)

 

(A)  Payments of interest on non-U.K. debt securities may be made without withholding on account of United Kingdom income tax.

 

(B)  Any income in respect of debt securities issued by BP Capital America, BP Canada or BP Australia acting through a branch located in the United Kingdom may have a United Kingdom source. The statements in paragraphs 1(E) and (F) above will apply to any such income having a United Kingdom source.

 

3.    All debt securities

 

(A)  Holders of debt securities which are companies within the charge to U.K. corporation tax may be subject to U.K. corporation tax on their holding, disposal and redemption (including a part redemption of debt securities that are redeemable in two or more installments) of debt securities. In general, all returns on and fluctuations in the value of the debt securities will be charged to tax as income in accordance with securities holders’ statutory accounting treatment. Such securities holders will generally be charged to tax in each accounting period by reference to the interest accrued in that period. Fluctuations in value relating to foreign exchange gains and losses in respect of the debt securities will also be brought into account as income.

 

(B)  Holders of debt securities who are individuals and who are resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or carry on a trade in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which debt securities are attributable may be subject to U.K. income or capital gains tax on the disposal or redemption (including a part redemption of debt securities that are redeemable in two or more installments) of debt securities. The nature of the tax charge will depend on the terms of the debt securities in question and the particular circumstances of the relevant securities holder. In particular, individual securities holders should have regard, where appropriate, to

 

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the capital gains tax legislation, the “accrued income scheme” and the “relevant discounted securities legislation” and they should note that under certain provisions of United Kingdom tax legislation (the “relevant discounted securities legislation”) the issue of debt securities under a particular Pricing Supplement may, in certain circumstances, alter the tax treatment of debt securities previously issued.

 

4.    Provision of Information by and/or to the Inland Revenue

 

Securities holders who are individuals may wish to note that the Inland Revenue has power to obtain information (including the name and address of the beneficial owner of the interest) from any person in the United Kingdom:

 

    who either pays interest to or receives interest for the benefit of an individual; or

 

    who either pays amounts payable on the redemption of debt securities which are relevant discounted securities (for the purposes of the Finance Act 1996) to, or receives such amounts for the benefit of, an individual. Such information may, in certain circumstances, be exchanged by the Inland Revenue with the tax authorities of other jurisdictions.

 

5.    Guarantee Payments

 

Any payments made by BP under the guarantee either to:

 

    holders who beneficially own debt securities, or

 

    either issuer to enable it to make payments of principal or interest in respect of the debt securities,

 

will have a U.K. source for U.K. tax purposes. Therefore recipients may be directly assessed for U.K. tax on the receipt of this payment. However, where a payment is made to a holder who is resident in another jurisdiction, the recipient will not be directly assessed for U.K. tax on that payment, unless such recipient carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the U.K. through a U.K. branch or agency in connection with which the interest is received or to which those debt securities are attributable, in which case (subject to exceptions for interest received by certain categories of agents) tax may be levied on the U.K. branch or agency.

 

6.    Inheritance Tax

 

A holder of debt securities who is an individual domiciled outside the United Kingdom will generally not be liable to U.K. inheritance tax in respect of his holding of debt securities. This will be the case if a register of the debt securities is maintained outside the United Kingdom. If no register is maintained, there may be a liability to inheritance tax if the debt securities are held in the United Kingdom. If so, exemption from or reduction in any U.K. inheritance tax liability may be available for holders of debt securities who are resident in another jurisdiction under the Estate Tax Treaty made between the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Holders of debt securities who are resident in the United Kingdom may be liable to inheritance tax with respect of their holdings of debt securities.

 

7.    Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax

 

No U.K. stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will generally be payable by a holder of debt securities on the creation, issue or redemption of the debt securities by BP Capital U.K.

 

No liability for U.K. stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will arise on a transfer, or an agreement to transfer, of debt securities unless such securities carry:

 

    a right of conversion into shares or other securities;

 

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    a right to interest, the amount of which is or was determined to any extent by reference to the results of, or of any part of, a business or to the value of any property;

 

    a right to interest the amount of which exceeds a reasonable commercial return on the nominal amount of the capital; or

 

    a right of repayment to an amount which exceeds the nominal amount of the capital and is not reasonably comparable with what is generally repayable (in respect of a similar nominal amount of capital) under the terms of issue of loan capital listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange.

 

8.    European Union Directive on the Taxation of Savings

 

On July 18, 2001, the EU Commission published a proposal for a new directive regarding the taxation of, and information exchange among member states of the European Union (“Member States”) with respect to, interest income. On June 3, 2003, the Council of the European Union (Ecofin) approved the text of the directive. Under the directive, subject to a number of important conditions being met, Member States will be required to provide to the tax authorities of another Member State details of payments of interest or other similar income paid by a person within its jurisdiction to an individual resident in that other Member State, subject to the right of certain Member States (including Luxembourg but not including the UK) to opt instead for a withholding system for a transitional period in relation to such payments. Although Member States are required to enact laws implementing the directive by January 1, 2004 to apply to interest payments made on or after January 1, 2005, it is presently not possible to predict when and how the directive will apply, because its application is subject to a number of important conditions. The UK introduced legislation in the 2003 Finance Act (Section 199) to enable it to comply with the EU directive when it becomes effective. The legislation enables the Treasury to make regulations for a scheme to collect information about payments of interest to overseas residents. The new scheme will not take effect before January 1, 2005, with the exact date of effectiveness depending on when agreements with certain third countries and dependent and associated territories are concluded.

 

Please consult your own tax advisor concerning the consequences of owning these debt securities in your particular circumstances under the Code and the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

Canadian Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax consequences at the date of the prospectus to a holder of debt securities who is a non-resident of Canada in relation to the payment of principal, interest, discount and premium in respect of debt securities issued by BP Canada. This summary is based on the current provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act, current published administrative practices of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, and all specific proposals to amend the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations announced by the Minister of Finance prior to the date of this prospectus. This section is the opinion of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada. This summary does not otherwise take into account or anticipate changes in the law whether by judicial, governmental or legislative decisions or action, nor does it take into account tax legislation or considerations of any province or territory of Canada or any jurisdiction other than Canada.

 

This summary assumes that, throughout the period debt securities are outstanding, BP Canada will deal with you at arm’s length within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), and that BP Canada will not, under any circumstances be obliged to pay more than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities within five years from the later of the date of issue of any debt securities, or if payment in full of any debt securities is not made on the date of issue, within five years from the date of final payment being made for such debt securities, except in the event of a failure or default under the terms of the debt securities or of any agreement relating to the debt securities or if the terms of the debt securities or any such agreement become unlawful or are changed by legislative, judicial or administrative action.

 

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The payment by BP Canada of interest or principal on the debt securities to a holder who is a non-resident of Canada and with whom BP Canada deals at arm’s length within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada), at the time amounts are payable, in the case of interest, or at the time the payments are made, in the case of principal, will be exempt from Canadian withholding tax. For the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), related persons, (as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) are deemed not to deal at arm’s length and it is a question of fact whether persons not related to each other deal at arm’s length.

 

In addition, to qualify for the exemption, no portion of the interest may be contingent or dependent upon the use of or production from property in Canada, or be computed by reference to revenue, profit, cash flow, commodity price or any similar criterion or by reference to dividends paid or payable to shareholders of any class of shares of the capital stock of a corporation.

 

No other taxes on income (including taxable capital gains) will be payable under the Income Tax Act (Canada) on the holding, redemption or disposition of the debt securities, or the receipt of interest on the debt securities by holders who are neither residents nor deemed to be residents of Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and who do not use or hold and are not deemed by those laws to use or hold the debt securities in carrying on business in Canada for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), except that in some circumstances holders who are non-resident insurers carrying on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere may be subject to those taxes.

 

There are no estate taxes or succession duties imposed under the federal laws of Canada.

 

Australian Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the Australian taxation treatment at the date of this prospectus of payments of principal, interest and discount on the debt securities to be issued by BP Australia and certain other matters. It is not exhaustive and, in particular, it focuses on the treatment of off shore holders of debt securities. In addition, the matters raised in this summary are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and should be treated with appropriate caution. This section is the opinion of Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Australian counsel to BP Australia. Prospective holders of debt securities who will hold the debt securities in Australia or who are in any doubt as to their tax position should consult their professional advisers.

 

1.    Interest withholding tax

 

An exemption from the Australian interest withholding tax (“AIWT”) imposed under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 of Australia, as amended (the “Australian Tax Act”) is available in respect of the debt securities to be issued by BP Australia under section 128F of the Australian Tax Act if the following conditions are met:

 

    BP Australia is a resident of Australia when it issues the debt securities and when interest (as defined in section 128A(IAB)) is paid. Interest is defined to include amounts in the nature of, or in substitution for, interest and certain other amounts; and

 

    the debt securities are issued in a manner which satisfies the public offer test. There are five principal methods of satisfying the public offer test, the purpose of which is to ensure that lenders in overseas capital markets are aware that BP Australia is offering debt securities for issue. In summary, the five methods are:

 

    offers to 10 or more unrelated financiers or securities dealers;

 

    offers to 100 or more investors;

 

    offers of listed debt securities;

 

    offers via publicly available information sources; and

 

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    offers to a dealer, manager or underwriter who offers to sell the debt securities within 30 days by one of the preceding methods.

 

In addition, the issue of a global security and the offering of interests in the Global Security by one of these methods can also satisfy the public offer test:

 

    BP Australia does not know, or have reasonable grounds to suspect, that at the time of issue, the debt securities were being, or would later be, acquired, directly or indirectly, by an “associate” of BP Australia, except as permitted by section 128F(5) of the Australian Tax Act; and

 

    at the time of the payment of interest, BP Australia does not know, or have reasonable grounds to suspect, that the payee is an “associate” of BP Australia, except as permitted by section 128F(6) of the Australian Tax Act.

 

Associates

 

An “associate” of BP Australia for the purposes of section 128F of the Australian Tax Act includes:

 

    a person or entity which holds more than 50% of the voting shares of, or otherwise controls, BP Australia;

 

    an entity in which more than 50% of the voting shares are held by, or which is otherwise controlled by, BP Australia;

 

    a trustee of a trust where BP Australia is capable of benefiting (whether directly or indirectly) under that trust; and

 

    a person or entity who is an “associate” of another person or company which is an “associate” of BP Australia under any of the foregoing.

 

However, an “associate” does not include:

 

    onshore associates (i.e., Australian resident associates who do not hold the debt securities in the course of carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment outside Australia and non-resident associates who hold the debt securities in the course of carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment in Australia); or

 

    offshore associates (i.e., Australian resident associates that hold the debt securities in the course of carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment outside Australia and non-resident associates who do not hold the debt securities in the course of carrying on business through a permanent establishment in Australia) who are acting in the capacity of:

 

    in the case of section 128F(5), a dealer, manager or underwriter in relation to the placement of the relevant debt securities, a clearing house, custodian, funds manager or responsible entity of a registered managed investment scheme; or

 

    in the case of section 128F(6), a clearing house, paying agent, custodian, funds manager, responsible entity of a registered managed investment scheme.

 

Compliance with section 128F of the Australian Tax Act

 

BP Australia proposes to issue debt securities in a manner which will satisfy the requirements of section 128F of the Australian Tax Act.

 

U.S. resident holders

 

On September 27, 2001, the U.S. and Australian governments signed a protocol (the “Protocol”) which significantly amends the Australia/U.S. double tax convention. The Protocol applies to interest derived by a resident of the United States from July 1, 2003.

 

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The Protocol effectively prevents AIWT from applying to interest derived by:

 

    certain United States governments and governmental authorities and agencies; and

 

    certain unrelated financial institutions resident in the United States which substantially derive their profits by carrying on a business of raising and providing finance.

 

Under the Protocol, back-to-back loans and economically equivalent arrangements will be subject to the 10% AIWT rate and the anti-avoidance provisions of the Australian Tax Act can apply.

 

U.K. resident holders

 

On August 21, 2003, a new Australia/U.K. double tax convention was signed by the Australian Federal Treasurer and the British High Commissioner. The new Australia/U.K. double tax convention, which contains similar provisions in relation to the application of AIWT to various U.K. governmental authorities and agencies and financial institutions as are now contained in the current Australia/U.K. double tax convention, is not yet effective as it requires ratification by the Australian and U.K. parliaments.

 

Payment of additional amounts

 

If BP Australia should at any time be compelled by law to deduct or withhold an amount in respect of any Australian withholding taxes, BP Australia shall, subject to certain exceptions, pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order to ensure that the net amounts received by the holders of the debt securities after such deduction or withholding shall equal the respective amounts which would have been receivable had no such deduction or withholding been required.

 

2.    Other tax matters

 

BP Australia has been advised that under Australian laws as presently in effect:

 

    Income tax —assuming the requirements of section 128F of the Australian Tax Act are satisfied with respect to the debt securities, payments of principal, interest and any discount in respect of the debt securities to a holder who is a non-resident of Australia and who, during the taxable year, has not held the debt securities in the course of carrying on business through a permanent establishment within Australia, will not be subject to Australian income taxes;

 

    Gains on disposal of debt securities —a holder of the debt securities, who is a non-resident of Australia and who during the taxable year has not held the debt securities in the course of carrying on business through a permanent establishment within Australia, will not be subject to Australian income tax on gains realized during that year on sale or redemption of the debt securities, provided such gains do not have an Australian source. A gain arising on the sale of a debt security by a non-Australian resident holder to another non-Australian resident where the debt security is sold outside Australia and all negotiations are conducted, and the documentation is executed outside Australia would not be regarded as having an Australian source;

 

    Deemed interest —there are specific rules that can apply to treat a portion of the purchase price of debt securities as interest for withholding tax purposes when certain debt securities originally issued at a discount or with a maturity premium or which do not pay interest at least annually are sold to an Australian resident (who does not acquire them in the course of carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment outside Australia) or a non-resident (who acquires them in the course of carrying on a trade or business at or through a permanent establishment in Australia). These rules do not apply in circumstances where the deemed interest would have been exempted under section 128F of the Australian Tax Act if the debt securities had been held to maturity by a non-resident;

 

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    Death duties —no debt securities will be subject to death, estate or succession duties imposed by Australia, or by any political subdivision or authority therein having power to tax, if held at the time of death;

 

    Stamp duty and other taxes —no ad valorem stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes are payable in Australia on the issue of any debt securities or the transfer of any debt securities;

 

    Other withholding taxes on payments in respect to debt securities —section 12-140 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 of Australia (“TAA”) imposes a type of withholding tax at the rate of (currently) 48.5% on the payment of interest on certain registered securities unless the holder has quoted a tax file number (“TFN”), or in certain circumstances an Australian Business Number (“ABN”), or proof of some other exemption. Assuming the requirements of section 128F of the Australian Tax Act are satisfied with respect to the debt securities in registered form, the requirements of section 12-140 do not apply to payments to a holder of registered debt securities who is not a resident of Australia for tax purposes and not holding the debt securities in the course of carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment in Australia. Withholdings may be made from payments to holders of registered debt securities who are residents of Australia or non-residents carrying on business at or through a permanent establishment in Australia but who do not quote a TFN, (in certain circumstances) an ABN or provide proof of an appropriate exemption;

 

    Supply withholding tax —payments in respect of the debt securities can be made free and clear of the “supply withholding tax” imposed under section 12-190 of the TAA;

 

    Goods and services tax (GST) —neither the issue nor receipt of the debt securities will give rise to a liability for goods and services tax (GST) in Australia on the basis that the supply of debt securities will comprise either an input taxed financial supply or (in the case of an offshore subscriber) a GST-free supply. Furthermore, neither the payment of principal or interest by BP Australia, nor the disposal of the debt securities, would give rise to any GST liability in Australia; and

 

    Debt/equity rules —Division 974 of the Australian Tax Act, which applies from July 1, 2001, contains tests for characterizing debt (for all entities) and equity (for companies) for Australian tax purposes, including for the purposes of dividend withholding tax and AIWT. BP Australia intends to issue debt securities which are to be characterized as “debt interests” for the purposes of the tests contained in Division 974 and the returns paid on the debt securities are to be “interest” for the purpose of section 128F of the Australian Tax Act. Accordingly, Division 974 is unlikely to affect the Australian tax treatment of holders of debt securities.

 

3.    Recent developments

 

Additional withholdings from certain payments to non-residents

 

A newly-introduced section 12-315 of the TAA gives the Governor-General of Australia power to make regulations requiring withholding from certain payments to non-residents after July 1, 2003. No draft regulations have yet been released, so it is not possible to determine what types of payments would be caught by the new rules nor the rate of withholding. However, section 12-315 expressly provides that the regulations will not apply to interest and other payments that are already subject to the current AIWT rules or specifically exempt from those rules. Further, regulations may only be made if the responsible minister is satisfied that the specified payments are of a kind that could reasonably relate to assessable income of foreign residents. The regulations are not expected to apply to repayments of principal under the debt securities, as in the absence of any issue discount, such amounts will generally not be reasonably related to assessable income. The regulations, however, may apply to the proceeds of any sale of the debt securities.

 

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Taxation of foreign exchange gains and losses

 

On May 29, 2003, the Australian Federal Government introduced into the Australian Parliament a New Business Tax System (Taxation of Financial Arrangements) Bill which contains new rules to deal with the tax consequences of foreign exchange transactions entered into after July 1, 2003 (unless a taxpayer elects for them to apply to earlier transactions). In their current form, the draft rules will generally require Australian taxpayers, or non-residents that hold assets, or incur liabilities, in the course of carrying on business in Australia, to perform complex (and frequent) calculations to determine the foreign exchange gains and losses they are taxed upon in respect of holding assets (or incurring liabilities) in non-Australian currency. Certain entities will also be able to choose to adopt a functional currency as their unit of account that is not the Australian dollar, in which case rules will apply regarding the translation to Australian dollars.

 

There are several exclusions from the new rules. In particular, authorized deposit taking institutions under the Banking Act 1959 of Australia (“ADIs”) and non-ADI financial institutions are currently excluded from the new foreign exchange gains and losses rules. However, BP Australia will not qualify as an ADI or a non-ADI financial institution. Accordingly, the new rules are likely to apply to BP Australia in respect of the debt securities denominated in a currency other than Australian dollars.

 

In addition, the new rules may apply to any holders of the debt securities denominated in a currency other than Australian dollars that are not ADIs or non-ADI financial institutions and which are Australian residents or non-residents that hold those debt securities in the course of carrying on business in Australia. Any such holders of debt securities should consult their professional advisors for advice as to how to tax account for any foreign exchange gains or losses arising from their holding of those debt securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus:

 

    through underwriters;

 

    through dealers;

 

    through agents; or

 

    directly to purchasers.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering will identify or describe:

 

    any underwriter, dealers or agents;

 

    their compensation;

 

    the net proceeds to us;

 

    the purchase price of the securities;

 

    the initial public offering price of the securities; and

 

    any exchange on which the securities will be listed.

 

Underwriters

 

If we use underwriters in the sale, they will acquire securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless we otherwise state in the prospectus supplement, various conditions to the underwriters’ obligation to purchase securities apply, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities contemplated in an offering if they purchase any of such securities. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

Dealers

 

If we use dealers in the sale, unless we otherwise indicate in the prospectus supplement, we will sell securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices that the dealers may determine at the time of resale.

 

Agents and Direct Sales

 

We may sell securities directly or through agents that we designate. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offering and sale and states any commissions we will pay to that agent. Unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent is acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

Institutional Investors

 

If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from various institutional investors to purchase securities. In this case, payment and delivery will be made on a future date that the prospectus supplement specifies. The underwriters, dealers or agents may impose limitations on the minimum amount that the institutional investor can purchase. They may also impose

 

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limitations on the portion of the aggregate amount of the securities that they may sell. These institutional investors include:

 

    commercial and savings banks;

 

    insurance companies;

 

    pension funds;

 

    investment companies;

 

    educational and charitable institutions; and

 

    other similar institutions as we may approve.

 

The obligations of any of these purchasers pursuant to delayed delivery and payment arrangements will not be subject to any conditions. However, one exception applies. An institution’s purchase of the particular securities can not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction that governs:

 

    the validity of the arrangements; or

 

    the performance by us or the institutional investor.

 

Indemnification

 

Agreements that we have entered into with underwriters, dealers or agents may entitle them to indemnification by us against various civil liabilities. These include liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. The agreements may also entitle them to contribution for payments which they may be required to make as a result of these liabilities. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

Market Making

 

In the event that we do not list securities of any series on a U.S. national securities exchange, various broker-dealers may make a market in the securities, but will have no obligation to do so, and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Consequently, it may be the case that no broker-dealer will make a market in securities of any series or that the liquidity of the trading market for the securities will be limited.

 

Certain Selling Restrictions

 

The debt securities have not been, and will not be, qualified for sale under the securities law of Canada or any province or territory thereof. Unless otherwise specified in the relevant prospectus supplement, all debt securities of BP Canada will be issued with minimum denominations of CAN$150,000 or its equivalent in other currencies or, in the case of zero coupon debt securities, having an amortized face amount of at least CAN$150,000 or its equivalent in other currencies. In addition, debt securities will not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in Canada or to, or for the benefit of, any resident thereof except pursuant to available exemptions from applicable Canadian provincial or territorial securities laws

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

 

The Group General Counsel of BP will pass upon the validity of the debt securities and guarantees as to matters of English law. The Assistant General Counsel of BP will pass upon the validity of the debt securities and guarantees as to matters of United States law. The Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada will pass upon Canadian law matters. The Managing Legal Adviser of BP Australia will pass upon Australian law matters.

 

In connection with particular offerings of debt securities in the future, the validity of those debt securities may be passed upon by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to BP, as to certain matters of New York law. Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton or any other law firm named in the applicable prospectus supplement will pass upon the validity of those debt securities and certain other matters of New York law for any underwriters or agents.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of BP appearing in BP’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

BP and BP Capital U.K. are public limited companies incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. BP Canada is incorporated under the laws of Nova Scotia. BP Australia is incorporated under the laws of Australia. Many of our directors and officers, and some of the experts named in this document, reside outside the United States, principally in the United Kingdom. In addition, although we have substantial assets in the United States, a large portion of our assets and the assets of our directors and officers is located outside of the United States. As a result, U.S. investors may find it difficult in a lawsuit based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws:

 

    to effect service within the United States upon us or our directors and officers located outside the United States;

 

    to enforce in U.S. courts or outside the United States judgments obtained against us or those persons in the U.S. courts;

 

    to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained against us or those persons in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States; and

 

    to enforce against us or those persons in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, whether in original actions or in actions for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, civil liabilities based solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws.

 

EXPENSES

 

The following are the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the debt securities registered with the SEC under the registration statement:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $ 739,992.30

Printing and engraving expenses

   $ 200,000     

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 750,000     

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 500,000     

Rating agency fees

   $ 500,000     

Trustees’ fees and expenses

   $ 80,000     
    

Total

   $ 2,769,992.30
    

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

BP and BP Capital U.K.

 

English law does not permit a company to indemnify a director or an officer of the company against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to him or her in respect of negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company except liability incurred by such director or officer in defending any legal proceeding (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in his or her favor or in which he or she is acquitted or in certain instances where, although he or she is liable, a court finds that such director or officer acted honestly and reasonably and that having regard to all the circumstances he or she ought fairly to be excused and relief is granted by the court.

 

Article 137 of BP’s Articles of Association currently provides:

 

“Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be consistent with the Statutes, every Director, Auditor, Secretary or other officer of the Company shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the execution and/or discharge of his duties and/or the exercise of his powers and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office.”

 

Article 51 of BP Capital U.K.’s Articles of Association provides:

 

“Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, every director, auditor, secretary or other officer of the Company shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the execution and discharge of his duties or in relation thereto including any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, civil or criminal, which relate to anything done or omitted or alleged to have been done or omitted by him as an officer or employee of the Company and in which judgement is given in his favour (or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on his part) or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application under any statute for relief from liability in respect of any such act or omission in which relief is granted to him by the Court.”

 

Section 310 of the Companies Act 1985 of Great Britain, as amended (the “Companies Act”), provides as follows:

 

“1.    This section applies to any provision, whether contained in a company’s articles or in any contract with the company or otherwise, for exempting any officer of the company or any person (whether an officer or not) employed by the company as auditor from, or indemnifying him against, any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which he may be guilty in relation to the company.

 

“2.    Except as provided by the following subsection, any such provision is void.

 

“3.    This section does not prevent a company—

 

  (a)   from purchasing and maintaining for any such officer or auditor insurance against any such liability, or

 

  (b)   from indemnifying any such officer or auditor against any liability incurred by him—

 

  (i)   in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in his favour or he is acquitted, or

 

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  (ii)   in connection with any application under section 144(3) or (4) (acquisition of shares by innocent nominee) or section 727 (general power to grant relief in case of honest and reasonable conduct) in which relief is granted to him by the court.”

 

Section 727 of the Companies Act provides as follows:

 

“727.    Power of court to grant relief in certain circumstances:

 

  “(1)   If in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against an officer of a company or a person employed by a company as auditor (whether he is or is not an officer of the company) it appears to the court hearing the case that officer or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including those connected with his appointment) he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, that court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from his liability on such terms as it thinks fit.

 

  (2)   If any such officer or person as above-mentioned has reason to apprehend that any claim will or might be made against him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, he may apply to the court for relief; and the court on the application has the same power to relieve him as under this section it would have had if it had been a court before which proceedings against that person for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust had been brought.

 

  (3)   Where a case to which subsection (1) applies is being tried by a judge with a jury, the judge, after hearing the evidence, may, if he is satisfied that the defendant or defender ought in pursuance of that subsection to be relieved either in whole or in part from the liability sought to be enforced against him, withdraw the case in whole or in part from the jury and forthwith direct judgment to be entered for the defendant or defender on such terms as to costs or otherwise as the judge may think proper.”

 

BP Capital America

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director or officer of such corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

The Bylaws of BP Capital America provide that to the extent not inconsistent with Delaware law, any person who is or was a director or officer of BP Capital America may, by action of the board of directors (whether or not a quorum exists), be indemnified against any and all liability and reasonable expense that may be incurred in connection with or resulting from certain claims.

 

Claims for which indemnification may be available include actual or threatened claims, actions, suits or proceedings, whether derivative, civil, criminal, or investigative in which a director or officer may become involved, as a party or otherwise: (a) by reason of being or having been a director or officer of BP Capital America, or of another corporation at the request of BP Capital America and of which it is a stockholder or creditor or otherwise has a financial interest; (b) by reason of having acted in any capacity for a partnership, trust, foundation, not-for-profit corporation or similar entity at the request of BP Capital America; (c) by reason of actions taken or not taken as an officer or director of BP Capital America, whether or not continuing as such at the time the actual liability or expense was incurred.

 

The indemnity is only available if the person indemnified (i) is wholly successful in having the claim terminate without any finding of liability or guilt against him or her, or a reasonable period of time expires after a threatened claim without any such suit being instituted, and without any payment or promise made in settlement,

 

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or (ii) acted in good faith, in what the person believed to be in the best interests of BP Capital America, and with respect to any criminal action, had no reason to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. A plea of guilty or nolo contendere or its equivalent will not create a presumption that the conduct of a director or officer did not meet the standards for indemnification.

 

The board is not limited in granting indemnities, as determined in its judgment, against risks outside of the subject matter of the bylaw provisions.

 

BP Canada

 

The Companies Act (Nova Scotia) does not restrict a company from indemnifying directors and provides that in any proceeding against a director for negligence or breach of trust in which it appears to the court hearing the case that the director or person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence or breach of trust, but has acted honestly and reasonably and ought fairly to be excused for the negligence or breach of trust, the court may relieve the director, either wholly or partly, from the director’s liability on such terms as the court may think proper.

 

The articles of association of BP Canada provide that every director or officer, former director or officer, or person who acts or acted at BP Canada’s request, as a director or officer of BP Canada, a body corporate, partnership or other association of which BP Canada is or was a shareholder, partner, member or creditor, and the heirs and legal representatives of such person, in the absence of any dishonesty on the part of such person, shall be indemnified by BP Canada against, and it shall be the duty of the directors out of the funds of BP Canada to pay, all costs, losses and expenses, including any amount paid to settle an action or claim or satisfy a judgment, that such director, officer or person may incur or become liable to pay in respect of any claim made against such person or civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding to which such person is made by a party by reason of being or having been a director or officer of BP Canada or such body corporate, partnership, or other association, whether BP Canada is a claimant or party to such action or proceeding or otherwise; and the amount for which such indemnity is proved shall immediately attach as a lien on the property of BP Canada and have priority as against the shareholders over all claims.

 

The articles of association of BP Canada also provide that no director or officer, former director or officer, or person who acts or acted at BP Canada’s request, as a director or officer of BP Canada, a body corporate, partnership or other association of which BP Canada is or was a shareholder, partner, member or creditor, in the absence of any dishonesty on such person’s part, shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director, officer or such person, or for joining in any receipt or other act for conformity, or for any loss, damage or expense happening to BP Canada through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired for or on behalf of BP Canada, or through the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the funds of BP Canada are invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious acts of any person with whom any funds, securities or effects are deposited, or for any loss occasioned by error of judgment or oversight on the part of such person, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatsoever which happens in the execution of the duties of such person or in relation thereto.

 

BP Australia

 

The constitution of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited relevantly provides an indemnity to every director and officer against all liability incurred by him as director or officer in defending any proceedings whether civil or criminal in which the director or officer is successful. The constitution also relevantly exempts directors and officers from liability in relation to the acts or defaults of any other director or officer, or for any loss or expense to the company through the insufficiency or deficiency of any title acquired or security obtained by the company, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious act of any person with whom any moneys, securities or effects are deposited or left, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment or oversight on the part of the director or officer or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall

 

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happen in the execution of the duties of the office or in relation thereto unless the same happen through the director’s or officer’s own negligence, default, breach of trust.

 

The Corporations Act 2001 of Australia imposes limits on indemnities. A company or a related body corporate cannot exempt a person from a liability to the company incurred as a director or officer of the company. A company or a related body corporate cannot indemnify a person against any liability incurred as an officer of the company which is either owed to the company or a related body corporate, or for a pecuniary penalty order or for a compensation order, or owed to someone other than the company or a related body corporate and did not arise out of conduct in good faith, incurred as an officer or auditor of the company. A company or related body corporate must not indemnify a person against legal costs incurred in defending an action for a liability as an officer of the company if the proceeding is one in which the person is found to have a liability in respect of which an indemnity is prohibited, or is a criminal proceeding in which the person is found guilty, or is a proceeding brought by the regulator or a liquidator for a court order if the grounds for making the order are found by the court to have been established, or if the costs are incurred in connection with proceedings for relief in which the court denies the relief.

 

The Act also gives the court a power to relieve a director or officer from liability if, in any civil proceeding against the person for negligence, default, breach of trust or breach of duty in a capacity as a director or officer, it appears to the court that the person is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default or breach but that the person has acted honestly and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with the person’s appointment, the person ought fairly to be excused.

 

Item 9.    Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Document


1.1    Form of Purchase Agreement for Guaranteed Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to the registration statement on Form F-3 filed on February 22, 2002 (No. 333-83180-01)).
4.1    Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003, among BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank.
4.2    Indenture, dated as of March 8, 2002, among BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to BP’s Report on Form 6-K filed on March 26, 2002).
4.3    Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2002, among BP Canada Finance Company, BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to BP’s Report on Form 6-K filed on December 12, 2002).
4.4    Form of Indenture among BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to the registration statement on Form F-3 filed on February 22, 2002 (No. 333-83180-01))
4.5    Form of Debt Securities for BP Capital Markets America Inc. and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.1).
4.6    Form of Debt Securities for BP Capital Markets p.l.c. and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.2).
4.7    Form of Debt Securities for BP Canada Finance Company and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.3).
4.8    Form of Debt Securities for BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.9    Memorandum and Articles of Association of BP p.l.c.
5.1    Opinion of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c., as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets p.l.c. and the Guarantees as to certain matters of English law.

 

II-4


Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Document


5.2    Opinion of Assistant General Counsel of BP America Inc., U.S. Counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, as to the validity of (i) the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets America Inc. and the Guarantees issued in connection therewith and (ii) the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, each as to certain matters of United States law.
5.3    Opinion of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Canada Finance Company and the Guarantees as to certain matters of Canadian law.
5.4    Opinion of the Managing Legal Adviser of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and the Guarantees as to certain matters of Australian law.
8.1    Opinion of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c. as to certain matters of U.K. taxation (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
8.2    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, as to certain matters of U.S. taxation.
8.3    Opinion of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company as to certain matters of Canadian taxation.
8.4    Opinion of Mallesons Stephen Jaques as to certain matters of Australian taxation.
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditor.
23.2    Consent of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c. (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
23.3    Consent of the Assistant General Counsel of BP America Inc. (included in Exhibit 5.2 above).
23.4    Consent of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company (included in Exhibit 5.3 above).
23.5    Consent of the Managing Legal Adviser of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (included in Exhibit 5.4 above).
23.6    Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (included in Exhibit 8.2 above).
23.7    Consent of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company (included in Exhibit 8.3 above).
23.8    Consent of Mallesons Stephen Jaques (included in Exhibit 8.4 above).
24.1    Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereof).
25.1    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.1 above.
25.2    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.2 above.
25.3    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.3 above.
25.4    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.4 above.
25.5    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to the Guarantees of BP p.l.c.

 

II-5


Item 10.    Undertakings

 

Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales of the registered securities are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

 

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

 

  (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

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

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

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

 

  (4)   To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 8.A. of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

II-6


Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants, of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the registrants by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-7


SIGNATURES OF BP

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BP certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in London, England on November 3, 2003.

 

BP p.l.c.

By:

 

/s/    D AVID J. P EARL        


   

David J. Pearl

Deputy Company Secretary

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below severally constitutes and appoints each person listed below or David J. Pearl, Deputy Company Secretary (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and any securities or Blue Sky law of any of the states of the United States of America in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the said securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of any of such states and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and cause to be published applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign his name in his capacity as an Officer, Director or Authorized Representative in the United States or in any other capacity with respect to this Registration Statement and any registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) and/or such other form or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission or under or in connection with any Blue Sky laws or other securities laws of any state of the United States of America or with such other regulatory bodies and agencies as any of them may deem appropriate in respect of the Securities, and with respect to any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 3, 2003.

 

Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    T HE L ORD B ROWNE OF M ADINGLEY        


The Lord Browne of Madingley

   Executive Director Group Chief Executive (Principal Executive Officer)    

/s/    D R . B. E. G ROTE        


Dr. B. E. Grote

   Executive Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/s/    P. D. S UTHERLAND        


P. D. Sutherland

   Non-Executive Chairman    

/s/    R. L. O LIVER        


R. L. Oliver

   Executive Director, Deputy Group Chief Executive    

/s/    D R . D. C. A LLEN        


Dr. D. C. Allen

   Executive Director, Group Chief of Staff    

 

II-8


Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    D R . A. B. H AYWARD        


Dr. A. B. Hayward

   Executive Director    

 


J. A. Manzoni

   Executive Director    

/s/    J. H. B RYAN        


J. H. Bryan

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    E. B. D AVIS , J R        


E. B. Davis, Jr.

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    D R . S. J ULIUS        


Dr. D. S. Julius

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    C. F. K NIGHT        


C. F. Knight

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    F. A. M ALJERS        


F. A. Maljers

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    D R . W. E. M ASSEY        


Dr. W. E. Massey

   Non-Executive Director    

 


H.M.P. Miles

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    S IR R OBIN N ICHOLSON        


Sir Robin Nicholson

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    S IR I AN P ROSSER        


Sir Ian Prosser

   Non-Executive Director, Deputy Chairman    

 


M. H. Wilson

   Non-Executive Director    

/s/    D ANIEL B. P INKERT        


Daniel B. Pinkert

   Authorized Representative in the United States    

 

II-9


SIGNATURES OF BP CAPITAL AMERICA

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BP Capital Markets America Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in Chicago on November 3, 2003.

 

By:

 

/s/    R. J. P ILLARI         


   

R. J. Pillari

President

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below severally constitutes and appoints each person listed below (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and any securities or Blue Sky law of any of the states of the United States of America in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the said securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of any of such states and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and cause to be published applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign his name in his capacity as an Officer, Director or Authorized Representative in the United States or in any other capacity with respect to this Registration Statement and any registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) and/or such other form or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission or under or in connection with any Blue Sky laws or other securities laws of any state of the United States of America or with such other regulatory bodies and agencies as any of them may deem appropriate in respect of the Securities, and with respect to any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 3, 2003.

 

Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    R. J. P ILLARI        


R. J. Pillari

   President (Principal Executive Officer)    

/s/    I. S PRINGETT        


I. Springett

   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/s/    D. A. D OWLING        


D. A. Dowling

   Director    

/s/    D. B. P INKERT        


D. B. Pinkert

   Director    

/s/    D. A. P LUMB


D. A. Plumb

   Director    

 

II-10


SIGNATURES OF BP CAPITAL U.K.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BP Capital Markets p.l.c. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in London, England on November 3, 2003.

 

By:

 

/ S /    A NDREA T HOMAS


   

Name: Andrea Thomas

Title:   Company Secretary

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below severally constitutes and appoints each person listed below or each of Andrea Thomas, Company Secretary, Rebecca Weedon, Assistant Company Secretary, Roy Tooley, Assistant Company Secretary and Yasin Ali, Assistant Company Secretary (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and any securities or Blue Sky law of any of the states of the United States of America in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the said securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of any of such states and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and cause to be published applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign his name in his capacity as an Officer, Director or Authorized Representative in the United States or in any other capacity with respect to this Registration Statement and any registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) and/or such other form or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission or under or in connection with any Blue Sky laws or other securities laws of any state of the United States of America or with such other regulatory bodies and agencies as any of them may deem appropriate in respect of the Securities, and with respect to any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 3, 2003.

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


/ S /    B. E. G ROTE


B. E. Grote

   Director (Principal Executive Officer)    

/ S /    D. P. C HAPMAN


D. P. Chapman

   Director (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/ S /    N. M. H. B AMFIELD


N. M. H. Bamfield

   Director    

/s/    D. B. P INKERT        


D. B. Pinkert

   Authorized Representative in the United States    

 

II-11


SIGNATURES OF BP CANADA

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BP Canada Finance Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on November 3, 2003.

 

By:

 

/s/    B RIAN E. F RANK        


   

Brian E. Frank

President

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below severally constitutes and appoints each person listed below (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and any securities or Blue Sky law of any of the states of the United States of America in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the said securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of any of such states and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and cause to be published applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign his name in his capacity as an Officer, Director or Authorized Representative in the United States or in any other capacity with respect to this Registration Statement and any registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) and/or such other form or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission or under or in connection with any Blue Sky laws or other securities laws of any state of the United States of America or with such other regulatory bodies and agencies as any of them may deem appropriate in respect of the Securities, and with respect to any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 3, 2003.

 

Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    B RIAN E. F RANK        


Brian E. Frank

  

President (Principal Executive Officer)

   

/s/    G LENN G. W ICKERSON        


Glenn G. Wickerson

   Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/s/    D AVID W. J. G RANT        


David W. J. Grant

   Sole Director    

/s/    D. B. P INKERT        


D. B. Pinkert

   Authorized Representative in the United States    

 

II-12


SIGNATURES OF BP AUSTRALIA

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised, in Melbourne, Australia on November 3, 2003.

 

By:

 

/s/    R. W. M ORRISON        


   

R. W. Morrison

Company Secretary

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below severally constitutes and appoints each person listed below or R.W. Morrison, Company Secretary (with full power to each of them to act alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to do any and all things and execute any and all instruments that such attorney may deem necessary or advisable under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities and any securities or Blue Sky law of any of the states of the United States of America in order to effect the registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of the said securities for issue, offer, sale or trade under the Blue Sky or other securities laws of any of such states and in connection therewith to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and cause to be published applications, reports, consents to service of process, appointments of attorneys to receive service of process and other papers and instruments which may be required under such laws, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign his name in his capacity as an Officer, Director or Authorized Representative in the United States or in any other capacity with respect to this Registration Statement and any registration statement in respect of the Securities that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) (collectively, the “Registration Statement”) and/or such other form or forms as may be appropriate to be filed with the Commission or under or in connection with any Blue Sky laws or other securities laws of any state of the United States of America or with such other regulatory bodies and agencies as any of them may deem appropriate in respect of the Securities, and with respect to any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 3, 2003.

 

Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    G. R. H UESTON        


G. R. Hueston

   Associate President and Managing Director (Principal Executive Officer)    

/s/    J. T. C ASSIDY        


J. T. Cassidy

   Chief Accountant (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    

/s/    J. N ORMAN        


J. Norman

   Director    

/s/    D. J. K NOX        


D. J. Knox

   Director    

/s/    K. M. L UCAS        


K. M. Lucas

   Director    

 

II-13


Signature


  

Title


   

/s/    G. N ICOLAIDES        


G. Nicolaides

   Director    

/s/    D. B. P INKERT        


D. B. Pinkert

   Authorized Representative in the United States    

 

II-14


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Document


1.1    Form of Purchase Agreement for Guaranteed Debt Securities (incorporated by reference to the registration statement on Form F-3 filed on February 22, 2002 (No. 333-83180-01)).
4.1    Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003, among BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank.
4.2   

Indenture, dated as of March 8, 2002, among BP Capital Market

s p.l.c., BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to BP’s Report on Form 6-K filed on March 26, 2002).

4.3    Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2002, among BP Canada Finance Company, BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to BP’s Report on Form 6-K filed on December 12, 2002).
4.4    Form of Indenture among BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP p.l.c. and JPMorgan Chase Bank (incorporated by reference to the registration statement on Form F-3 filed on February 22, 2002 (No. 333-83180-01))
4.5    Form of Debt Securities for BP Capital Markets America Inc. and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.1).
4.6    Form of Debt Securities for BP Capital Markets p.l.c. and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.2).
4.7    Form of Debt Securities for BP Canada Finance Company and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.3).
4.8    Form of Debt Securities for BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and Guarantees relating thereto (included in Exhibit 4.4).
4.9    Memorandum and Articles of Association of BP p.l.c.
5.1    Opinion of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c., as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets p.l.c. and the Guarantees as to certain matters of English law.
5.2    Opinion of Assistant General Counsel of BP America Inc., U.S. Counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, as to the validity of (i) the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets America Inc. and the Guarantees issued in connection therewith and (ii) the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, each as to certain matters of United States law.
5.3    Opinion of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Canada Finance Company and the Guarantees as to certain matters of Canadian law.
5.4    Opinion of the Managing Legal Adviser of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited as to the validity of the Guaranteed Debt Securities of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and the Guarantees as to certain matters of Australian law.
8.1    Opinion of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c. as to certain matters of U.K. taxation (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
8.2    Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited., as to certain matters of U.S. taxation.
8.3    Opinion of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company as to certain matters of Canadian taxation.
8.4    Opinion of Mallesons Stephen Jaques as to certain matters of Australian taxation.
23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditor.


Exhibit
Number


  

Description of Document


23.2    Consent of Group General Counsel of BP p.l.c. (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
23.3    Consent of the Assistant General Counsel of BP America Inc. (included in Exhibit 5.2 above).
23.4    Consent of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company (included in Exhibit 5.3 above).
23.5    Consent of the Managing Legal Adviser of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (included in Exhibit 5.4 above).
23.6    Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, U.S. counsel to BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (included in Exhibit 8.2 above).
23.7    Consent of the Senior Legal Counsel of BP Canada Energy Company (included in Exhibit 8.3 above).
23.8    Consent of Mallesons Stephen Jaques (included in Exhibit 8.4 above).
24.1    Powers of attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereof).
25.1    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.1 above.
25.2    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.2 above.
25.3    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.3 above.
25.4    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to Exhibit 4.4 above.
25.5    Statement of eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 with respect to the Guarantees of BP p.l.c.

Exhibit 4.1

 


 

BP Capital Markets America Inc.,

 

Company

 

AND

 

BP p.l.c.,

 

Guarantor

 

TO

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank,

 

Trustee

 


 

Indenture

 

Dated as of June 4, 2003

 


 



BP Capital Markets America Inc.,

and

BP p.l.c.

to

JPMorgan Chase Bank

 

Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003

 

Reference is made to the following provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, which establish certain duties and responsibilities of the Company and the Trustee which may not be set forth fully in this Indenture:

 

Section


  

Subject


310(b)

  

Disqualifications of Trustee for conflicting interest

311

  

Preferential collection of claims of Trustee as creditor of Company

312(a)

  

Periodic filing of information by Company with Trustee

312(b)

  

Access of Securityholders to information

313(a)

  

Annual report of Trustee to Securityholders

313(b)

  

Additional reports of Trustee to Securityholders

314(a)

  

Reports by Company, including annual compliance certificate

314(c)

  

Evidence of compliance with conditions precedent

315(a)

  

Duties of Trustee prior to default

315(b)

  

Notice of default from Trustee to Securityholders

315(c)

  

Duties of Trustee in case of default

315(d)

  

Provisions relating to responsibility of Trustee

315(e)

  

Assessment of costs against litigating Securityholders in certain circumstances

316(a)

  

Directions and waivers by Securityholders in certain circumstances

316(b)

  

Prohibition of impairment of right of Securityholders to payment

316(c)

  

Right of Company to set record date for certain purposes

317(a)

  

Special powers of Trustee

318(a)

  

Provisions of Act to control in case of conflict


BP Capital Markets America Inc.,

and

BP p.l.c.

to

JPMorgan Chase Bank

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section


   Indenture Section

§310(a)(1)

  

609

        (a)(2)

  

609

        (a)(3)

  

Not Applicable

        (a)(4)

  

Not Applicable

        (a)(5)

  

609

        (b)

  

608

    

610

§311(a)

  

613(a)

        (b)

  

613(b)

        (b)(2)

  

703(a)(2)

    

703(b)

§312(a)

  

701

    

702(a)

        (b)

  

702(b)

        (c)

  

702(c)

§313(a)

  

703(a)

        (b)

  

703(b)

        (c)

  

703(a)

    

703(b)

        (d)

  

703(c)

§314(a)(1)(2) and (3)

  

704

        (a)(4)

  

1008

        (b)

  

Not Applicable

        (c)(1)

  

102

        (c)(2)

  

102

        (c)(3)

  

Not Applicable

        (d)

  

Not Applicable

        (e)

  

102

§315(a)

  

601(a)

        (b)

  

602

    

703(a)(6)

        (c)

  

601

        (d)

  

601

        (d)(1)

  

601

        (d)(2)

  

601

        (d)(3)

  

601

        (e)

  

514

§316(a)

  

101

        (a)(1)(A)

  

502

    

512

        (a)(1)(B)

  

513

        (a)(2)

  

Not Applicable

        (b)

  

508

        (c)

  

513

§317(a)(1)

  

503

        (a)(2)

  

504

        (b)

  

1006

§318(a)

  

107


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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 


 

 

 

          PAGE

P ARTIES

   1

R ECITALS OF THE C OMPANY

   1

R ECITALS OF THE G UARANTOR

   1

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

                S ECTION  101.

   D EFINITIONS .    1
     Act    2
     Affiliate    2
     Authenticating Agent    2
     Board of Directors    2
     Board Resolution    2
     Business Day    2
     Commission    2
     Company    3
     Company Request    3
     Company Order    3
     Corporate Trust Office    3
     corporation    3
     Defaulted Interest    3
     Depositary    3
     Event of Default    3
     Executive Officer’s Certificate    3
     Global Security    3
     Government Obligations    3
     Guarantee    4
     Guarantor    4
     Holder    4
     Indenture    4
     interest    4
     Interest Payment Date    4
     Maturity    4
     Officers’ Certificate    4
     Opinion of Counsel    4
     Original Issue Discount Security    5
     Outstanding    5
     Paying Agent    6
     Periodic Offering    6
     Person    6
     Place of Payment    6
     Redemption Date    6

N OTE : This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


     Redemption Price    6
     Regular Record Date    6
     Responsible Officer    6
     Securities    6
     Security Register    6
     Security Registrar    6
     Special Record Date    7
     Stated Maturity    7
     Subsidiary    7
     Trustee    7
     Trust Indenture Act    7
     United Kingdom    7
     Vice President    7

                S ECTION  102.

   C OMPLIANCE C ERTIFICATES AND O PINIONS .    7

                S ECTION  103.

   F ORM OF D OCUMENTS D ELIVERED TO T RUSTEE .    8

                S ECTION 104.

   A CTS OF H OLDERS .    9

                S ECTION 105.

   N OTICES , E TC ., TO T RUSTEE , C OMPANY AND G UARANTOR .    9

                S ECTION 106.

   N OTICE TO H OLDERS ; W AIVER .    10

                S ECTION 107.

   C ONFLICT WITH T RUST I NDENTURE A CT .    10

                S ECTION 108.

   E FFECT OF H EADINGS AND T ABLE OF C ONTENTS .    11

                S ECTION 109.

   S UCCESSORS AND A SSIGNS .    11

                S ECTION 110.

   S EPARABILITY C LAUSE .    11

                S ECTION 111.

   B ENEFITS OF I NDENTURE .    11

                S ECTION 112.

   G OVERNING L AW .    11

                S ECTION 113.

   L EGAL H OLIDAYS .    11

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITY FORMS

                S ECTION 201.

   F ORMS G ENERALLY .    12

                S ECTION 202.

   F ORM OF F ACE OF S ECURITY .    13

                S ECTION 203.

   F ORM OF R EVERSE OF S ECURITY .    14

                S ECTION 204.

   F ORM OF T RUSTEE S C ERTIFICATE OF A UTHENTICATION .    18

                S ECTION 205.

   F ORM OF G UARANTEE    19

                S ECTION 206.

   F ORM OF L EGEND FOR G LOBAL S ECURITIES .    22

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

                S ECTION 301.

   A MOUNT U NLIMITED ; I SSUABLE IN S ERIES .    22

                S ECTION 302.

   D ENOMINATIONS .    25

                S ECTION 303.

   E XECUTION , A UTHENTICATION , D ELIVERY AND D ATING .    25

                S ECTION 304.

   T EMPORARY S ECURITIES .    27

 

ii


                S ECTION  305.

   R EGISTRATION , R EGISTRATION OF T RANSFER AND E XCHANGE .    28

                S ECTION 306.

   M UTILATED , D ESTROYED , L OST AND S TOLEN S ECURITIES .    29

                S ECTION 307.

   P AYMENT OF I NTEREST ; I NTEREST R IGHTS P RESERVED .    30

                S ECTION 308.

   P ERSONS D EEMED O WNERS .    31

                S ECTION 309.

   C ANCELLATION .    32

                S ECTION 310.

   C OMPUTATION OF I NTEREST .    32

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

                S ECTION 401.

   S ATISFACTION AND D ISCHARGE OF I NDENTURE .    32

                S ECTION 402.

   A PPLICATION OF T RUST M ONEY .    33

                S ECTION 403.

   D EFEASANCE U PON D EPOSIT OF M ONEYS OR G OVERNMENT O BLIGATIONS .    34

ARTICLE FIVE

    

REMEDIES

    

                S ECTION 501.

   E VENTS OF D EFAULT .    36

                S ECTION 502.

   A CCELERATION OF M ATURITY ; R ESCISSION AND A NNULMENT .    38

                S ECTION 503.

   C OLLECTION OF I NDEBTEDNESS AND S UITS FOR E NFORCEMENT BY T RUSTEE .    40

                S ECTION 504.

   T RUSTEE M AY F ILE P ROOFS OF C LAIM .    40

                S ECTION 505.

   T RUSTEE M AY E NFORCE C LAIMS W ITHOUT P OSSESSION OF S ECURITIES .    41

                S ECTION 506.

   A PPLICATION OF M ONEY C OLLECTED .    41

                S ECTION 507.

   L IMITATION ON S UITS .    42

                S ECTION 508.

   U NCONDITIONAL R IGHT OF H OLDERS TO R ECEIVE P RINCIPAL , P REMIUM AND I NTEREST .    42

                S ECTION 509.

   R ESTORATION OF R IGHTS AND R EMEDIES .    43

                S ECTION 510.

   R IGHTS AND R EMEDIES C UMULATIVE .    43

                S ECTION 511.

   D ELAY OR O MISSION N OT W AIVER .    43

                S ECTION 512.

   C ONTROL BY H OLDERS .    43

                S ECTION 513.

   W AIVER OF P AST D EFAULTS .    44

                S ECTION 514.

   U NDERTAKING FOR C OSTS .    45

                S ECTION 515.

   W AIVER OF S TAY OR E XTENSION L AWS .    45

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

                S ECTION 601.

   C ERTAIN D UTIES AND R ESPONSIBILITIES .    45

 

iii


                S ECTION  602.

   N OTICE OF D EFAULTS .    46

                S ECTION 603.

   C ERTAIN R IGHTS OF T RUSTEE .    46

                S ECTION 604.

   N OT R ESPONSIBLE FOR R ECITALS OR I SSUANCE OF S ECURITIES .    47

                S ECTION 605.

   M AY H OLD S ECURITIES .    47

                S ECTION 606.

   M ONEY H ELD IN T RUST .    47

                S ECTION 607.

   C OMPENSATION AND R EIMBURSEMENT .    48

                S ECTION 608.

   D ISQUALIFICATION ; C ONFLICTING I NTERESTS .    48

                S ECTION 609.

   C ORPORATE T RUSTEE R EQUIRED ; E LIGIBILITY .    49

                S ECTION 610.

   R ESIGNATION AND R EMOVAL ; A PPOINTMENT OF S UCCESSOR .    49

                S ECTION 611.

   A CCEPTANCE OF A PPOINTMENT BY S UCCESSOR .    50

                S ECTION 612.

   M ERGER , C ONSOLIDATION OR S UCCESSION TO B USINESS .    52

                S ECTION 613.

   P REFERENTIAL C OLLECTION OF C LAIMS A GAINST C OMPANY .    52

                S ECTION 614.

   A PPOINTMENT OF A UTHENTICATING A GENT .    52

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE, COMPANY AND GUARANTOR

                S ECTION 701.

   C OMPANY AND G UARANTOR TO F URNISH T RUSTEE N AMES AND A DDRESSES OF H OLDERS .    54

                S ECTION 702.

   P RESERVATION OF I NFORMATION ; C OMMUNICATIONS TO H OLDERS .    54

                S ECTION 703.

   R EPORTS BY T RUSTEE .    54

                S ECTION 704.

   R EPORTS BY C OMPANY AND G UARANTOR .    56

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

                S ECTION 801.

   C OMPANY OR G UARANTOR M AY C ONSOLIDATE , E TC ., O NLY ON C ERTAIN T ERMS .    56

                S ECTION 802.

   S UCCESSOR C ORPORATION S UBSTITUTED .    57

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

                S ECTION 901.

   S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES W ITHOUT C ONSENT OF H OLDERS .    58

                S ECTION 902.

   S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES WITH C ONSENT OF H OLDERS .    59

                S ECTION 903.

   E XECUTION OF S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES .    60

 

iv


                S ECTION  904.

   E FFECT OF S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES .    61

                S ECTION 905.

   C ONFORMITY WITH T RUST I NDENTURE A CT .    61

                S ECTION 906.

   R EFERENCE IN S ECURITIES TO S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES .    61

ARTICLE TEN

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF COMPANY AND GUARANTOR

                S ECTION  1001.

   P AYMENT OF P RINCIPAL , P REMIUM AND I NTEREST BY C OMPANY .    61

                S ECTION 1002.

   M AINTENANCE OF O FFICE OR A GENCY BY C OMPANY .    61

                S ECTION 1003.

   R ESERVED .    62

                S ECTION 1004.

   R ESERVED .    62

                S ECTION 1005.

   M AINTENANCE OF O FFICE OR A GENCY BY G UARANTOR .    62

                S ECTION 1006.

   M ONEY FOR S ECURITIES P AYMENTS TO B E H ELD IN T RUST .    62

                S ECTION 1007.

   C ORPORATE E XISTENCE .    64

                S ECTION 1008.

   S TATEMENT BY E XECUTIVE O FFICERS AS TO C OMPLIANCE .    64

                S ECTION 1009.

   W AIVER OF C ERTAIN C OVENANTS .    64

                S ECTION 1010.

   A DDITIONAL A MOUNTS .    65

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

                S ECTION 1101.

   A PPLICABILITY OF A RTICLE .    67

                S ECTION 1102.

   E LECTION TO R EDEEM ; N OTICE TO T RUSTEE .    67

                S ECTION 1103.

   S ELECTION BY T RUSTEE OF S ECURITIES TO B E R EDEEMED .    67

                S ECTION 1104.

   N OTICE OF R EDEMPTION .    68

                S ECTION 1105.

   D EPOSIT OF R EDEMPTION P RICE .    68

                S ECTION 1106.

   S ECURITIES P AYABLE ON R EDEMPTION D ATE .    69

                S ECTION 1107.

   S ECURITIES R EDEEMED IN P ART .    69

                S ECTION 1108.

   O PTIONAL R EDEMPTION D UE TO C HANGES IN T AX T REATMENT .    69

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

                S ECTION 1201.

   A PPLICABILITY OF A RTICLE .    70

                S ECTION 1202.

   S ATISFACTION OF S INKING F UND P AYMENTS WITH S ECURITIES .    70

                S ECTION 1203.

   R EDEMPTION OF S ECURITIES FOR S INKING F UND .    71

 

v


ARTICLE THIRTEEN

GUARANTEES

                S ECTION  1301.

   G UARANTEE .    71

                S ECTION  1302.

   S UBROGATION .    72

                S ECTION 1303.

   E XECUTION AND D ELIVERY OF G UARANTEES .    72

                S ECTION 1304.

   S UBMISSION TO J URISDICTION .    72

 

T ESTIMONIUM

   74

S IGNATURES

   74

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

   74

A NNEX A

   A-1

 

vi


THIS INDENTURE is dated as of June 4, 2003, among BP Capital Markets America Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 4101 Winfield Road, Warrenville, Illinois 60555, and BP p.l.c., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of England (herein called the “Guarantor”), having its principal office at 1 St. James’s Square, London SW1Y 4PD, England, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”) having its Corporate Trust Office at 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.

 

R ECITALS OF THE C OMPANY

 

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

 

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

 

R ECITALS OF THE G UARANTOR

 

The Guarantor desires to make the Guarantees provided for herein.

 

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

 

N OW , T HEREFORE , T HIS I NDENTURE W ITNESSETH :

 

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

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

D EFINITIONS AND O THER P ROVISIONS

OF G ENERAL A PPLICATION

 

Section 101. Definitions.

 

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

 

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


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

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted, in the case of the Company, in the United States and, in the case of the Guarantor, in the United Kingdom; and

 

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

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that Article.

 

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

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

 

“Board of Directors”, when used with reference to the Company or the Guarantor, means either the board of directors, or any committee of such board authorized to act for it hereunder, of the Company or of the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

“Board Resolution”, when used with reference to the Company or the Guarantor, means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, as the case may be, to have been duly adopted by its Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking or trust institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized generally or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

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

 

2


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

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company or of the Guarantor, in the case of the Company, by a Director or a senior officer, or, in the case of the Guarantor, by one of its Directors or any other Person duly authorized thereto by Board Resolution and by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 4 New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004.

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company or business trust.

 

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

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, as amended, specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

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

 

“Executive Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

“Global Security” means a Security bearing the legend required by Section 206 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series or its nominee and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

“Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or any foreign government of a sovereign state for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of an entity controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such foreign government the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such foreign government, as the case may be, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government

 

3


Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Guarantee” means any guarantee of the Guarantor endorsed on a Security authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture and shall include the guarantee set forth in Section 1301.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed, in the case of the Company, by a Director or a senior officer, or, in the case of the Guarantor, by one of its Directors or any other Person duly authorized thereto by Board Resolution and by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall contain the statements required by Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act if applicable.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Guarantor. Each such opinion shall include the statements required by Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable.

 

4


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

 

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

 

(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

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

 

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301 (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301 on the date of original issuance of such Security of the principal amount (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, the amount determined pursuant to such Clause) of such Security and (D) Securities owned by the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying

 

5


upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or of such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person (which may include the Company or the Guarantor) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest thereon, if any, the States Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company upon the issuance of such Securities.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means the Chairman or any Vice-Chairman of the board of directors, the Chairman or any Vice-Chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the Chairman of the trust committee, the President, any Vice President or any Corporate Trust Officer of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock or equity interest having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Guarantor or by one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Guarantor and one or more Subsidiaries.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable previsions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is than a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series, provided that the Trustee shall not be the Company, the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company, the Guarantor or of such other obligor.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, and as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, and as amended thereafter from tine to time.

 

“United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company or the Guarantor to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company or the Guarantor shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture. Such an Officers’ Certificate shall state that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and such Opinion of Counsel shall state that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request

 

7


as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any other provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided under Section 1008) hereof shall include

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

8


Section 104. Acts of Holders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company and the Guarantor. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instrument. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

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

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company or by the Guarantor shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Institutional Trust Services, or

 

9


(2) the Company or the Guarantor by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if made, given, furnished or filed in writing, in the case of the Company, to or with it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, with a copy to the Guarantor, and in the case of the Guarantor, to or with it at the address of its office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: Manager, Capital Markets, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Guarantor, with a copy to the Company.

 

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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

 

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

10


Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

The Article and Section headings herein, the Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

Section 109. Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

Section 110. Separability Clause.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities or in the Guarantees shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.

 

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

 

Section 112. Governing Law.

 

This Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except that the authorization and execution of this Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees shall be governed by the laws of the respective jurisdictions of organization of the Company and the Guarantor.

 

Section 113. Legal Holidays.

 

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

 

11


ARTICLE TWO

 

S ECURITY F ORMS

 

Section 201. Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

The Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in Section 205, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Guarantor or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other corrections as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the person duly authorized thereto executing such Guarantees, all as evidenced by such execution. If the form of Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Guarantor, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article.

 

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

 

12


Section 202. Form of Face of Security.

 

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

 

BP C APITAL M ARKETS A MERICA I NC .

 

[      %] Guaranteed [Zero Coupon] [Note] [Debenture] Due             

 

No.                         

$                         

 

BP C APITAL M ARKETS A MERICA I NC ., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to              , or registered assigns, the principal sum of              [Dollars] on              [ If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert —, and to pay interest thereon from              or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on              and              in each year, commencing              , at the rate of      % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [ If applicable insert —, and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at the rate of     % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the              or              (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

 

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

 

13


the rate of      % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

 

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [ if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in              , [in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts] [specify other currency] [ if applicable, insert —; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register].

 

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

 

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

 

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

 

BP C APITAL M ARKETS A MERICA I NC .

 

By                                 

 

Section 203. Form of Reverse of Security.

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2003 (herein called the “Indenture”), among the Company, as Issuer, BP p.l.c., as Guarantor (herein called the “Guarantor”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [, limited in aggregate principal amount to [$]              ].

 

14


[ If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [ if applicable, insert — (1)              on in any year commencing with the year              and ending with the year              through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [on or after                  , 20      ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [on or before              ,          %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning              of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price


 

Year


   Redemption Price

              
              
              

 

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

 

[ If applicable insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on              in any year commencing with the year          and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [on or after              ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning              of the years indicated,

 

Year


 

Redemption Price
For Redemption
Through Operation
of the Sinking Fund


 

Redemption Price For
Redemption Otherwise
Than Through Operation
of the Sinking Fund


         
         
         

 

15


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

 

[Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to              , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than     % per annum.]

 

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

 

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

 

[ If the Security is not subject to redemption , — This Security is not redeemable prior to Stated Maturity [except pursuant to Section 1108 of the Indenture. The date specified for the Securities of this series, for the purposes of said Section 1108, is              ].]

 

[ If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security , — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

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

 

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

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

 

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

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of [$]              and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the

 

17


Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

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

 

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes (subject to Section 307 of the Indenture), whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Indenture provides that the Company and the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s option, (a) will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) or (b) need not comply with certain restrictive covenants of the Indenture, in each case if the Company or the Guarantor deposits, in trust, with the Trustee money or Government Obligations which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and (premium, if any) and interest on, the Securities on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such Securities and Guarantees, and certain other conditions are satisfied.

 

[ If applicable insert Except in the limited circumstances described in Section 305 of the Indenture, the Securities of this series shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities and shall be the Depositary for such global Security or Securities.] All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 204. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

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

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank,
as Trustee

By

 

 


Authorized Officer

 

 

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Section 205. Form of Guarantee

 

Guarantees to be endorsed on the Securities shall, subject to Section 201, be in substantially the form set forth below; words enclosed in brackets shall be inserted if applicable:

 

G UARANTEE OF BP p.l.c.

 

For value received, BP p.l.c., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of England (herein called the “Guarantor”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to in the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), hereby unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed and to the Trustee referred to in such Indenture due and prompt payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security [and the due and prompt payment of the sinking fund payments provided for therein,] when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of the Indenture referred to therein. In case of the failure of BP Capital Markets America Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under such Indenture) punctually to make any such principal, premium, [or] interest [or sinking fund] payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made promptly when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

 

The Guarantor hereby further agrees, subject to the limitations and exceptions set forth below, that if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated, shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under this Guarantee, the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of a Security of such series such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (1) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (2) for or on account of:

 

(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or

 

19


corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security of such series (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

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

 

(c) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, or any interest on, the Securities of such series;

 

(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Security of such series (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirements, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which such Holder would have been able to avoid by presenting such Security to another Paying Agent;

 

(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is imposed on a payment pursuant to any European Union Directive on the taxation of savings implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26 and 27, 2000, or any law implementing such directive;

 

or (g) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above; nor shall additional amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any Security of such series to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the Holder of such Security.

 

The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental

 

20


charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of such Security or such Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of such Security or such Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the Holder of such Security or such Trustee, or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of such Security or the interest rate thereon or impose or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby [or with respect to any sinking fund payment required under such Security] and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment in full of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security. This is a guarantee of payment and not of collection.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of such Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided , however , that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities of the same series issued under such Indenture shall have been paid in full.

 

No reference herein to such Indenture and no provision of this Guarantee or of such Indenture shall alter or impair the guarantee of the Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency prescribed therein.

 

This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication of such Security shall have been manually executed by or on behalf of the Trustee under such Indenture.

 

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

 

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be signed manually or in facsimile by a person duly authorized in that behalf.

 

BP P . L . C .

 

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A UTHORIZED S IGNATORY

 

   

Attest:

 


 

Dated the date on the face hereof.

 

Section 206. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

 

Any Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form or such other form as may be determined pursuant to Section 201:

 

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary. This Global Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in such limited circumstances.”

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

T HE S ECURITIES

 

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

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

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or the Guarantor, as appropriate, and set forth in (or determined in the manner set forth in) an Officers’ Certificate of the Company or the Guarantor, as appropriate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

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

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107);

 

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

 

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

 

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

 

(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(7) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, including the date referred to in Section 1108;

 

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

 

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

 

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(11) if other than such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public or private debts, the coin or currency (including any composite currency) in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of the series shall be denominated or payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for the purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

(12) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency (including any composite currency) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and condition upon which, such election may be made;

 

 

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(13) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

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

 

(15) the Guarantee of the Securities of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof;

 

(16) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so, the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;

 

(17) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

 

(18) with respect to such series of Securities, the “Stated Intervals” and the “Record Date” for purposes of Section 312(a) (in the case of non-interest bearing Securities) and 316(c), respectively, of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(19) if additional amounts pursuant to Section 1010 will not be payable by the Company or the Guarantor; and

 

(20) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and number and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolutions and set forth (or determined in the manner provided in) in such Officers’ Certificates or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company or the Guarantor, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company

 

24


or by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor, as the case may be, and delivered to the trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Board Resolution (or action taken pursuant thereto), Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company in accordance with other procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by the third paragraph of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding Section 301(2) herein and unless otherwise expressly provided with respect to a series of Securities, the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased and additional Securities of such series may be issued up to the maximum aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as increased.

 

Section 302. Denominations.

 

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

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one of its Directors or senior officers. The signature of any of such director or officer on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company having endorsed thereon Guarantees executed by the Guarantor to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided , however , that in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with such other procedures (including, without limitation, the receipt by the Trustee of oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agents, promptly confirmed in writing) acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by

 

25


or pursuant to a Company Order delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of Securities of such series. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series or the form of the Guarantees endorsed thereon have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(a) if the form of such Securities or Guarantees has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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

 

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and

 

(d) that such Guarantees, when the Securities upon which they shall have been endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

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

 

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

 

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With respect to Securities of a series offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee may rely, as to the authorization by the Company and the Guarantor of any of such Securities and the related Guarantees, the form and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the Opinion of Counsel and the other documents delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section, as applicable, in connection with the first authentication of Securities of such series.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security or Guarantee endorsed thereon shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that such Security or Guarantee is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 304. Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, and having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the Guarantor substantially of the tenor of the definitive Guarantees, which Securities and Guarantees may be printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities and the person duly authorized thereto executing such Guarantees may determine, all as evidenced by such execution.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, having endorsed thereon Guarantees duly executed by the Guarantor. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange .

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, each such Security having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor.

 

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, each such Security having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

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Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section 305 for Securities registered in the names of Persons other than the Depositary for such series or its nominee if, but only if, (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act, as amended, and the Company and/or the Guarantor notify the Trustee that they are unable to locate a qualified successor Depositary, (ii) the Company and/or the Guarantor executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series and beneficial owners of the Securities evidencing not less than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Securities of such series advise the Trustee and the Depositary through participants in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system is no longer in the best interests of the beneficial owners of the Securities of such series. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as such Depositary shall direct.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary.

 

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

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount, having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount, having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor, and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

 

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

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security or such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such

 

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Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

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

 

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

 

Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall 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 as Holder of any Security.

 

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None of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee or any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 309. Cancellation .

 

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

 

Section 310. Computation of Interest .

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

S ATISFACTION AND D ISCHARGE

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

 

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

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company or the Guarantor and thereafter repaid to the Company or the Guarantor or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1006) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

and the Company or the Guarantor, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company or the Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1006 shall survive.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1006, all money and the proceeds of any Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 403 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or the Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the Holders of the series of Securities for the payment in respect of which such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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The Company or the Guarantor shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 403 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities. The obligations of the Company and the Guarantor pursuant to this paragraph shall be joint and several.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company or the Guarantor from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 403 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Discharge or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 403. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations .

 

At the Guarantor’s option, either (a) the Company and the Guarantor shall each be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its respective obligations with respect to any series of Securities on the 91st day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (b) the Company and the Guarantor shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 801 or 802 or any covenant set forth in any indenture supplemental to this Indenture or otherwise established pursuant to Section 301, and noncompliance with such Sections or covenants shall not give rise to any Event of Default under Section 501(4) or under Section 501(7) (“Covenant Defeasance”), with respect to any series of Securities at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied:

 

(1) the Company or the Guarantor shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee or its agent as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) Government Obligations of the government in the currency of which the Securities of such series are denominated which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments) of and interest on, the outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Guarantor pursuant to subparagraph (5) hereof;

 

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(2) if the Securities of such series are then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the exercise of the option under this Section 403 would not cause such Securities to be delisted;

 

(3) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default under Section 501(1), (2), (3), (5) or (6) with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(4) the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the exercise of the option under this Section 403 and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised, and, in the case of Securities being Discharged, such opinion shall be accompanied by a private letter ruling to that effect received from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a revenue ruling pertaining to a comparable form of transaction to that effect published by the United States Internal Revenue Service;

 

(5) if the Company or the Guarantor has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Government Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of a series to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (1) hereof, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Government Obligations and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104; and

 

(6) the Company or the Guarantor shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Discharge or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

“Discharged” means that the Company and Guarantor shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and the Guarantees endorsed thereon and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series and the Guarantees endorsed thereon (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (1) above payment of the principal of and the interest on such Securities when such payments are due; (B) the Company’s or the Guarantor’s obligations, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, 1005 and 1006; and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

 

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Notwithstanding any Covenant Defeasance with respect to Sections 801 and 802, any corporation or Person that would otherwise have been required to assume the obligations of the Company or the Guarantor pursuant to said Sections shall be required, as a condition to any merger, consolidation, amalgamation, transfer, conveyance or lease contemplated thereby, to assume the obligations of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to the Trustee under Sections 402 and 607.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

R EMEDIES

 

Section 501. Events of Default .

 

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

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

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

 

(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United States or the United Kingdom or

 

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(B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or the Guarantor a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition filed against the Company or the Guarantor seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or the Guarantor under any applicable law of the United States or the United Kingdom, or appointing without the consent of the Company or the Guarantor a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrate or other similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or of the whole or substantially all of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;

 

(6) the commencement by the Company or the Guarantor of a voluntary case or proceeding under, in the case of the Company, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United States or, in the case of the Guarantor, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United Kingdom or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under, in the case of the Company, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United States or, in the case of the Guarantor, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United Kingdom or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under, in the case of the Company, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United States or, in the case of the Guarantor, any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of the United Kingdom, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrater or similar official of the Company or the Guarantor or of the whole or substantially all of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or the Guarantor in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any Notice of Default pursuant to this Section 501, (i) with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such Notice of Default, and (ii) with respect to any other series of Securities, the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, establish a record date, in each case for the purpose of determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such Notice of Default. If such record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such

 

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Persons, shall be entitled to join in such Notice of Default, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that unless Holders of at least the requisite principal amount (which amount shall be 25% in the case of subclause (4) of this Section) of the Outstanding Securities of such series, or their proxies, shall have joined in such Notice of Default prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such Notice of Default and the Act of Holders, or their proxies, joining in such Notice of Default shall automatically and without further action by any Holders be cancelled and of no effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new Notice of Default to the same effect as that cancelled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period in respect of any Notice of Default with respect to a prospective Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series, an additional Notice of Default with respect to any other prospective Event of Default (other than a prospective Event of Default as to which such a 90-day period has not expired) with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall or may, as the case may be, be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 501 in respect of such new or additional Notice of Default.

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

and

 

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

 

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

 

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, (i) with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such notice, and (ii) with respect to any other series of Securities, the Trustee may, but shall not be. obligated to, establish a record date, in each case for the purpose of determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such notice. If such record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, and the Act of Holders, or their proxies, joining in such notice shall automatically and without further action by any Holders be cancelled and of no effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, of Securities of any series from giving, (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, to the same effect as that cancelled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period in respect of any written notice of declaration of acceleration or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, with respect to any Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series, an additional written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, with respect to any other Event of Default (other than an Event of Default as to which such a 90-day period has not expired) with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall or may, as the case may be, be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 502 in respect of such new or additional written notice.

 

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

 

The Company covenants that if

 

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

 

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar judicial proceeding relative to the Company, the Guarantor of any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company, the Guarantor or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or the Guarantor for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized,

 

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(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities in accordance with the terms thereof and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrate or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 506. Application of Money Collected .

 

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

 

F IRST : To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

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S ECOND : To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.

 

Section 507. Limitation on Suits .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

 

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

 

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

 

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

 

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

 

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

 

Section 512. Control by Holders .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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Upon receipt by the Trustee of any written notice directing the time, method or place of conducting any such proceeding or exercising any such trust or power, (i) with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such notice, and (ii) with respect to any other series of Securities, the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, establish a record date, in each case for the purpose of determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such notice. If such record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that unless the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have joined in such notice prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, such notice and the Act of Holders, or their proxies, joining in such notice shall automatically and without further action by any Holders be cancelled and of no effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new notice to the same effect as that cancelled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period in respect of any notice, a new notice giving directions contrary to or otherwise different from such notice in either of which events a new record date shall or may, as the case may be, be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 512 in respect of such new notice.

 

Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal and (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

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

 

With respect to any series of Securities, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, establish a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to waive any past default hereunder. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any default hereunder, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however , that unless such Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have waived such default prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such waiver previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no effect.

 

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

 

Section 514. Undertaking for Costs .

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered 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, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee.

 

Section 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .

 

The Company and the Guarantor each covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and the Guarantor each (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

T HE T RUSTEE

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

 

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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Section 602. Notice of Defaults .

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence known to the Trustee of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of all such defaults hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived provided , however , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided , further , that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

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

 

(b) any request or direction of the Company or the Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company or the Guarantor shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

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

 

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

 

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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the relevant books, records and premises of the Company and the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

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

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company or the Guarantor, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 605. May Hold Securities .

 

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

 

Section 606. Money Held in Trust .

 

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

 

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Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company and the Guarantor agree

 

(1) To pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against (but not of instituting) any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities.

 

The obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Section shall be joint and several.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests .

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after ascertaining that it has such conflicting interest, and if the Event of Default (as defined in Section 501 hereof) to which such conflicting interest relates has not been cured or duly waived or otherwise eliminated before the end of such 90-day period, either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series or by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture and under any indenture listed in Annex A hereto.

 

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Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

 

There shall at all times be one and only one Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be a Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

 

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

 

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

 

(c) In accordance with the requirements of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company and the Guarantor.

 

(d) If at any time:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, subject to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

 

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company, the Guarantor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed

 

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or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company, the Guarantor or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the Guarantor, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees cotrustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company and the Guarantor or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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

 

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 612. Merger, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

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

 

Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

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

 

Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company and the Guarantor agree to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank,

     As Trustee

By

 

 


   

As Authenticating Agent

By

 

 


   

Authorized Signatory

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN

 

H OLDERS ’ L ISTS AND R EPORTS B Y T RUSTEE , C OMPANY A ND G UARANTOR

 

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

 

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

 

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date for any series of Securities at the time Outstanding (or after each of the dates to be specified for such purpose for non-interest bearing Securities as contemplated by Section 301), a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, and

 

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

 

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee shall, within 60 days after each January 15 following the date of this Indenture, transmit annually by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses

 

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appear in the Security Register, a brief report with respect to any of the following events which may have occurred within the previous 12 months (but if no such event has occurred within such period, no such report need be transmitted):

 

(1) any change to its eligibility under Section 609 and its qualifications under Section 608;

 

(2) the creation of or any material change to a relationship specified in Section 3l0(b)(l) through Section 3l0(b)(l0) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities, on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances to the Holders of Securities of any series if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than ½ of 1% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding on the date of such report;

 

(4) any change to the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing by the Company or the Guarantor (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to the Trustee in its individual capacity, on the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in any manner described in Section 311(b) (2), (3), (4) or (6) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(5) any change to the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession of the Trustee as such on the date of such report;

 

(6) any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee has not previously reported; and

 

(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with Section 602.

 

(b) The Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a brief report with respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of execution of this instrument) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities, on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this Subsection, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances to the Holders of Securities of any series if such

 

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advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding at such time, such report to be transmitted within 90 days after such time.

 

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

 

Section 704. Reports by Company and Guarantor.

 

The Company and the Guarantor shall:

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company or the Guarantor may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company or the Guarantor is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in such Act; and

 

(3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

C ONSOLIDATION , A MALGAMATION , M ERGER , C ONVEYANCE , T RANSFER OR L EASE

 

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

 

Neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall consolidate with or amalgamate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and

 

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assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall permit any Person to consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into it nor shall the Company permit any Person to convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:

 

(1) in case the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall consolidate or amalgamate with or merge into another corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the corporation formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, substantially as an entirety shall be, in the case of the Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of England or some other political subdivision of the United Kingdom, the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and, in the case of the Guarantor, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of England or some other political subdivision of the United Kingdom or the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, in the case of the Company, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, and, in the case of the Guarantor, the due and punctual performance of the Guarantees and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Guarantor to be performed or observed;

 

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

 

(3) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or amalgamation by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, with or merger by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, into any other corporation or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, substantially as an entirety in

 

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accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or amalgamation or into which the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities or the Guarantees, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURES

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

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

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company or the Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor herein and in the Securities or the Guarantees; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company or of the Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or the Guarantor; or

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(4) to add any additional present, future or contingent payment obligation of the Guarantor under any Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional payment obligations are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional payment obligations are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(5) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

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(6) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided , however , that any such addition, change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series or the form of Guarantees as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

 

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

 

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided , however , that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, the Guarantor, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

 

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(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1009, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(8), or

 

(4) change in any manner adverse to the interests of the Holders of Securities the terms and conditions of the obligations of the Guarantor in respect of the due and prompt payment of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest thereon or any sinking fund payments provided in respect thereof.

 

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

 

With respect to any series of Securities, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, establish a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , however, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no effect.

 

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

 

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of

 

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such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company and the Guarantor shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor, to any such supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, the Guarantees endorsed thereon may be executed by the Guarantor and such Securities may be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

P ARTICULAR C OVENANTS OF C OMPANY AND G UARANTOR

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest by Company.

 

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

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency by Company.

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or

 

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agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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

 

Section 1003. Reserved.

 

Section 1004. Reserved.

 

Section 1005. Maintenance of Office or Agency by Guarantor.

 

The Guarantor will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment under the Guarantees endorsed thereon and where notices and demands to or upon the Guarantor in respect of the Guarantees endorsed on the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Guarantor will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Guarantor shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Guarantor hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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

 

Section 1006. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

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

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and

 

(ii) during the continuance of any such default by the Company (or any other obligor on the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of such series.

 

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

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company or the Guarantor, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company or the Guarantor) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company and the Guarantor for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company or the Guarantor as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1007. Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company and the Guarantor will preserve and keep in full force and effect their respective corporate existences.

 

Section 1008. Statement by Executive Officers as to Compliance.

 

The Company and the Guarantor will each deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor ending after the date hereof, an Executive Officer’s Certificate (which need not comply with the requirements of Section 102), stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has complied with all conditions and covenants on their part contained in this Indenture, and if such signers have obtained knowledge of any default by the Company or the Guarantor in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge. For the purpose of this Section 1008, such compliance with the terms, conditions and covenants of the Indenture shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder.

 

Section 1009. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company and the Guarantor may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant set forth in any indenture supplemental to this Indenture or otherwise established pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series or the Guarantees endorsed thereon if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

With respect to any series of Securities, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, establish a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to waive any such term, provision or condition. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any such term, provision or condition hereunder, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, however, that unless the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have waived such term, provision or condition prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such waiver previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no effect.

 

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Section 1010. Additional Amounts.

 

Unless otherwise specified in any Board Resolution of the Guarantor establishing the terms of the Guarantees relating to a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301, if any deduction or withholding for any present or future taxes, assessments or other governmental charges of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) in which the Guarantor is incorporated, shall at any time be required by such jurisdiction (or any such political subdivision or taxing authority) in respect of any amounts to be paid by the Guarantor under the Guarantees, the Guarantor will pay to the Holder of a Security of such series such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts paid to such Holder of such Security who, with respect to any such tax, assessment or other governmental charge, is not resident in such jurisdiction, after such deduction or withholding, shall be not less than the amounts specified in such Security to which such Holder is entitled; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be required to make any payment of additional amounts (1) for or on account of any such tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (2) for or on account of:

 

(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such Holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) and the taxing jurisdiction or any political subdivision or territory or possession thereof or area subject to its jurisdiction, including, without limitation, such Holder (or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or engaged in trade or business therein or having or having had a permanent establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of a Security of such series (where presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later;

 

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

 

(c) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payments of (or in respect of) principal of, or any interest on, the Securities of such series;

 

(d) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure by the Holder or the beneficial owner of the Security of such series (i) to provide information concerning the nationality, residence or identity of the Holder or such beneficial owner or (ii) to make any declaration or other similar claim or satisfy any information or reporting requirements, which, in the case of (i) or (ii), is required or imposed by a statute, treaty, regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

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(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which such Holder would have been able to avoid by presenting such Security to another Paying Agent;

 

(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is imposed on a payment pursuant to any European Union Directive on the taxation of savings implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26 and 27, 2000, or any law implementing such directive; or

 

(g) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above; nor shall additional amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any Security of such series to any Holder who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent such payment would be required by the laws of the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) to be included in the income for tax purposes of a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner who would not have been entitled to such additional amounts had it been the Holder of such Security.

 

The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature of any jurisdiction in which any successor Person to the Guarantor is organized, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein; provided , however , that such payment of additional amounts may be subject to such further exceptions as may be established in the terms of such Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

If the terms of the Securities of a series established as contemplated by Section 301 do not specify that additional amounts pursuant to the Section will not be payable by the Guarantor, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Guarantor will furnish the Trustee and the Guarantor’s principal paying agent or paying agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether any payments due under the related Guarantees shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Guarantees. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Guarantor (only if a payment under said Guarantees is then due) will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent or Paying Agents the additional amounts required by this Section.

 

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The Guarantor covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section, except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense is due to its own negligence or bad faith.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

R EDEMPTION OF S ECURITIES

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

 

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

 

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

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

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

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

 

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed

 

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in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for such Security).

 

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

 

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.

 

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

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price or, if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1006) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

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

 

Section 1108. Optional Redemption Due to Changes in Tax Treatment.

 

With respect to each series of Securities, if, as the result of any change in or any amendment to the laws of the United Kingdom, or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, affecting taxation, or any change in an application or interpretation of such laws either generally or in relation to any particular series of Securities, which change or amendment to such laws becomes effective on or after the date specified for such series pursuant to Section 301(7) or which change in application or interpretation is notified to the Company or the Guarantor on or after such date, it is determined by the Company or the Guarantor that the Guarantor would be required to make payments of additional amounts (i) in respect of interest on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date pursuant to the terms of the Guarantees endorsed on the Securities

 

69


of such series, as applicable, assuming a payment in respect of such interest were required to be made pursuant thereto on such Interest Payment Date, or (ii) in respect of the principal of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities at the date of such determination pursuant to the terms of the Guarantees endorsed on the Securities of such series, as applicable, assuming a payment in respect of such principal were required to be made pursuant thereto on such date, in either case the Company or the Guarantor may, at its option, redeem such series of Securities in whole at any time (except in the case of a series of Securities that has a variable rate of interest, which may be redeemed on any Interest Payment Date) at a Redemption Price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption (except in the case of any series of Outstanding Original Issue Discount Securities which may be redeemed at the Redemption Price specified by the terms of such series). Prior to any redemption of such a series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Company or the Guarantor shall provide the Trustee with an Opinion of Counsel that the conditions precedent to the right of the Company or the Guarantor to redeem such series of Securities pursuant to this Section have occurred. Such Opinion of Counsel shall be based on the laws and application and interpretation thereof in effect on the date of such opinion or to become effective on or before the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

S INKING F UNDS

 

Section 1201. Applicability of Article.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series,

 

70


provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not been previously so credited and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

G UARANTEES

 

Section 1301. Guarantee.

 

The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guarantees to each Holder of a Security of each series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee the due and prompt payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security and the due and prompt payment of any sinking fund payments provided for pursuant to the terms of such Security, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, according to the terms of such Security and of this Indenture. In case of the failure of the Company punctually to make any such principal, premium, interest or sinking fund payment, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such payment to be made promptly when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, and as if such payment were made by the Company.

 

The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as if it were principal debtor and not merely surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or unenforceability of any Security of any series or this Indenture, any failure to enforce the provisions of any Security of any series or this Indenture, or any waiver, modification or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the Holder of any Security of any series

 

71


or the Trustee, or any other circumstance which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or guarantor; provided however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no such waiver, modification or indulgence shall, without the consent of the Guarantor, increase the principal amount of a Security or the interest rate thereon or increase any premium payable upon redemption thereof. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or notice with respect to any Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby or with respect to any sinking fund payment required pursuant to the terms of a Security issued under this Indenture and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged with respect to any Security except by payment in full of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security. The Guarantees shall constitute guarantees of payment and not of collection.

 

Section 1302. Subrogation.

 

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of a Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities of the relevant series shall have been paid in full.

 

Section 1303. Execution and Delivery of Guarantees.

 

To evidence its guarantee set forth in Section 1301, the Guarantor hereby agrees to execute the Guarantee in a form established pursuant to Section 205, to be endorsed on each Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Each such Guarantee shall be signed manually or by facsimile by a person duly authorized thereto by Board Resolution of the Guarantor.

 

Guarantees bearing the facsimile signature of any individual who was at any time such an authorized person of the Guarantor shall bind the Guarantor, notwithstanding that such individual shall have ceased to be such an authorized person prior to the authentication and delivery of the Securities upon which such Guarantees are endorsed or was not such an authorized person at the date of such Securities.

 

The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guarantee endorsed thereon on behalf of the Guarantor.

 

Section 1304. Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

The Guarantor agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the Indenture or the Guarantees may be instituted in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, waives, to the extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may have now or hereafter to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and

 

72


irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Guarantor has designated and appointed BP America Inc. (or any successor corporation) as the Guarantor’s authorized agent to accept and acknowledge on its behalf service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court and agrees that service of process upon said agent at its office at 667 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10021, attention of the General Counsel (or at such other address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Guarantor may designate by written notice to the Company and the Trustee), and written notice of said service to the Guarantor, mailed or delivered to it, at 1 St. James’s Square, London SW1Y 4PD, England, attention of the Secretary (until another address is filed by the Guarantor with the Trustee), shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Guarantor in any such suit, action or proceeding and shall be taken and held to be valid personal service upon the Guarantor, whether or not the Guarantor shall then be doing, or at any time shall have done, business within the State of New York, and any such service of process shall be of the same force and validity as if service were made upon it according to the laws governing the validity and requirements of such service in such State, and waives all claim of error by reason of any such service. Said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable until the Indenture shall have been satisfied and discharged in accordance with Article Four. The Guarantor agrees to take all action as may be necessary to continue the designation and appointment of BP America Inc. or any successor corporation in full force and effect so that the Guarantor shall at all times have an agent for service of process for the above purposes in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America.

 

*    *    *

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

73


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

BP C APITAL M ARKETS A MERICA I NC .

By

 

/s/ D. B. PINKERT


   

Name:

 

D. B. Pinkert

   

Title:

 

Vice President

BP p.l.c.

By

 

/s/ HENRY R. WILSON


   

Name:

 

Henry R. Wilson

   

Title:

 

Corporate Finance Executive

JPM ORGAN C HASE B ANK , AS T RUSTEE

By

 

/s/ JAMES P. FREEMAN


   

Name:

 

James P. Freeman

   

Title:

 

Vice President

 

74


ANNEX A

 

1. Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2002, among BP Canada Finance Company, as Issuer, BP p.l.c., as Guarantor, and the Trustee.

 

2. Indenture, dated as of March 8, 2002, among BP Capital Markets p.l.c., as Issuer, BP p.l.c., as Guarantor, and the Trustee.

 

3. Indenture, dated as of November 1, 1997, among Windsor Petroleum Transport Corporation, as Agent, Buckingham Shipping Plc, Caernarfon Shipping Plc, Sandringham Shipping Plc, Holyrood Shipping Plc and the Trustee, under which the 7.84% Term Secured Notes Due 2021 and the relating Serial Secured Notes are outstanding, the payment of which is supported by a charter with The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.

 

4. Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1997, among Amoco Company, as Issuer, Amoco Corporation, as Guarantor, and the Trustee

 

5. Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1992, among Amoco Canada Petroleum Company Ltd., as Issuer, Amoco Company, as Guarantor, Amoco Corporation, as Guarantor, and the Trustee

 

6. Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1985, between Atlantic Richfield Company, as Issuer, and the Trustee

 

7. Indenture, dated as of June 15, 1983, between BP America Inc. and the Trustee

 

8. Indenture, dated as of September 7, 1995, between Amoco Argentine Oil Company, Argentine Branch, as Issuer, Amoco Corporation, as Guarantor, Amoco Company as Guarantor and the Trustee

 

9. Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1996, between Amoco Argentine Oil and the Trustee

 

10. Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2001, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

11. Indenture dated 1995 between Beaver County Industrial Development Authority and the Trustee

 

12. Indenture dated 1996 between Beaver County Industrial Development Authority and the Trustee

 

13. Indenture dated 1999 between Mississippi Business Finance Group and the Trustee

 

14. Indenture, dated as of May 1, 1983, between Guadalupe Blanco River Authority and the Trustee

 

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15. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1985, between Delaware County Industrial Development Authority (Pennsylvania) and the Trustee

 

16. Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2000, between West Side Calhoun County Development Corporation (Texas) and the Trustee

 

17. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1982, between Town of Hurley, New Mexico and the Trustee

 

18. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1985, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

19. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 2001, between North Slope Borough, Alaska and the Trustee

 

20. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1985, between Marshall County, West Virginia and the Trustee

 

21. Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2000, relating to Taxable Solid Waste Revenue Bonds, Series 2000, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

22. Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2000, relating to Solid Waste Revenue Bonds, Series 2000, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

23. Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2001, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

24. Indenture, dated as of November 1, 2001, between the State of Ohio and the Trustee

 

25. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1985, relating to $6.045MM Carbon (Series 1985) due 2014

 

26. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of December 1, 1983, relating to $93MM Hockley (Series 1983) due 2014

 

27. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1985, relating to $56.8MM Hockley (Series 1985) due 2019

 

28. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of February 1, 1986, relating to $1.9MM La Plata (Series 1986) due 2016

 

29. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of December 1, 1983, relating to $15.2MM Lincoln (Series 1983) due 2012

 

30. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1985, relating to $5.645MM Yoakum (Series 1985) due 2019

 

31. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1975, relating to $8.28MM Gulf Coast (Series 1984) due 2008

 

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32. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of May 1, 1983, relating to $7MM Gulf Coast (Series 1986) due 2009

 

33. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of June 1, 1985, relating to $14.35MM Gulf Coast (Series 1985) due 2025

 

34. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of May 1, 1991, relating to $9.2MM Gulf Coast (Series 1991) due 2015

 

35. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of September 1, 1992, relating to $88.215MM Gulf Coast (Series 1992) due 2017

 

36. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of May 1, 1993, relating to $50MM Gulf Coast (Series 1993) due 2023

 

37. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of March 1, 1993, relating to $44.8MM Gulf Coast (Series 1993) due 2028

 

38. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1994, relating to $50MM Gulf Coast (Series 1994) due 2023

 

39. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of June 1, 1994, relating to $50MM Gulf Coast (Series 1994) due 2024

 

40. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of July 1, 1995, relating to $50MM Gulf Coast (Series 1995) due 2027

 

41. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1995, relating to $84MM Gulf Coast (Taxable Series 1995) due 2026

 

42. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of March 1, 1996, relating to $25MM Gulf Coast (Series 1996) due 2024

 

43. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of April 1, 1997, relating to $25MM Gulf Coast (Series 1997) due 2026

 

44. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of January 1, 1998, relating to $25MM Gulf Coast (Series 1998) due 2026

 

45. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1998, relating to $44.6MM Uinta (Series 1998) due 2026

 

46. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of November 1, 1999, between Pascagoula, Mississippi and the Trustee.

 

47. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of April 1, 2001, relating to $25MM Gulf Coast (Series 2001) due April 1, 2032

 

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48. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of January 1, 2002, relating to $25MM Gulf Coast (Series 2002) due July 1, 2036

 

49. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of December 1, 1997, relating to $108MM CPCFA Taxable Series 1997 due December 1, 2032

 

50. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of December 1, 1997, relating to $20MM CPCFA Non-Taxable Series 1997A due December 1, 2032

 

51. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of January 1, 1996, relating to $44.81MM 5% CPCFA Pollution Control Ref. Revenue Bonds Series 1996A due 2008

 

52. Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1995, between Beaver County and the Trustee

 

53. Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1981, between Beaver County and the Trustee

 

54. Indenture of the Trustee, dated as of December 1, 1994, relating to $45MM CPCFA Resource Recovery Revenue Bonds Series 1994A due 2024

 

A-4

Exhibit 4.9

 

Memorandum and

Articles of Association

 

BP p.l.c.

Incorporated 14 April 1909

 

No. 102498

Company Limited by Shares

 

May 2003


Memorandum of Association

 

1 The name of the Company is “BP p.l.c.”

 

2 The Company is to be a public company.

 

3 The Registered Office of the Company will be situate in England.

 

4 The objects for which the Company is established are:

 

(A) To enter into and carry into effect, with such modifications (if any) as may be agreed upon, the agreement with The Concessions Syndicate, Limited, The Burmah Oil Company, Limited, and Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal, mentioned in Clause 3 of the Company’s Articles of Association.

 

(B) To purchase, take on lease or license, or otherwise acquire any petroleum or oil-bearing lands in Persia or in any other part of the world, or any interest in any such lands, or any rights of or connected with the getting or winning of any natural gas, petroleum or other oil, bitumen, asphalt or ozokerite, or other similar substances, and to sink wells, to make borings and otherwise to search for, obtain, exploit, develop, render suitable for trade, carry away and sell petroleum and other mineral oils, natural gas, asphalt, ozokerite, or other similar substances and products thereof, and other fuels.

 

(C) To carry on all or any of the businesses of dealers in and refiners of petroleum and other mineral oils, natural gas, asphalt, and ozokerite, or other similar substances and products thereof, and other fuels, mine owners, merchants, carriers, wharfingers, manufacturers, shipowners, shipbuilders, barge owners, lightermen, factors and brokers in all or any of their respective branches, and to treat or turn to account in any other manner any natural gas, petroleum or other oils, asphalt, or any products thereof, or any other fuel.

 

(D) To acquire, work and dispose of and deal in any mines, metals, minerals, mineral wax, clay and other like substances, and to acquire, produce by cultivation, manufacture, treat, deal in or otherwise turn to account any mineral, vegetable or mineral products.

 

(E) To acquire, construct, improve, maintain, work, manage, carry out or control any roads, ways, tramways, railways, docks, wharves, piers, bridges, viaducts, aqueducts, canals, watercourses, tanks, wells, reservoirs, stations and pump services, accumulation services and distribution services, pipes, pipe lines, and other apparatus in connection with oil, gas, bitumen, asphalt and ozokerite, and other similar substances, telegraphs, telephones, gasworks, electric lighting and power works, factories, workshops, warehouses, shops, stores, fuel stores, fuel stations, guard towers, dwellinghouses, and other buildings, works and conveniences which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to advance the Company’s interests, and to contribute to, subsidise or otherwise assist or take part in the construction, improvement, maintenance, working, management, carrying out or control thereof, and to take any lease or enter into any working agreement in respect thereof.


(F) To purchase, build, charter, affreight, hire and let out for hire, or for chartering and affreightment, and to otherwise obtain the possession of, and use and dispose of, and employ or turn to account ships, lighters, launches, boats and vessels of all kinds (including tank vessels), and locomotives, wagons, tank cars and other rolling stock, and to otherwise provide for the conveyance of oil, gas, asphalt, ozokerite and movable property of all kinds, and to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares or interests in any ships or vessels, or in any companies possessed of or interested in any ships or vessels.

 

(G) To clear, manage, farm, cultivate, irrigate and otherwise work or use any lands over which for the time being the Company has any rights, and to dispose of or otherwise deal with any farm or other products of any such lands, and to lay out sites for and establish permanent camps, towns and villages on any such lands.

 

(H) To equip expeditions and employ experts, agents and others for the purpose of searching for, acquiring, working, proving, and developing lands and others and concessions, licences, rights, powers and privileges suitable for the purposes of the Company.

 

(I) To carry on business as concessionaires, capitalists and financiers, and to undertake, carry on and execute any kinds of financial, commercial, trading, trust, exploitation, agency and other operations, and to advance or provide money, with or without security, to concessionaires, inventors, patentees and others, for the purpose of improving and developing, or assisting to improve and develop, any concessions, lands or others, or of experimenting, testing or developing any invention, design or process, industrial or otherwise.

 

(J) To carry on as principals, or agents, any branch of agricultural, manufacturing, metallurgical, chemical or mercantile business for which the Company’s properties, buildings, and employees may be conveniently applicable.

 

(K) To subsidise, or contribute to, or otherwise assist in, or take part in, the construction, maintenance, improvement, management, working, control or superintendence of any operations or works or buildings useful or expedient or convenient or adaptable for the purposes of the Company which may be constructed by or may belong to or be worked by or be under the control or superintendence of others.

 

(L) To manufacture, buy, sell, treat and deal in all kinds of commodities, substances, materials, articles and things necessary or useful for carrying on any of the businesses of the Company, or in or for any of the operations of the Company.

 

(M) To purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, and to confer and grant rights of way, light and water and other rights, easements or privileges in favour of the Company or its properties or any of them, or over or affecting the Company’s properties or any of them.

 

-2-


(N) To guarantee payment of any moneys by, or the performance of any contracts, liabilities, obligations or engagements of any company, corporation or person, with, or to any other company, corporation or person; and to become liable or responsible for money; and to grant guarantees and indemnities of every description; and to undertake obligations of every description.

 

(O) To indemnify and secure any person (including any officers of this Company) or company against debt or liability incurred to him or them by this Company, or undertaken by him or them for or on behalf of this Company, or against any costs, losses or expenses in connection with any of the affairs or businesses of this Company, and to issue to any such person or company, by way of indemnity or security, any shares, or grant in their favour or give them any securities, which this Company has power to issue, grant or give.

 

(P) To pay all printing, legal and other costs, charges and expenses incidental to or connected with the promotion, formation and incorporation of the Company (whether of a preliminary nature or not), and the purchase or acquisition of any properties, businesses, rights and others acquired or to be acquired for the purposes of the Company and the carrying of any of its objects into effect; and to remunerate any person or company for services rendered or to be rendered in placing, or assisting in placing, or obtaining subscriptions for, any shares or stocks or securities of this Company, or of any company to be promoted by this Company, or in arranging loans for this Company, or any company to be promoted by it, or in relation to the formation or promotion of this Company, or of any company to be promoted by this Company, or otherwise in relation to the businesses or objects of this Company; and to adopt all acts and preliminary arrangements in reference to all or any of these matters.

 

(Q) To carry on any other businesses which may seem to the Company capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with any business which the Company is authorised to carry on, or may seem to the Company calculated directly or indirectly to benefit this Company, or to enhance the value of or render profitable any of the Company’s properties or rights.

 

(R) To acquire and carry on all or any part of the business or property, and to undertake any liabilities of any person, firm, association or company possessed of property suitable for any of the purposes of this Company, or carrying on any business which this Company is authorised to carry on, and as the consideration for the same to pay cash or to issue any shares, stocks or obligations of this Company.

 

(S) To enter into partnership or into any arrangement for sharing profits, union of interest, joint adventure, reciprocal concessions or co-operation with any person or company carrying on, engaged in, or about to carry on or engage in, any business or transaction which the Company is authorised to carry on or engage in, or any business or transaction capable of being conducted so as directly or indirectly to benefit this

 

-3-


Company, and to take or otherwise acquire and hold, sell, re-issue or otherwise deal with the shares or stock in or securities or obligations of, and to subsidise or otherwise assist any such company, and to guarantee the principal or interest of any such securities or obligations, or any dividends upon any such shares or stock.

 

(T) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire any real or personal property, rights or privileges which the Company may think suitable or convenient for any purposes of its business; and to erect and construct buildings and works of all kinds.

 

(U) To apply for, purchase or otherwise acquire any patents, licenses and the like, conferring an exclusive or non-exclusive or limited right to use, or any secret or other information as to any invention which may seem capable of being used for any of the purposes of the Company, or the acquisition of which may seem calculated directly or indirectly to benefit this Company, and to use, exercise, develop, grant licenses in respect of, or otherwise turn to account the rights and information so acquired.

 

(V) To purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, and to hold the shares, stocks or obligations of any company, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and upon a distribution of assets or division of profits to distribute any such shares, stocks or obligations amongst the Members of this Company in kind.

 

(W) To borrow or raise or secure the payment of money, and for those or other purposes to mortgage or charge the undertaking and all or any part of the property and rights of the Company, present or after acquired, including uncalled capital, and to create, issue, make, draw, accept and negotiate perpetual or redeemable debentures or debenture stock, bonds or other obligations, bills of exchange, promissory notes or other negotiable instruments.

 

(X) To sell, let, develop, dispose of or otherwise deal with the undertaking and property of the Company, or any part thereof or share or interest therein, upon any terms, with power to accept as the consideration any shares, stocks or obligations of or interest in any other company.

 

(Y) To allow or cause the legal estate and interest in any businesses or property acquired, established or carried on by the Company, to remain or be vested or registered in the name of or carried on by any foreign company or companies, formed or to be formed, or persons, either upon trust for or as agents or nominees of this Company.

 

(Z) To pay out of the funds of the Company all expenses which the Company may lawfully pay of or incident to the formation, registration and advertising of or raising money for the Company and the issue of its capital, including brokerage and commissions for obtaining applications for or taking, placing or underwriting shares, debentures or debenture stock, and to apply at the cost of the Company to Parliament for any extension of the Company’s powers.

 

-4-


(AA) To enter into any arrangement with any governments or authority, supreme, municipal, local or otherwise, and to obtain from any such government or authority any rights, concessions and privileges that may seem conducive to the Company’s objects or any of them.

 

(BB) To procure the Company to be domiciled, registered and recognised in accordance with the laws and constitution of Persia, and any other country or place, and to take such steps and do such acts and things as may be necessary or expedient to give the Company the same rights and privileges in Persia, or in any other place or country outside the United Kingdom as may be possessed by local companies or partnerships of a similar nature.

 

(CC) To establish and support, or aid in the establishment and support of associations, institutions and conveniences calculated to benefit any of the employees or ex-employees of the Company, or the dependents or connections of such persons, and to grant pensions and allowances, and to make payments towards insurance, and to subscribe or guarantee money for charitable or benevolent objects, or for any exhibition, or for any public, general or useful object and to purchase and maintain for the benefit of any persons (including Directors) any insurance.

 

(DD) To establish and maintain, and to contribute to, any scheme for encouraging or facilitating the holding of shares or debentures in the Company by or for the benefit of its employees or former employees, or those of its subsidiary or holding companies or subsidiaries of its holding company, or by or for the benefit of such other persons as may for the time being be permitted by law, or any scheme for sharing profits with its employees or those of its subsidiary and/or associated companies.

 

(EE) To promote any company or companies for the purpose of its or their acquiring all or any of the property, rights and liabilities of the Company or share or interest therein, or for any other purpose which may seem directly or indirectly calculated to benefit this Company, and to pay all the expenses of or incident to such promotion.

 

(FF) To carry out all or any of the foregoing objects as principals or agents, or in partnership or conjunction with any other person, firm, association or company, and in any part of the world.

 

(GG) To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

 

5 The liability of the Members is limited.

 

6 The capital of the Company is 1 £2,000,000 divided into 1,000,000 Preference Shares of £1 each and 1,000,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each, with power to increase and with power from time to time to issue any shares of the original or new capital with any preference or priority in the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets, or

 


1. See notes at end of Memorandum of Association.

 

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otherwise, over any other shares, whether Ordinary or Preference, and whether issued or not, and to vary the regulations of the Company as far as necessary to give effect to any such preference or priority, and upon the subdivision of a share, to apportion the right to participate in profits or surplus assets, or the right to vote in any manner as between the shares resulting from such subdivision.

 

WE, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed are desirous of being formed into a Company in pursuance of this Memorandum of Association, and we respectively agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the Company set opposite our respective names.

 

Names, Addresses and Descriptions of Subscribers


   Number of Preference Shares
taken by each Subscriber


Strathcona,

28 Grosvenor Square,

London W.,

G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.

   One thousand
Preference

Charles William Wallace,

Director, The Burmah Oil Company, Limited,

Winchester House, Old Broad Street,

London E.C.

   One thousand
Preference

Francis of Teck,

36 Welbeck Street, London W.

K.C.V.O.

   One thousand
Preference

H.S. Barnes, K.C.S.I., K.C.V.O.

East India United Service Club,

16 St. James’ Square, London S.W.

   One thousand
Preference

William Garson,

Writer to the “Signet”,

5 Albyn Place, Edinburgh.

   One thousand
Preference

John T. Cargill

Chairman, The Burmah Oil Company, Limited,

175 West George Street, Glasgow.

   One thousand
Preference

W.K. D’Arcy

Chairman, London Board,

Mount Morgan Gold Co., Limited,

42 Grosvenor Square, London W.

   One thousand
Preference

 

Dated the 14 th day of April, 1909.

 

Witness to the above Signatures:

 

Charles Crisp

Solicitor,

17 Throgmorton Avenue, London E.C.

 

1 The following increases in the Company’s original capital of £2,000,000 have been made:

 

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Date of Resolution


   By Creation of

   Increased to

     shares of £1 each     

29th May 1914

   2,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £4,000,000

3rd December 1917

   1,000,000 Preference Shares    £5,000,000

1st December 1919

   3,000,000 Preference Shares    £20,000,000
     4,500,000 Ordinary Shares     
     7,500,000 Shares     

2nd November 1926

   4,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £24,000,000

31st December 1931

   2,500,000 Shares    £26,500,000

21st June 1937

   6,500,000 Ordinary Shares    £33,000,000

16th December 1954

   87,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £120,000,000

22nd October 1957

   80,000,000 Shares    £200,000,000

9th October 1958

   50,000,000 Shares    £250,000,000

26th October 1961

   50,000,000 Shares    £300,000,000

14th May 1964

   75,000,000 Shares    £375,000,000

11th May 1967

   50,000,000 Shares    £425,000,000

4th May 1972

   75,000,000 Shares    £500,000,000
     shares of 25p each     

6th May 1982

   400,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £600,000,000

30th April 1987

   4,600,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £1,750,000,000

28th April 1988

   1,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares    £2,000,000,000
     shares of US$0.50 each     

25th November 1998

   12,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares   

$6,000,000,000

and £12,750,000

     shares of US$0.25 each     

1st September 1999

   12,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares   

$9,000,000,000

and £12,750,000

 

2 At an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 4th October 1979 the following Special Resolution was passed:

 

THAT as from the close of business on Friday, 5th October 1979:

 

(a) each £1 of the £7,232,838 Cumulative Preference Stock be hereby converted into one Cumulative First Preference Share of £1 and each £1 of the £5,473,414 Cumulative Second Preference Stock be hereby converted into one Cumulative Second Preference Share of £1 and each £1 of the £386,518,085 Ordinary Stock be hereby converted and sub-divided into four Ordinary Shares of 25p each;

 

(b) each of the 100,731,915 unissued and unclassified shares of £1 be hereby sub-divided into and designated as four Ordinary Shares of 25p each;

 

(c) Article 68 of the Company’s Articles of Association 2 be hereby altered by deleting the words “one vote for every five Preference Shares and two votes for every Ordinary Share” and substituting therefor the words “two votes for every £5 in nominal amount of the Preference Shares and one vote for every 25p in nominal amount of the Ordinary Shares”; and

 


2. This refers to Article 68 of previous Articles of Association which have since been replaced.

 

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(d) all standing resolutions for the conversion of shares into stock be hereby rescinded and cancelled.

 

3 At an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 25th November 1998 the following Special Resolution was passed (and the conditions referred to therein were satisfied on 31st December 1998):

 

“THAT, conditional upon the passing as an extraordinary resolution at a separate meeting of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company (or any adjournment thereof) of the resolution set out in the notice dated 30 October 1998 convening such meeting and upon and with effect from the Merger Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects (save as regards the condition relating to the admission of the shares in the Company to be issued as consideration pursuant to the Merger to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange becoming effective) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms:

 

11.1 the ordinary share capital of the Company be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing all the Ordinary Shares of 25p each in the capital of the Company (“Sterling Shares”), whether issued or authorised but unissued, and the reserve arising as a result of such cancellation be credited to a special reserve account of the Company (the “Ordinary Share Reserve”);

 

11.2 subject to and forthwith upon such reduction of capital taking effect:

 

(a) the authorised share capital of the Company be increased to £12,750,000 and $6,000,000,000 by the creation of 12,000,000,000 new Ordinary Shares of $0.50 each;

 

(b) the Ordinary Share Reserve be converted into US dollars at such spot rate of exchange for the purchase of US dollars with pounds sterling at or around 4.00 pm (London time) on the Record Date as may be selected by the Directors of the Company (“the Selected Rate”);

 

4 At an Extraordinary General Meeting held on 1st September 1999 the following Special Resolution was passed (and the conditions therein were satisfied on 18th April 2000):

 

“THAT the Articles of Association 3 of the Company be and are hereby amended as set out in Schedules A and B to this Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting, such amendments to take effect from the dates set out in such schedules.” “Schedule B to the Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting

 

A With effect from the date on which the New BP Amoco Ordinary Shares are admitted to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange:

 


3. This refers to previous Articles of Association which have since been replaced.

 

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1 Article 3 (A) 5 : in the first sentence, delete the figure “12,000,000,000” and replace with the figure “24,000,000,000” or, if the amendment set out in Paragraph B 2(ii) below has come into effect, delete the figure “18,000,000,000” and replace with the figure “36,000,000,000.”

 

2 Article 3 (A) 5 : in the first sentence, delete the word “US$0.50” and replace with the word “US$0.25.”

 

3 Article 61 (A) 5 : delete the word “US$0.50” and replace with the word “US$0.25.”

 

-9-


Articles of Association

 

Preliminary

 

No application of statutory regulations

 

1 The regulations in Table A in the Companies (Tables A to F) Regulations 1985 (as amended from time to time) and in any Table A applicable to the Company under any former enactment relating to companies shall not apply to the Company.

 

Definitions

 

2 In these Articles, except where the subject or context otherwise requires:

 

Act

  means the Companies Act 1985

Address

  in relation to electronic communications, includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications

Appointed Number

  has the meaning given in Article 161 (D) (i)

Appointed Person

  has the meaning given in Article 161 (B)

Approved Depositary Record Date

  has the meaning given in Article 167 (A)

Approved Depositary Register

  has the meaning given in Article 161 (A)

Approved Transfer

  has the meaning given in Article 87 (G)

Articles

  means these articles of association as amended from time to time

associated tax credit

  has the meaning given in Article 141 (H) for the purposes specified there

Bearer

  has the meaning given in Article 24

certificated share

  means a share in the capital of the Company which is not an uncertificated share

Default Shares

  has the meaning given in Article 87 (A)

Designated Period

  has the meaning given in Article 87 (G)

Designated Shares

  means fully paid shares in a body corporate (which both immediately before and after the distribution hereafter referred to is a subsidiary of the Company) which have been distributed by the Company pursuant to Article 138 and which, at or before the record date for the purpose of determining entitlement to receipt of such distribution, are designated by the Directors to be Designated Shares for the purposes of Article 46 (A) and any further shares of the same class which may, with the prior consent of the Company, be allotted by such body corporate after such distribution, provided that the Directors may at any time after such distribution declare such shares no longer to be Designated Shares for the purposes of such Article by giving not less than fifteen days prior notice thereof to the London Stock Exchange, and provided further that there shall not at any time be more than one class of shares constituting Designated Shares

Designated Subsidiary

  means the body corporate referred to in the definition of Designated Shares

 

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Direction Notice   has the meaning given in Article 87 (A)
electronic communication   has the meaning given to that expression by Section 15 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000
First Preference Shares   has the meaning given in Article 5 (A)
London Stock Exchange   means the London Stock Exchange plc
month   means calendar month
Office   means the registered office for the time being of the Company
Overall Holding   has the meaning given in Article 160
Paid   means paid or credited as paid
prescribed period   has the meaning given in Article 13 (B) (iv) (b) for the purposes specified there
Principal Place   has the meaning given in Article 62 (A)
Procedural Resolutions   means all resolutions of a procedural nature (such as a resolution to amend a Substantive Resolution as permitted by Article 69 (B), a resolution on adjournment of a meeting or a resolution on choice of a Chairman)
Recognised Investment Exchange   means a recognised investment exchange within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company’s shares are normally traded
record date   has the meaning given in Article 142
Register of Members   means the register of members of the Company kept pursuant to Section 352 of the Act
relevant system   has the meaning given to that expression by regulation 2 (1) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001
rights issue   has the meaning given in Article 13 (B) (iv) (a) for the purposes specified there
routine business   has the meaning given to it in Article 61
Seal   means the common seal of the Company
Second Preference Shares   has the meaning given in Article 5 (A)
Section 80 Amount   has the meaning given in Article 13 (B) (iv) (c) for the purposes specified there
Section 89 Amount   has the meaning given in Article 13 (B) (iv) (d) for the purposes specified there
Securities Seal   means an official seal kept by the Company by virtue of Section 40 of the Act
Share Warrants   has the meaning given in Article 24
Specified Shares   has the meaning given in Article 161 (A)
Statutes   means the Act and every other statute or statutory instrument for the time being in force and affecting the Company
sterling   means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom
Stock Exchange Nominee   has the meaning given to that expression by Section 185 of the Act
subsidiary   has the meaning given to that word by Section 736 of the Act as supplemented by Section 736A of the Act
Subsidiary Chairman   has the meaning given in Article 62 (D)
Subsidiary Locations   has the meaning given in Article 62 (A)

 

-11-


Substantive Resolutions   means all resolutions other than Procedural Resolutions
Transfer Office   means the place where the Register of Members is situated for the time being
uncertificated share   means a share in the capital of the Company which is recorded in the Register of Members as being held in uncertificated form, and title to which may be transferred by means of a relevant system pursuant to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001
United Kingdom   means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
US dollars   means the lawful currency of the United States of America
year   means calendar year

 

Interpretation and construction

 

3 In these Articles:

 

the expressions “debenture” and “debenture holder” shall respectively include “debenture stock” and “debenture stockholder”;

 

the expression “Secretary” shall include any person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the Secretary and where two or more persons are appointed to act as Joint Secretaries shall include any one of these persons;

 

all the provisions of these Articles which are applicable to paid-up shares shall apply to stock, and the words “share” and “shareholder” shall be construed accordingly;

 

the expressions “written” and “in writing” shall include any way of representing or copying words legibly, but shall not (save where the context requires otherwise) include electronic communications;

 

words denoting persons shall include bodies corporate and unincorporate;

 

words denoting the masculine shall include the feminine and vice versa;

 

words denoting the singular shall include the plural and vice versa;

 

headings are included only for convenience and shall not affect the meaning of these Articles;

 

references to any statute or statutory provision shall be construed as relating to any modification or re-enactment of it in force for the time being, and the same principle of construction shall be applied to a statutory instrument or a provision in a statutory instrument;

 

any words or expressions defined in the Statutes shall bear the same meanings in these Articles, unless that meaning is inconsistent with the subject or context, or unless these Articles attribute another meaning to the particular words or expressions;

 

-12-


any powers of delegation shall not be restrictively construed, but the widest interpretation shall be given to them, and, except where expressly provided by the terms of the delegation in question, delegation of a power shall not exclude the concurrent exercise of that power by any other body or person who is for the time being authorised to exercise it under these Articles or under another delegation of the power.

 

Effectiveness of types of resolution

 

4 A special or extraordinary resolution shall be effective for any purpose for which an ordinary resolution is expressed to be required under any provision of these Articles or the Statutes, and where for any purpose an extraordinary resolution is required a special resolution shall be effective.

 

Share Capital

 

Division of the Company’s capital and the rights attaching to shares

 

5 (A) The share capital of the Company is £12,750,000 (divided into 7,250,000 8 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each (of which 7,232,838 have been issued and are fully paid and 17,162 are unissued) and 5,500,000 9 per cent. Cumulative Second Preference Shares of £1 each (of which 5,473,414 have been issued and are fully paid and 26,586 are unissued)) and US$9,000,000,000 divided into 36,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares of US$0.25 each. The 8 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares (“First Preference Shares”) and the 9 per cent. Cumulative Second Preference Shares (“Second Preference Shares”) had attached thereto respectively on 5th April 1973 the rights as regards participation in the profits and assets of the Company set out below (and have attached thereto at the date of the adoption of these Articles such rights as modified or affected by the provisions of paragraph 18 of Schedule 23 to the Finance Act 1972 and Section 46 of the Finance Act 1976):

 

(i) the First Preference Shares, together with any further shares hereafter issued ranking pari passu therewith pursuant to the provisions hereinafter contained, entitle the holders to a fixed cumulative preferential dividend on the amounts paid up thereon at the rate of 8 per cent. per annum, and on a return of assets of the Company on winding up to have the assets of the Company available for distribution amongst the members applied in the first place in paying to them (a) the amounts paid up on such First Preference Shares, (b) a sum equal to any arrears or deficiency of the fixed cumulative preferential dividend on such First Preference Shares, such arrears or deficiency to be calculated down to the date of the commencement of the winding up, and (c) a sum equal to ten per cent. on the amounts paid up on the First Preference Shares, or to the average premium above par at which the First Preference Shares have during the six months before the commencement of the winding up been dealt in on the market (such average premium to be certified by the Secretary of the London Stock Exchange), whichever sum is the greater, but the holders of the First Preference Shares shall not be entitled in respect thereof to any further or other participation in the profits or assets of the Company.

 

-13-


(ii) the Second Preference Shares, together with any further shares hereafter issued ranking pari passu therewith pursuant to the provisions hereinafter contained, entitle the holders to a fixed cumulative preferential dividend on the amounts paid up thereon (payable next after the dividend on the First Preference Shares, but in priority to any dividend on the Ordinary Shares) at the rate of 9 per cent. per annum, and on a return of assets of the Company on winding up to have the assets of the Company available for distribution amongst the members and remaining after making to the holders of the First Preference Shares the payments to which they are entitled, applied in the next place in paying to the holders of the Second Preference Shares (a) the amounts paid up on such Second Preference Shares, (b) a sum equal to any arrears or deficiency of the fixed cumulative preferential dividend on such Second Preference Shares, such arrears or deficiency to be calculated down to the date of the commencement of the winding up, and (c) a sum equal to ten per cent. on the amounts paid up on the Second Preference Shares, or to the average premium above par at which the Second Preference Shares have during the six months before the commencement of the winding up been dealt in on the market (such average premium to be certified by the Secretary of the London Stock Exchange), whichever sum is the greater, but the holders of the Second Preference Shares shall not be entitled in respect thereof to any further or other participation in the profits or assets of the Company.

 

(B) Unless otherwise expressly resolved by the Company in general meeting, further shares may be created and issued (without any further sanction or approval by the Company in general meeting or by any class of members thereof pursuant to Article 6) as First Preference Shares ranking pari passu with the First Preference Shares in the present capital, provided that the total nominal amount of such First Preference Shares at any one time in issue shall not exceed £10,000,000, or as Second Preference Shares ranking pari passu with the Second Preference Shares in the present capital, provided that the total nominal amount of such Second Preference Shares at any one time in issue shall not exceed £10,000,000.

 

(C) Subject as aforesaid no new shares entitled to rank pari passu with or to any preference over the existing First and Second Preference Shares shall be issued by the Company without the sanction of an extraordinary resolution of the holders of such Preference Shares passed at a meeting held under the conditions hereinafter contained.

 

Variation of Rights

 

Variations of rights which may be made

 

6 The holders of any class of shares may at any time and from time to time, and whether before or during liquidation, by an extraordinary resolution passed at a meeting of such holders, consent on behalf of all the holders of shares of the class to the issue or creation of any shares ranking equally therewith, or having any priority thereto, or to the abandonment of any preference or priority or of any accrued dividend, or the reduction for any time or permanently of the dividends payable thereon, or to the amalgamation into one class of the shares of any two or more classes or to the sub-division of shares of one class into shares of different classes, or any alteration in these Articles varying or

 

-14-


taking away any rights or privileges attached to shares of the class, or to any scheme for the reduction of the Company’s capital affecting the class of shares in a manner not otherwise authorised by these Articles, or to any scheme for the distribution (though not in accordance with legal rights) of assets in money or in kind in or before liquidation, or to any contract for the sale of the whole or any part of the Company’s property or business determining the way in which as between the several classes of shareholders the purchase consideration shall be distributed, and generally consent to any alteration, contract, compromise or arrangement which the persons voting thereon could if sui juris and holding all the shares of the class consent to or enter into, and such resolution shall be binding upon all the holders of shares of the class.

 

Procedure for variations of rights

 

7 Any meeting for the purpose of the last preceding Article shall be convened and conducted in all respects as nearly as possible in the same way as an extraordinary general meeting of the Company provided that no member, not being a Director, shall be entitled to notice thereof or to attend thereat, unless he be a holder of shares of the class intended to be affected by the resolution, and that no vote shall be given except in respect of a share of that class, and that the quorum at any such meeting shall (subject to the provisions as to an adjourned meeting hereinafter contained) by persons holding or representing by proxy one-tenth of the issued shares of that class (as regards the First Preference Shares and the Second Preference Shares) and one-third of the issued shares of that class (as regards all other classes of share), and that at any such meeting a poll may be demanded in writing by not less than five members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.

 

Alteration of Share Capital

 

Increase in the Company’s share capital

 

8 The Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution increase its capital by such sum to be divided into shares of such amounts as the resolution shall prescribe. All new shares shall be subject to the provisions of the Statutes and of these Articles with reference to allotment, payment of calls, lien, transfer, transmission, forfeiture and otherwise.

 

Consolidation, division and cancellation of shares

 

9 (A) The Company may by ordinary resolution:

 

(i) consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing shares;

 

(ii) cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by any person and diminish the amount of its capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled;

 

(iii) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the Company’s memorandum of association (subject, nevertheless, to the

 

-15-


provisions of the Statutes), and so that the resolution whereby any share is sub-divided may determine that, as between the holders of the shares resulting from such sub-division, one or more of the shares may, as compared with the others, have any such preferred, deferred or other special rights, or be subject to any such restrictions, as the Company has power to attach to unissued or new shares.

 

(B) Whenever as a result of a consolidation and division or sub-division of shares any difficulty arises, the Directors may settle the matter in any manner they deem fit, and, in particular, may sell shares representing fractions to which any members would become entitled to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those members, and the Directors may authorise some person to execute any instrument, or give any instruction, or do any act or thing, for the purpose of transferring the shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in or invalidity of the proceedings relating to the sale.

 

Power to repurchase shares

 

10 Subject to the provisions of the Statutes the Company may purchase any of its own shares (including any redeemable shares).

 

Power to reduce the Company’s capital

 

11 The Company may reduce its share capital or any capital redemption reserve, share premium account or other undistributable reserve in any manner and with and subject to any incident authorised and consent required by law.

 

Shares

 

Issue of shares

 

12 Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares for the time being issued, any share in the Company may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights, or subject to such restrictions, whether as regards dividend, return of capital, voting or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination, as the Directors may determine) and subject to the provisions of the Statutes the Company may issue any shares which are, or at the option of the Company or the holder are liable, to be redeemed.

 

Allotment of shares etc

 

13 (A) Subject to the provisions of the Statutes relating to authority, pre-emption rights and otherwise and of any resolution of the Company in general meeting passed pursuant thereto, all unissued shares in the Company and all (if any) shares in the Company lawfully held by or on behalf of it shall be at the disposal of the Directors and they may allot (with or without conferring a right of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise dispose of them to such persons, at such times and on such terms as they think proper.

 

-16-


(B) (i) Pursuant to and in accordance with Section 80 of the Act the Directors shall be generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise for each prescribed period all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to the Section 80 Amount; and

 

(ii) pursuant to and within the terms of the said authority the Directors shall be empowered during each prescribed period to allot equity securities wholly for cash (a) in connection with a rights issue; and (b) otherwise than in connection with a rights issue up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to the Section 89 Amount; and

 

(iii) during each prescribed period the Company and its Directors by such authority and power may make offers or agreements which would or might require equity securities or other relevant securities to be allotted after the expiry of such period; and

 

(iv) for the purposes of this Article 13 (B):

 

(a) “rights issue” means an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors to holders of equity securities on the register on a fixed record date in proportion to their respective holdings of such securities or in accordance with the rights attached thereto but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under the laws of, or the requirements of any recognised regulatory body or any stock exchange in, any territory or as regards shares held by an Approved Depositary;

 

(b) “prescribed period” means the period (“the first period”) beginning on the date of the adoption of these Articles and ending on the date of the Company’s annual general meeting in 2004 or 23 July 2004 (whichever is earlier), and any other period (not exceeding five years on any occasion) for which the authority conferred in the case of sub-paragraph (i) above is renewed by ordinary or special resolution stating the Section 80 Amount, and the power conferred in the case of sub-paragraph (ii) above is renewed by special resolution stating the Section 89 Amount;

 

(c) “the Section 80 Amount” shall in the case of the first period be US dollars 1,840 million, but only if Resolution 6 in the notice of the Company’s annual general meeting for 2003 has been duly passed at that meeting before these Articles are adopted, and shall for any other prescribed period be that stated in the relevant ordinary or special resolution;

 

(d) “the Section 89 Amount” shall in the case of the first period be US dollars 276 million, but only if Resolution 7 in the notice of the Company’s annual general meeting for 2003 has been duly passed at that meeting before these Articles are adopted, and shall for any other prescribed period be that stated in the relevant special resolution;

 

(e) the nominal amount of any securities shall be taken to be, in the case of rights to subscribe for or to convert any securities into shares of the Company, the nominal amount of such shares which may be allotted pursuant to such rights; and

 

-17-


(f) words and expressions defined in or for the purposes of Part IV of the Act shall bear the same meanings herein.

 

Commissions

 

14 The Company may exercise the powers of paying commissions conferred by the Statutes to the full extent thereby permitted. The Company may also on any issue of shares pay such brokerage as may be lawful.

 

Renunciation of allotments

 

15 The Directors may at any time after the allotment of any share but before any person has been entered in the Register of Members as the holder recognise a renunciation thereof by the allottee in favour of some other person and may accord to any allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation upon and subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may think fit to impose.

 

No recognition of trusts etc

 

16 Except only as required by law or as otherwise provided by these Articles:

 

(i) no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust; and

 

(ii) the Company shall not be bound by or compelled in any way to recognise any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any share, or any interest in any fractional part of a share, or any other right in respect of any share except an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the registered holder.

 

Form of Shares

 

Issue of certificated or uncertificated shares

 

17 In so far as permitted by law, and without having to consult any shareholder, the Directors may at any time or times do all or any of the following for any purpose they see fit:

 

(i) cause shares issued by the Company to be issued as certificated shares or uncertificated shares;

 

(ii) permit any shares in the Company to be held as certificated shares or uncertificated shares;

 

(iii) permit the transfer of any uncertificated shares in the Company by means of a relevant system;

 

(iv) make such arrangements as they think fit for shares in the Company to be held and transferred as uncertificated shares, and to be converted from certificated shares to uncertificated shares or vice versa;

 

-18-


(v) determine that any shares in the Company shall cease to be held and transferred as uncertificated shares.

 

Form of shares not to affect classes

 

18 Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, it shall be irrelevant, when determining whether or not shares form a class or classes of shares, that some of the shares in question are held or permitted to be held as certificated shares and others as uncertificated shares.

 

Restriction of the effect of these Articles on uncertificated shares

 

19 Subject to the Directors’ power to determine that any shares in the Company shall cease to be held and transferred as uncertificated shares, the provisions of these Articles shall not apply to any shares held as uncertificated shares to the extent that such provisions are inconsistent with:

 

(i) the holding of such shares as uncertificated shares;

 

(ii) the transfer of title to such shares by means of a relevant system; or

 

(iii) any provision of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

 

Share certificates

 

20 Every share certificate shall be executed by the Company in such manner as the Directors may decide, which may include the use of the Seal or the Securities Seal (or, in the case of shares on a branch register, an official seal for use in the relevant territory). No certificate shall be issued representing shares of more than one class. No certificate shall normally be issued in respect of shares held by a Stock Exchange Nominee.

 

Joint holders of certificated shares

 

21 In the case of a certificated share held jointly by several persons the Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate therefor and delivery of a certificate to one of the joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.

 

Entitlement to share certificates

 

22 Any person (subject as aforesaid) whose name is entered in the Register of Members in respect of any certificated shares of any one class upon the issue or transfer thereof shall (subject, in the case of issue, to the terms of the issue of any such shares) be entitled without payment to a certificate therefor (in the case of issue) within one month (or such longer period as the terms of issue shall provide) after allotment or (in the case of a transfer of fully paid shares) within fourteen days after lodgment of a transfer or (in the case of a transfer of partly paid shares) within two months after lodgment of a transfer.

 

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General provisions about share certificates

 

23 (A) Where some only of the shares comprised in a share certificate are transferred the old certificate shall be cancelled and a new certificate for the balance of such shares issued in lieu without charge.

 

(B) Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member may at his request be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu without charge.

 

(C) If any member shall surrender for cancellation a share certificate representing shares held by him and request the Company to issue in lieu share certificates representing such shares in such proportions as he may specify, the Directors may, if they think fit, comply with such request.

 

(D) If a share certificate shall be damaged or defaced or alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a new certificate representing the same shares may be issued to the holder upon request subject to delivery up of the old certificate or (if alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed) compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit.

 

(E) In the case of shares held jointly by several persons any such request may be made by any one of the joint holders.

 

Share Warrants

 

Power to issue Share Warrants

 

24 Subject to the Statutes and Articles 25 to 29, the Company with respect to any fully-paid shares may issue to such persons as the Directors may decide (the “Bearer”) share warrants to bearer (“Share Warrants”) under the Seal stating that the Bearer is entitled to the shares therein specified and may provide (by coupons or otherwise) for the payment or making of future dividends or other distributions, and the issue of shares pursuant to Article 143, on or in respect of the shares included in such Share Warrants.

 

Rights of the Bearer of a Share Warrant

 

25 A Share Warrant shall entitle the Bearer thereof to the shares specified in it, and the shares represented by it may be transferred by the delivery of the Share Warrant, and the provisions of these Articles (other than this Article 25) with respect to the transfer and transmission of shares and untraced shareholders shall not apply thereto.

 

Evidence of a Share Warrant held by an Approved Depositary

 

26 The Directors may accept a certificate (in such form as the Directors may approve) of the Approved Depositary, or of any bank or agent of the Company, that such bank, agent or an Approved Depositary holds a specified Share Warrant on behalf of the person named in the certificate as sufficient evidence of the facts stated in such certificate including the number of shares specified in it, and may treat the deposit of such certificate at the Transfer Office as equivalent to the deposit there of the Share Warrant for the purposes of these Articles other than in relation to Article 29.

 

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Conditions attaching to Share Warrants

 

27 The Share Warrants shall be subject to the following conditions:

 

(i) except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (vii) of this Article, no Share Warrant shall be issued except upon a request in writing by the person for the time being named in the Register of Members as the holder of the shares in respect of which the Share Warrant is to be issued. The Directors shall not be under any obligation to accede to any such request;

 

(ii) the request shall be in such form, and supported by such evidence as to the identity of the person making the same and of his right or title to the shares, as the Directors shall from time to time require, and shall be lodged at the Transfer Office;

 

(iii) before the issue of a Share Warrant the share certificates (if any) then outstanding in respect of the shares to be included in the Share Warrant shall be delivered up to the Company for cancellation;

 

(iv) save as otherwise agreed by the Company, any person applying to have a Share Warrant issued shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify the Company against, any stamp duties, stamp duty reserve tax, bearer instrument duty, taxes, charges, fees, interest and penalties payable (if any) in respect of the issue of the Share Warrant and shall pay to the Company at the time of such issue such amount in respect thereof as the Company may require;

 

(v) each Share Warrant shall represent such number of shares and be in such language and form as the Directors shall think fit;

 

(vi) the Company shall be entitled to recognise an absolute right in the Bearer for the time being of any Share Warrant to such amount of dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of the shares included in such Share Warrant, as shall have been declared or otherwise be payable, upon the presentation or delivery of such Share Warrant, and payment by or on behalf of the Company to an account or accounts specified by the person presenting such Share Warrant to the Transfer Office against such presentation or delivery shall be a good discharge to the Company accordingly;

 

(vii) save as otherwise agreed by the Company, subject to the payment to the Company of all (if any) stamp duties, stamp duty reserve tax, bearer instrument duty, taxes, charges, fees, interest and penalties which may thereby be involved and for which the Company may be required to account:

 

(a) if any Share Warrant is worn out, damaged or defaced, a replacement Share Warrant will be issued upon request and upon surrender of the old Share Warrant for cancellation;

 

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(b) if any Share Warrant is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement Share Warrant may, at the discretion of the Directors, be issued to the person claiming to be entitled thereto upon request and upon compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit provided that no new Share Warrant may be issued to replace one that has been lost unless the Directors are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original has been destroyed; and

 

(c) a Bearer may surrender for cancellation any Share Warrant and request that the Company issue in lieu two or more Share Warrants which together represent the same shares in such proportion as he may specify and the Directors may, if they think fit, authorise the cancellation of the original Share Warrants and the issuance of such new Share Warrants; and

 

(viii) a Bearer may at any time deposit the Share Warrant together with a written declaration specifying his name and postal address at such place as the Directors may from time to time appoint (or, in default of such appointment, at the Transfer Office), and, so long as the Share Warrant remains so deposited, the depositor shall have the same right of signing a requisition for calling a meeting of the Company, of giving notice of intention to submit a resolution to a meeting, of attending and voting, giving a proxy and exercising the other rights and privileges of a member at any meeting held after the expiration of forty-eight hours from the time of deposit, as if from the time of deposit his name were inserted in the Register as the holder of the shares specified in the deposited Share Warrant. Not more than one person shall be recognised as depositor of any Share Warrant. Every Share Warrant which shall have been so deposited as aforesaid shall remain so deposited until after the conclusion of the meeting (including any adjournment) at which the depositor desires to attend or to be represented. Save as otherwise expressly provided, no person shall, as bearer of a Share Warrant, be entitled to sign a requisition for calling a general meeting;

 

(ix) subject as otherwise expressly provided in Articles 24 to 29, a Bearer (or the depositor of a Share Warrant in accordance with Article 27 (viii)) shall be entitled in all other respects to the same rights, benefits, privileges and advantages, accorded from time to time pursuant to these Articles or by the Statutes (subject to these Articles) and subject to the same obligations and duties as if he were named in the Register as the holder of the shares specified in the Share Warrant, and he shall be deemed to be a member of the Company for these purposes.

 

Communications with the Bearer of a Share Warrant

 

28 (A) In the case of an offer of shares, securities or debentures to members or any class of members, or a proposed issue of shares pursuant to Article 143, it shall be sufficient, so far as any Bearer is concerned, to advertise the fact of the proposed offer or issue once in a leading London daily newspaper, and such other newspapers (if any) as the Directors may from time to time determine, and upon the Bearer depositing the Share Warrant (or, if appropriate, the requisite coupon) at the Transfer Office, or some other place or places mentioned in the advertisement, within the time limit prescribed in the offer, he shall have the same right to receive the offer and accept the proportionate

 

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number of shares, securities or debentures within the time limit prescribed in the offer, or to participate in the proposed issue of shares pursuant to Article 143, as if he were the registered holder of the shares comprised in the Share Warrant.

 

(B) In the case of any notice or document or other communication with members or any class of members, it shall be sufficient, so far as any Bearer is concerned, to advertise the notice, document or other communication once in a leading London daily newspaper, and such other newspapers (if any) as the Directors may from time to time determine, and to give a postal address (and, if the Directors see fit, the address of a website) where copies of the notice, document or other communication may be obtained by any Bearer.

 

Surrender of a Share Warrant

 

29 If a Bearer shall desire to surrender a Share Warrant and be registered as a member or request that another person be registered as a member in respect of all or any of the shares included in such Share Warrant, he shall lodge at such place as the Directors may from time to time appoint (or, in default of such appointment, at the Transfer Office) for cancellation of such Share Warrant together with a declaration in writing signed by him in such form and authenticated in such manner as the Directors may require, requesting to be registered as a member in respect of all or some of the shares specified in such Share Warrant and stating in such declaration his full name and postal address. Save as otherwise agreed by the Company, upon the payment to the Company of all (if any) stamp duties, stamp duty reserve tax, bearer instrument duty, taxes, charges, fees, interest and penalties which may thereby be incurred by the Company or for which the Company is required to account, the person giving such declaration shall thereupon be entitled to have his name entered as a member in the Register in respect of the relevant shares specified in the Share Warrant so surrendered and, if he indicates that those relevant shares are to be held as certificated shares, to receive a share certificate therefor. If the Bearer shall desire to be registered as a member in respect of part only of the shares included in such Share Warrant, a Share Warrant for the balance of the shares shall be issued to such person without charge upon cancellation of the Share Warrant so surrendered.

 

Calls on Shares

 

Power to make calls on shares

 

30 The Directors may from time to time make calls upon the members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares, or when permitted, by way of premium) but subject always to the terms of issue of such shares. A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed and may be made payable by instalments.

 

Payment of calls

 

31 Each member shall (subject to receiving at least fourteen days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment) pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect thereof. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Directors may determine.

 

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Interest on unpaid calls

 

32 If a sum called in respect of a share is not paid before or on the day appointed for payment thereof, the person from whom the sum is due shall pay interest on the sum from the day appointed for payment thereof to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding fifteen per cent. per annum) as the Directors may determine but the Directors shall be at liberty in any case or cases to waive payment of such interest wholly or in part.

 

Failure to pay sums due on shares

 

33 Any sum (whether on account of the nominal value of the share or by way of premium) which by the terms of issue of a share becomes payable upon allotment or at any fixed date shall for all the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a call duly made and payable on the date on which by the term of issue the same becomes payable. In case of non-payment all the relevant provisions of these Articles as to payment of interest and expenses, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if such sum had become payable by virtue of a call duly made and notified.

 

Powers of the Directors in connection with sums due in respect of shares

 

34 (A) The Directors may on the issue of shares differentiate between the holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.

 

(B) The Directors may if they think fit receive from any member willing to advance the same all or any part of the moneys (whether on account of the nominal value of the shares or by way of premium) uncalled and unpaid upon the shares held by him and such payment in advance of calls shall extinguish pro tanto the liability upon the shares in respect of which it is made and upon the money so received (until and to the extent that the same would but for such advance become payable) the Company may pay interest at such rate (not exceeding twelve per cent. per annum) as the member paying such sum and the Directors may agree.

 

(C) Whenever any law for the time being of any country, state or place imposes or purports to impose any immediate or future or possible liability upon the Company to make any payment or empowers any government or taxing authority or government official to require the Company to make any payment in respect of any shares registered in any of the Company’s registers as held either jointly or solely by any member or in respect of any dividends, bonuses or other moneys due or payable or accruing due or which may become due or payable to such member by the Company on or in respect of any shares registered as aforesaid or for or on account or in respect of any member and whether in consequence of:

 

(i) the death of such member;

 

(ii) the non-payment of any income tax or other tax by such member;

 

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(iii) the non-payment of any estate, probate, succession, death, stamp, or other duty by the executor or administrator of such member or by or out of his estate; or

 

(iv) any other act or thing, the Company in every such case:

 

(a) shall be fully indemnified by such member or his executor or administrator from all liability; and

 

(b) may recover as a debt due from such member or his executor or administrator wherever constituted or residing any monies paid by the Company under or in consequence of any such law together with interest thereon at the rate of fifteen per cent. per annum thereon from date of payment to date of repayment.

 

(D) Nothing contained in paragraphs (B) and (C) above shall prejudice or affect any right or remedy which any law may confer or purport to confer on the Company and as between the Company and every such member as aforesaid, his executor, administrator, and estate wheresoever constituted or situate, any right or remedy which such law shall confer or purport to confer on the Company shall be enforceable by the Company.

 

Forfeiture and Lien

 

Notice to pay sums due on shares

 

35 If a member fails to pay in full any call or instalment of a call on the due date for payment thereof, the Directors may at any time thereafter serve a notice on him requiring payment of so much of the call or instalment as is unpaid together with any interest which may have accrued thereon and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment.

 

Contents of a notice to pay

 

36 The notice shall name a further day (not being less than seven days from the date of service of the notice) on or before which and the place where the payment required by the notice is to be made, and shall state that in the event of non-payment in accordance therewith the shares on which the call has been made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

Forfeiture or surrender of shares for non-payment

 

37 If the requirements of any such notice as aforesaid are not complied with, any share in respect of which such notice has been given may at any time thereafter, before payment of all calls and interest and expenses due in respect thereof has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared in respect of the forfeited share and not actually paid before forfeiture. The Directors may accept a surrender of any share liable to be forfeited hereunder.

 

Powers of the Directors on forfeiture or surrender

 

38 A share so forfeited or surrendered shall become the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was before

 

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such forfeiture or surrender the holder thereof or entitled thereto or to any other person upon such terms and in such manner as the Directors shall think fit and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the Directors think fit. The Directors may, if necessary, authorise some person to transfer a forfeited or surrendered share to any such other person as aforesaid.

 

Continuing liabilities after forfeiture or surrender

 

39 A member whose shares have been forfeited or surrendered shall cease to be a member in respect of the shares but shall notwithstanding the forfeiture or surrender remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of the shares with interest thereon at fifteen per cent. per annum (or such lower rate as the Directors may determine) from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment and the Directors may at their absolute discretion enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the shares at the time of forfeiture or surrender or waive payment in whole or in part.

 

Lien

 

40 The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all moneys (whether presently payable or not) called or payable at a fixed time in respect of such share and the Company shall also have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) standing registered in the name of a single member for all the debts and liabilities of such member or his estate to the Company whether the same shall have been incurred before or after notice to the Company of any equitable or other interest of any person other than such member and whether the period for the payment or discharge of the same shall have actually arrived or not and notwithstanding that the same are joint debts or liabilities of such member or his estate and any other person, whether a member of the Company or not. The Directors may waive any lien which has arisen and may resolve that any share shall for some limited period be exempt wholly or partially from the provisions of this Article.

 

Exercise of lien

 

41 The Company may sell in such manner as the Directors think fit any share on which the Company has a lien, but no sale shall be made unless some sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable nor until the expiration of fourteen days after a notice stating and demanding payment of the sum presently payable and giving notice of intention to sell in default shall have been given to the holder for the time being of the share or the person entitled thereto by reason of the holder’s death or bankruptcy.

 

Application of proceeds of sale after exercise of lien

 

42 The net proceeds of such sale after payment of the costs of such sale shall be applied in or towards payment or satisfaction of the debts or liabilities in respect whereof the lien exists so far as the same are then payable and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the shares prior to the sale) be paid to the person entitled to the shares at the time of the sale. For the purpose of giving effect to any such sale the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to the purchaser.

 

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Evidence of title to shares following exercise of lien

 

43 A statutory declaration that the declarant is a Director or the Secretary of the Company and that a share has been duly forfeited or surrendered or sold to satisfy a lien of the Company on a date stated in the declaration shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein stated as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. Such declaration, and the receipt of the Company for the consideration (if any) given for the share on the sale, re-allotment or disposal thereof, together with, in relation to a certificated share, the share certificate delivered to a purchaser or allottee thereof, shall (subject if necessary to the execution of an instrument of transfer or a transfer by a relevant system, as the case may be) constitute a good title to the share, and the person to whom the share is sold, re-allotted or disposed of shall be registered as the holder of the share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the forfeiture, surrender, sale, re-allotment or disposal of the share.

 

Transfer of Shares and Related Matters

 

Form of transfer of certificated shares

 

44 All transfers of shares, other than shares represented by Share Warrants, or uncertificated shares, may be effected by transfer in writing in any usual or common form or in any other form acceptable to the Directors and may be under hand only. The instrument of transfer (if any) shall be signed by or on behalf of the transferor and (except in the case of fully paid shares) by or on behalf of the transferee. The transferor shall remain the holder of the shares concerned until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register of Members in respect thereof.

 

Closure of the Register of Members

 

45 The registration of transfers may be suspended at such times and for such periods as the Directors may from time to time determine and either generally or in respect of any class of shares. The Register of Members shall not be closed for more than thirty days in any year.

 

Refusal to register transfers of shares

 

46 (A) The Directors may, in their absolute discretion and without giving any reason, refuse to register the transfer of a share which is not fully paid and shall (for so long as there is in issue any Designated Share) decline to register the transfer of any Ordinary Share unless there is produced to the Directors such evidence as they may in their discretion require to ensure that on the same occasion there is being transferred to the same person one Designated Share for every Ordinary Share included in such transfer. For so long as there is in issue any Designated Share, every transfer of one or more Ordinary Shares shall, except so far as otherwise stated on the instrument of transfer, constitute a transfer of the same number of Designated Shares provided that, where any such shares are admitted to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange, such discretion may not be exercised in such a way as to prevent dealings in the shares of that class from taking place on an open and proper basis. The Directors may also refuse to register a transfer of shares (whether fully paid or not) in favour of more than four persons jointly.

 

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(B) If the Directors refuse to register a transfer, they shall send to the transferee notice of such refusal within ten days of the refusal, or, if earlier, within two months after the date on which (in the case of certificated shares) the transfer was lodged with the Company or (in the case of uncertificated shares) the Operator-instruction was received (within the meaning of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001).

 

Refusal to recognise instruments of transfer

 

47 The Directors may decline to recognise any instrument of transfer unless the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share and is lodged at the Transfer Office accompanied by the relevant share certificate(s) and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer (and, if the instrument of transfer is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do). In the case of a transfer by a Stock Exchange Nominee the lodgment of share certificates will only be necessary if and to the extent that certificates have been issued in respect of the shares in question.

 

Retention of instruments of transfer

 

48 All instruments of transfer which are registered may be retained by the Company.

 

No fee for registration of transfers etc

 

49 No fee will be charged by the Company in respect of the registration of any instrument of transfer or probate or letters of administration or certificate of marriage or death or stop notice or power of attorney relating to or affecting the title to any shares.

 

Retention of Records

 

50 (A) The Company shall be entitled to destroy:

 

(i) all instruments of transfer of shares which have been registered, and all other documents on the basis of which any entry is made in the register, at any time after the expiration of six years from the date of registration or entry;

 

(ii) all dividend mandates, variations or cancellations of dividend mandates, and notifications of change of address at any time after the expiration of two years from the date of recording the matters in such document;

 

(iii) all share certificates which have been cancelled at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of the cancellation;

 

(iv) all paid dividend warrants and cheques at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of actual payment;

 

(v) all proxy appointments which have been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after the expiration of one year from the date of use; and

 

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(vi) all proxy appointments which have not been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after one month from the end of the meeting to which the proxy appointment relates and at which no poll was demanded.

 

(B) It shall conclusively be presumed in favour of the Company that:

 

(i) every entry in the register purporting to have been made on the basis of an instrument of transfer or other document destroyed in accordance with paragraph (A) above was duly and properly made;

 

(ii) every instrument of transfer destroyed in accordance with paragraph (A) above was a valid and effective instrument duly and properly registered;

 

(iii) every share certificate destroyed in accordance with paragraph (A) above was a valid and effective certificate duly and properly cancelled; and

 

(iv) every other document destroyed in accordance with paragraph (A) above was a valid and effective document in accordance with its recorded particulars in the books or records of the Company,

 

but:

 

(a) the provisions of this Article apply only to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties) to which the document might be relevant;

 

(b) nothing in this Article shall be construed as imposing on the Company any liability in respect of the destruction of any document earlier than the time specified in paragraph (A) above or in any other circumstances which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Article; and

 

(c) any reference in this Article to the destruction of any document includes a reference to its disposal in any manner or deletion.

 

Transmission of Shares

 

Succession to shares

 

51 In the case of the death of a shareholder, the survivors or survivor where the deceased was a joint holder, and the executors or administrators of the deceased where he was a sole or only surviving holder, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his interest in the shares, but nothing in this Article shall release the estate of a deceased holder (whether sole or joint) from any liability in respect of any share held by him.

 

Registration of succession to shares

 

52 Any person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member may (subject as hereinafter provided) upon supplying to the

 

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Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share either be registered himself as holder of the share upon giving to the Company notice in writing of his desire to be registered as holder or transfer such share to some other person. All the limitations, restrictions and provisions of these Articles relating to the right to transfer and the registration of transfers of shares shall be applicable to any such notice or transfer as aforesaid as if the death or bankruptcy of the member had not occurred and the notice or transfer were a transfer made by such member. Rights of successors to shares

 

53 Save as otherwise provided by or in accordance with these Articles, a person becoming entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member (upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share) shall be entitled to the same dividends and other advantages as those to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share except that he shall not be entitled in respect thereof (except with the authority of the Directors) to exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company until he shall have been registered as a member in respect of the share.

 

Untraced Shareholders

 

54 (A) The Company shall be entitled to sell the shares of a member or the shares to which a person is entitled by virtue of transmission on death or bankruptcy if and provided that:

 

(i) during the period of twelve years prior to the date of the publication of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) below (or, if published on different dates, the later thereof) at least three dividends have become payable on or in respect of the shares in question but all dividends or other moneys payable on or in respect of such shares during such period remain unclaimed; and

 

(ii) the Company shall have inserted advertisements, both in a leading London newspaper and in a newspaper circulating in the area of the postal address at which service of notices upon such member or other person may be effected in accordance with these Articles (or, if there be no such address the Office), giving notice of its intention to sell the said shares; and

 

(iii) during the said period of twelve years and the period of three months following the publication of the said advertisements the Company shall have received indication neither of the whereabouts nor of the existence of such member or person; and

 

(iv) notice shall have been given to the London Stock Exchange of its intention to make such sale.

 

(B) To give effect to any such sale the Company may appoint some person to execute any instrument, or give any instruction, or do any act or thing, for the purpose of transferring the shares, and every such instrument, instruction, act or thing shall be as effective as if it had been executed, given or done by the registered holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, such shares, and the title of the transferee shall not be affected

 

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by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating thereto. The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company which shall be obliged to account to the former member or other person previously entitled as aforesaid for an amount equal to such proceeds and shall enter the name of such former member or other person in the books of the Company as a creditor for such amount. No trust shall be created in respect of the debt, no interest shall be payable in respect of the same and the Company shall not be required to account for any money earned on the net proceeds, which may be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments (other than shares of the Company or its holding company if any) as the Directors may from time to time think fit.

 

General Meetings

 

Annual general meetings

 

55 An annual general meeting shall be held once in every year, at such time (within a period of not more than fifteen months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting) and place as may be determined by the Directors. All other general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings. All general meetings shall be held in England.

 

Members’ resolutions at annual general meetings

 

56 (A) If on or before 31 December in any year any members shall in accordance with Section 376 of the Act require the Company in relation to the annual general meeting to be held in the next following year to give notice of a resolution which may properly be moved or to circulate a statement in acceptable form, the Company will circulate that resolution or statement with the notice of the annual general meeting without cost to the requisitionists.

 

(B) If any requisition is made in accordance with Section 376 of the Act after 31 December in any year and prior to the annual general meeting to be held in the next following year the Company shall require that the requisitionists deposit or tender a sum sufficient to meet the Company’s reasonable expenses in giving effect to it.

 

Extraordinary general meetings

 

57 The Directors may whenever they think fit, and shall on requisition in accordance with the Statutes proceed with proper expedition to convene an extraordinary general meeting.

 

Class meetings

 

58 The provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings shall apply, with necessary modifications, to any separate meeting of the holders of shares of a particular class which is convened otherwise than in connection with the variation or abrogation of the rights attached to shares of that class.

 

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Notice of General Meetings and Related Arrangements

 

Length of notice

 

59 An annual general meeting and any extraordinary general meeting at which it is proposed to pass a special resolution or (save as provided by the Statutes) a resolution of which special notice has been given to the Company, shall be called by twenty-one days’ notice in writing (including, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, electronic communication) at the least and any other extraordinary general meeting by fourteen days’ notice in writing (including, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, electronic communication) at the least. The period of notice shall in each case be exclusive of the day on which the notice is served or given or deemed to be served or given and of the day on which the meeting is to be held and the notice shall be given in a manner hereinafter mentioned to all members other than such as are not under the provisions of these Articles entitled to receive such notices from the Company, provided that a general meeting notwithstanding that it has been called by a shorter notice than that specified above shall be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:

 

(i) in the case of an annual general meeting by all the members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

(ii) in the case of an extraordinary general meeting by a majority in number of the members having a right to attend and vote thereat, being a majority together holding not less than 95 per cent. in nominal value of the shares giving that right.

 

The accidental omission to give notice to or the nonreceipt of notice by any person entitled thereto shall not invalidate the proceedings at any general meeting.

 

Contents of notices

 

60 (A) Every notice calling a general meeting shall specify the place and the day and hour of the meeting (and where there are to be any Subsidiary Locations in accordance with Article 62 below it shall specify the Principal Place and may specify any one or more of the Subsidiary Locations), and there shall appear with reasonable prominence in every such notice a statement that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote instead of him and that a proxy need not be a member of the Company.

 

(B) In the case of an annual general meeting, the notice shall also specify the meeting as such.

 

(C) In the case of any general meeting at which business other than routine business is to be transacted, the notice shall set out the text of all Substantive Resolutions to be considered by the meeting and shall state in the case of each resolution whether it is to be proposed as an ordinary resolution, as an extraordinary resolution or as a special resolution.

 

(D) For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled to attend or vote at a meeting and how many votes such persons may cast, the Company may specify

 

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in the notice of the meeting a time, not more than forty-eight hours before the time fixed for the meeting, by which a person who holds shares in registered form must be entered on the Register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting or to appoint a proxy to do so.

 

Routine business at meetings

 

61 Routine business shall mean and include only business transacted at an annual general meeting of the following classes, that is to say:

 

(i) declaring dividends;

 

(ii) receiving and/or adopting the accounts, the reports of the Directors and auditors and other documents required to be attached or annexed to the accounts;

 

(iii) appointing or re-appointing Directors to fill vacancies arising at the meeting on retirement whether by rotation or otherwise;

 

(iv) re-appointing the retiring auditors (unless they were last appointed otherwise than by the Company in general meeting);

 

(v) fixing the remuneration of the auditors or determining the manner in which such remuneration is to be fixed. Arrangements in connection with meetings

 

62 (A) The Directors may, for the purpose of facilitating the organisation and administration of any general meeting, from time to time make such arrangements whether involving the issue of tickets (on a basis intended to afford to all members and proxies otherwise entitled to attend such meeting an equal opportunity of being admitted to the meeting) or otherwise as they shall in their absolute discretion consider to be appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements in place thereof. The entitlement of any member or proxy to attend a general meeting shall be subject to such arrangements as may be for the time being in force and by the notice of meeting be stated to apply to that meeting. In the case of any general meeting to which such arrangements apply the Directors shall, and in the case of any other general meeting the Directors may, direct that the meeting shall be held at a place specified in the notice (“Principal Place”) at which the chairman of the meeting shall preside, and make provision for participation in the meeting at other places (“Subsidiary Locations”) by members and proxies otherwise entitled to attend the general meeting but excluded therefrom pursuant to this Article or who wish to attend at one of the Subsidiary Locations. Such provision shall be such as to ensure that all persons attending the meeting are able to participate in the business of the meeting and are able to see and hear anyone else attending the meeting while that person is addressing the meeting. Such provision may also include arrangements of the type described above regarding the level of attendance at, and admission to, a particular location, provided that any such arrangements shall operate (so far as possible) so that any members and proxies excluded from one location are not excluded from another.

 

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(B) For the purposes of all other provisions of these Articles any meeting which has a Principal Place and one or more Subsidiary Locations shall be treated as being held and taking place at the Principal Place and as attended by members and duly appointed proxies who are present at the Principal Place or at one of the Subsidiary Locations. Under no circumstance will a failure (for any reason) of communication equipment, or any other failure in the arrangements for participation in the meeting at more than one place, affect the validity of such meeting at the Principal Place, or any business conducted thereat, or any action taken pursuant thereto.

 

(C) As well as making provision for one or more Subsidiary Locations, the Directors may allow the proceedings of a meeting or any part of them to be viewed elsewhere, whether by a televisual link or by any other means, but any such viewing by any person shall not form part of, or in any way affect the business of, the meeting in question.

 

(D) A person (“Subsidiary Chairman”) shall preside at each one of the Subsidiary Locations (if any). Each Subsidiary Chairman shall be appointed by the Directors, or by some person to whom they have delegated the task. Every Subsidiary Chairman shall have the powers vested in him by or under these Articles.

 

Powers to promote security at meetings

 

63 The Directors or the Secretary, before the commencement of any general meeting, shall have power to take any action they or he may think fit to ensure the security of the meeting, the safety of people attending the meeting, and the future orderly conduct of the meeting, and a decision made in good faith under this Article shall be final.

 

Proceedings at General Meetings

 

Chairman

 

64 Subject to Article 112, the Chairman of the Directors, failing whom the Deputy Chairman, shall preside as chairman at a general meeting. If there be no such Chairman or Deputy Chairman, or if at any meeting neither be present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting and willing to act, the Directors present shall choose one of their number (or, if no Director be present or if all the Directors present decline to take the chair) the members present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

Quorum

 

65 No business other than the appointment of a chairman shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Five members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be a quorum for all purposes.

 

Consequences of a lack of quorum

 

66 If within five minutes from the time appointed for a general meeting (or such longer interval as the chairman of the meeting may think fit to allow) a quorum is not

 

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present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned to such other day and such time and place as may have been specified for the purpose in the notice convening the meeting or (if not so specified) as the chairman of the meeting may determine and in the latter case not less than seven days’ notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in any manner in which notice of a meeting may lawfully be given for the time being. At the adjourned meeting any two members present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.

 

Adjournments

 

67 The chairman of any general meeting at which a quorum is present may with or without the consent of the meeting (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time (or sine die ) and from place to place, and if it appears to the chairman that it is likely to be impracticable to hold or continue the meeting because of the numbers of members and proxies wishing to attend the meeting who are not present he may adjourn the meeting to another time and place (or sine die ) without the need for any such consent, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place. Where a meeting is adjourned sine die, the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Directors. When a meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more or sine die, not less than seven days’ notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given in any manner in which notice of a meeting may lawfully be given for the time being. Notice of adjourned meetings etc 68 Save as hereinbefore expressly provided, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

 

Passing Substantive Resolutions

 

69 (A) Subject to paragraph (B) of this Article and subject to the Statutes no Substantive Resolution may be considered or passed at a general meeting unless the text of the resolution was set out in the notice by which the meeting was convened.

 

(B) A Substantive Resolution may be amended (for example by correcting grammatical or clerical errors which can be corrected as a matter of construction of the resolution set out in the notice when read together with any circular which accompanied the notice, or by reducing the words to a more formal language) provided that there is no departure from the substance of the resolution which was set out in the notice by which the meeting was convened.

 

Manner of voting

 

70 At any general meeting all Substantive Resolutions put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll and all Procedural Resolutions put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by:

 

(i) the chairman of the meeting; or

 

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(ii) not less than five members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote; or

 

(iii) a member or members present in person or by proxy and representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote at the meeting; or

 

(iv) a member or members present in person or by proxy and holding shares in the Company conferring a right to vote at the meeting being shares on which an aggregate sum has been paid up equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid up on all the shares conferring that right.

 

The chairman of the meeting shall use his absolute discretion to determine whether a resolution is a Procedural Resolution or a Substantive Resolution and his decision shall be final.

 

Polls

 

71 A demand for a poll may be withdrawn only with the approval of the meeting. A demand so withdrawn shall not be taken to have invalidated the result of a show of hands on a Procedural Resolution declared before the demand was made. Unless a poll is required or demanded a declaration by the chairman of the meeting that a Procedural Resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the minute book, shall be conclusive evidence of that fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against such resolution. If a poll is required or demanded, it shall be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot or voting papers or tickets) as the chairman of the meeting may direct, and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. The chairman of the meeting may (and if so directed by the meeting shall) appoint scrutineers and may adjourn the meeting to some place and time fixed by him for the purpose of declaring the result of the poll.

 

Timing of polls

 

72 A poll demanded on the choice of a chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at such subsequent time (not being more than thirty days from the date of the meeting) and place as the chairman of the meeting may direct. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately. The demand for a poll shall not prevent the continuance of the meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll has been demanded.

 

Chairman’s casting vote

 

73 In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall be entitled to a casting vote.

 

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Chairman’s powers to promote order and the dispatch of business at meetings

 

74 The chairman of the meeting shall take such action as he thinks fit to promote the orderly conduct of the business of any general meeting as laid down in the notice of the meeting and to promote the conduct of such business with reasonable despatch, and such chairman’s decision, made in good faith, on matters of procedure or arising incidentally from the business of the meeting shall be final as shall his determination, acting in good faith, as to whether any matter is of such a nature.

 

Subsidiary Chairman’s powers to promote order at meetings

 

75 Every Subsidiary Chairman shall keep good order at the location where he is presiding, and he shall have all powers necessary or desirable for that purpose. Every Subsidiary Chairman shall also carry out all requests made of him by or on behalf of the chairman of the meeting in which he is participating, and he shall have all powers necessary or desirable for that purpose.

 

Votes of Members

 

Votes attaching to shares

 

76 Subject to Articles 60 (D) and 79 and to any special rights or restrictions as to voting attached to any class of shares, on a show of hands every member who is present in person and every person present who has been duly appointed as a proxy shall have one vote and on a poll every member who is present in person or by proxy shall have two votes for every £5 in nominal amount of the First Preference Shares and Second Preference Shares and one vote for every US$0.25 in nominal amount of all other shares of which he is the holder or in respect of which his appointment as proxy has been made.

 

Votes by joint shareholders

 

77 In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the Register of Members in respect of the share.

 

Votes of mentally disordered shareholders

 

78 Where in England or elsewhere a receiver or other person (by whatever name called) has been appointed by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf to exercise powers with respect to the property or affairs of any member on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder, the Directors may in their absolute discretion, upon or subject to production of such evidence of the appointment as the Directors may require, permit such receiver or other person on behalf of such member to vote in person or by proxy at any general meeting or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company.

 

Restriction of voting rights etc where calls unpaid

 

79 No member shall, unless the Directors otherwise determine, be entitled in respect of shares held by him to vote at a general meeting either personally or by proxy or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the Company if any call or other sum presently payable by him to the Company in respect of such shares remains unpaid.

 

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Objections to votes

 

80 No person other than the Company or some person acting on its behalf may raise an objection to the admissibility of any vote except at the meeting or adjourned meeting or subsequent poll at which that vote may be, or is, given or tendered. Any such objection shall be referred to the person presiding when the objection is raised. The person presiding, or some person appointed by him, shall rule on the objection, and such ruling shall be final and conclusive. If a vote is ruled in order it shall then be valid for all purposes unless previously or subsequently disallowed by the Company.

 

Voting in person or by proxy

 

81 On a poll votes may be given either personally or by proxy and a person entitled to more than one vote:

 

(i) may vote in respect of some of his shares in person and in respect of others of them by proxy; and

 

(ii) need not use all his votes or cast all the votes he uses (either in person or by proxy) in the same way.

 

Identity of a proxy

 

82 A proxy need not be a member of the Company.

 

Means of appointing proxies (in writing; by electronic communications)

 

83 (A) A proxy shall only be appointed in one of the manners specified in this Article (as supplemented by Articles 84 and 85), or in accordance with Articles 161, 163 and 167.

 

(B) A proxy may be appointed by an instrument in writing in any usual or common form, or in any other form which the Directors may approve, and:

 

(i) in the case of an appointor who is a natural person shall be signed by the appointor or his agent lawfully authorised in writing; and

 

(ii) in the case of an appointor which is a corporation shall be either given under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an agent lawfully authorised in writing or by a duly authorised officer of the corporation.

 

The signature on such an instrument appointing a proxy need not be witnessed.

 

Such an instrument appointing a proxy must be left at such place or one of such places (if any) as may be specified for the purpose in or by way of note to or in any document accompanying the notice convening the meeting (or, if no place is so specified, at the Transfer Office) not less than forty-eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned

 

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meeting (or in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting before the time appointed for the taking of the poll) at which it is to be used, and in default shall not be treated as valid.

 

Where an instrument appointing a proxy is signed on behalf of the appointor by an agent lawfully authorised in writing, the authority under which the agent is appointed or a duly certified copy thereof must (failing previous registration with the Company) be lodged with the instrument of proxy in the manner directed above, failing which the instrument may be treated as invalid.

 

(C) A proxy may be appointed by electronic communication to such address as may be notified by or on behalf of the Company for that purpose, or by any other lawful means from time to time authorised by the Directors. Any means of appointing a proxy which is authorised by or under this paragraph shall be subject to any terms, limitations, conditions or restrictions that the Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

(D) An appointment of a proxy by electronic communication where an address has been specified for the purpose of receiving appointments by electronic communication:

 

(i) in the notice convening the meeting; or

 

(ii) in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

(iii) in any invitation contained in an electronic communication to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting

 

must be received at such address not less than forty-eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting (or in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting before the time appointed for the taking of the poll) at which it is to be used, and in default shall not be treated as valid.

 

Directors’ powers to establish verification procedures in connection with proxies

 

84 From time to time the Directors may (consistently with the Statutes and these Articles) make such regulations and establish such procedures as they consider appropriate to receive and verify the appointment or revocation of a proxy. Any such regulations may be general, or specific to a particular meeting. Without limitation, any such regulations may include provisions that the Directors (or some person or persons appointed by them) may conclusively determine any matter or dispute relating:

 

(i) to the appointment or revocation, or purported appointment or revocation, of a proxy; and/or

 

(ii) to any instruction contained or allegedly contained in any such appointment,

 

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and any such regulations may also include rebuttable or conclusive presumptions of any fact concerning those matters. The Directors may from time to time modify or revoke any such regulations as they think fit, provided that no subsisting valid appointment or revocation of a proxy or any vote instruction shall thereby be rendered invalid.

 

Validity of proxies

 

85 (A) Unless the contrary is stated therein, the appointment of a proxy shall be valid for any adjournment of the meeting or meetings to which it relates, and for any poll arising from any such meeting or adjourned meeting.

 

(B) The valid appointment of a proxy relating to more than one meeting (including any adjournment thereof), having once been so delivered for the purposes of any meeting, shall not have to be re-lodged or otherwise re-registered with the Company for the purposes of any subsequent meeting to which it relates.

 

(C) A validly appointed proxy shall have the right to demand or join in demanding a poll and the right to speak at a meeting.

 

(D) Notice of the revocation of the appointment of a proxy may be given in any lawful manner which complies with all (if any) regulations for the time being in force that the Directors have made to govern how a proxy is validly revoked. Nevertheless, a vote cast by proxy shall not be invalidated by the previous death or insanity of any appointor, or by the revocation of the appointment of the proxy or of the authority under which the appointment was made, unless notice (in writing or by electronic communication) of such death, insanity or revocation shall have been received by the Company at such place or one of such places (if any) as may be specified for the purpose in any notice convening the meeting or in any material accompanying the notice convening the meeting (or, if no place is so specified, at the Transfer Office) not less than forty-eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting (or in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at or on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting before the time appointed for the taking of the poll) at which the vote is cast.

 

Limitation of liabilities in connection with proxies

 

86 To the extent permitted by law, each of the Directors, the Secretary and each person employed or, directly or indirectly, retained or used by the Company in the processes of receiving and validating the appointment and revocation of proxies shall not be liable to any persons other than the Company in respect of any acts or omissions (including negligence) occurring in the execution or purported execution of his tasks relating to such processes, provided that he shall have no such immunity in respect of any act done or omitted to be done in bad faith.

 

Disclosure of Interests in Shares

 

87 (A) If any member, or any other person appearing to be interested in shares held by such member, has been duly served with a notice under Section 212 of the Act and is in default for the Designated Period in supplying to the Company the information

 

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thereby required, then the Directors may in their absolute discretion at any time thereafter by notice (a “Direction Notice”) to such member direct that in respect of the shares in relation to which the default occurred (the “Default Shares”) (which expression shall include any further shares which are issued in respect of such shares) the member shall not (for so long as the default continues) nor shall any transferee to whom any of such shares are transferred (other than pursuant to an approved transfer or pursuant to Article 87 (C) below) be entitled to vote either personally or by proxy at a general meeting of the Company or a meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings of the Company or meetings of the holders of any class of shares of the Company.

 

(B) The Company shall send to each other person appearing to be interested in the shares the subject of any Direction Notice a copy of the said notice, but the failure or omission by the Company to do so shall not invalidate such Direction Notice.

 

(C) Where the Default Shares represent at least 0.25 per cent. of the issued shares of that class then the Direction Notice may additionally direct:

 

(i) that any cash dividend or other money which would otherwise be payable in respect of each of the Default Shares shall (in whole or any part thereof) be retained by the Company without any liability to pay interest thereon when such dividend or other money is finally paid to the member; and/or

 

(ii) that no transfer of any of the shares held by such member shall be registered unless:

 

(a) the member is not himself in default as regards supplying the information required and the transfer is of part only of the member’s holding and when presented for registration is accompanied by a certificate by the member in a form satisfactory to the Directors to the effect that after due and careful enquiry the member is satisfied that no person in default as regards supplying such information is interested in any of the shares the subject of the transfer; or

 

(b) the transfer is an Approved Transfer.

 

(D) Where any person appearing to be interested in the Default Shares has been duly served with a Direction Notice and the Default Shares which are the subject of such Direction Notice are held by an Approved Depositary, the provisions of this Article shall be treated as applying only to such Default Shares held by the Approved Depositary and not (insofar as such person’s apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Approved Depositary.

 

(E) Where the member on which a notice under Section 212 of the Act is served is an Approved Depositary acting in its capacity as such, the obligations of the Approved Depositary as a member of the Company shall be limited to disclosing to the Company such information relating to any person appearing to be interested in the shares held by it as has been recorded by it pursuant to the arrangements entered into by the Company or approved by the Directors pursuant to which it was appointed as an Approved Depositary.

 

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(F) Any Direction Notice shall have effect in accordance with its terms for so long as the default in respect of which the Direction Notice was issued continues and (unless the Directors otherwise determine) for a period of one week thereafter but shall cease to have effect in relation to any Default Shares which are transferred by such member by means of an Approved Transfer. The Directors may at any time give notice cancelling a Direction Notice.

 

(G) For the purpose of this Article:

 

(i) a person shall be treated as appearing to be interested in any shares if the member holding such shares has given to the Company a notification under the said Section 212 of the Act which either

 

(a) names such person as being so interested or

 

(b) fails to establish the identities of those interested in the shares and (after taking into account the said notification and any other relevant Section 212 notification) the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe or suspects on reasonable grounds that the person in question is or may be interested in the shares;

 

(ii) the Designated Period is twenty-eight days from the date of service of the notice under the said Section 212 except that if the Default Shares represent at least 0.25 per cent. of the issued shares of that class, the Designated Period is fourteen days from such date; and

 

(iii) a transfer of shares is an Approved Transfer if but only if:

 

(a) it is a transfer of shares to an offeror by way or in pursuance of acceptance of a take-over offer for a company (as defined in Section 428 of the Act); or

 

(b) the Directors are satisfied that the transfer is made pursuant to a sale of the whole of the beneficial ownership of the shares to a party unconnected with the member and with other persons appearing to be interested in such shares; or

 

(c) the transfer results from a sale made through a Recognised Investment Exchange.

 

(H) Nothing contained in this Article shall limit the power of the Directors under Section 216 of the Act.

 

Corporations Acting by Representatives

 

88 Any corporation which is a member of the Company may authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or of any class of members of the Company. A person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the grantor of the authority as the grantor could exercise if it

 

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were an individual member of the Company, and a person so authorised shall, if present at any such meeting, for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be a member present in person at such meeting.

 

Directors

 

Number of Directors

 

89 (A) Subject as hereinafter provided, the number of Directors shall not be less than three nor more than twenty-two (or such lesser maximum as the Directors may from time to time resolve).

 

(B) The Company may by ordinary resolution from time to time vary the minimum number and/or maximum number of Directors.

 

No qualification shares

 

90 A Director shall not be required to hold any shares of the Company by way of qualification. A Director who is not a member of the Company shall nevertheless be entitled to attend and speak at general meetings.

 

Directors’ remuneration

 

91 The remuneration payable to the Directors for their services in such capacity shall be determined from time to time by ordinary resolution of the Company. Such amount shall be divided among the Directors as they may agree unless the resolution provides otherwise. The amount of remuneration so determined will include remuneration for serving as Chairman or Deputy Chairman and serving on committees of Directors but will not include remuneration of Directors for performing an executive office of the Company.

 

Directors’ expenses

 

92 The Company may pay on behalf of any Director, or reimburse him in respect of, all such reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with any activities undertaken in or about the business of the Company or in connection with the attendance of any spouse or partner of his on any occasion where such spouse or partner accompanies a Director for the purpose of advancing the business or interests of the Company.

 

Directors’ pensions

 

93 The Directors shall have power to pay and agree to pay pensions or other retirement, superannuation, death or disability benefits to (or to any person in respect of) any Director or ex-Director and for the purpose of providing any such pensions or other benefits to contribute to any scheme or fund or to pay premiums.

 

Directors’ interests in contracts etc

 

94 A Director may be party to or in any way interested in any contract or arrangement or transaction to which the Company is a party or in which the Company is in any way interested and he may hold and be remunerated in respect of any office or

 

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place of profit (other than the office of auditor of the Company or any subsidiary thereof) under the Company or any other company in which the Company is in any way interested and he (or any firm of which he is a member) may act in a professional capacity for the Company or any such other company and be remunerated therefor and in any such case as aforesaid (save as otherwise agreed) he may retain for his own absolute use and benefit all profits and advantages accruing to him thereunder or in consequence thereof.

 

Offices held by Directors

 

95 (A) The Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of their body to be the holder of any executive office on such terms (including such terms as to remuneration by way of salary, commission or otherwise) and for such period as they may (subject to the provisions of the Statutes) determine and, without prejudice to the terms of any contract entered into in any particular case, may at any time revoke any such appointment.

 

(B) The appointment of any Director to the office of Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall automatically determine if he ceases to be a Director but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company.

 

(C) The appointment of any Director to an executive office shall not automatically determine if he ceases from any cause to be a Director, unless the contract or resolution under which he holds office shall expressly state otherwise, in which event such determination shall be without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company.

 

Delegation to executives

 

96 The Directors may entrust to and confer upon any Director holding any executive office any of the powers exercisable by them as Directors upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they think fit, and either collaterally with or to the exclusion of their own powers, and may from time to time revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers.

 

Appointment and Retirement of Directors

 

Restrictions on holding office as a Director

 

97 Any provision of the Statutes which, subject to the provisions of these Articles, would have the effect of rendering any person ineligible for appointment as a Director or liable to vacate office as a Director on account of his having reached any specified age or of requiring special notice or any other special formality in connection with the appointment of any Director over a specified age, shall apply to the Company.

 

Vacation of office by a Director

 

98 The office of a Director shall be vacated in any of the following events, namely:

 

(i) if he shall become prohibited by law from acting as a Director;

 

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(ii) if he shall resign in writing left at the Office or if he shall in writing offer to resign and the Directors shall resolve to accept such offer;

 

(iii) if he shall have a receiving order made against him or shall compound with his creditors generally;

 

(iv) if in England or elsewhere an order shall be made by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder for his detention or for the appointment of a guardian or for the appointment of a receiver or other person (by whatever name called) to exercise powers with respect to his property or affairs.

 

Retirement by rotation

 

99 At each annual general meeting all those Directors who have held office for three years or more since they were elected or re-elected shall retire from office by rotation.

 

Eligibility for re-appointment

 

100 A retiring Director shall be eligible for re-election. No person other than a Director retiring at the meeting shall, unless recommended by the Directors for election, be eligible for appointment as a Director at any general meeting unless not less than seven nor more than forty-two days (inclusive of the date on which the notice is given) before the date appointed for the meeting there shall have been lodged at the Office notice in writing signed by some member (other than the person to be proposed) duly qualified to attend and vote at the meeting for which such notice is given of his intention to propose such person for election and also notice in writing signed by the person to be proposed of his willingness to be elected.

 

Appointment and re-appointment of Directors

 

101 The Company at the meeting at which a Director retires under any provision of these Articles may by ordinary resolution fill the office being vacated by electing thereto the retiring Director or some other person eligible for appointment. In default the retiring Director shall be deemed to have been re-elected except in any of the following cases:

 

(i) where at such meeting it is expressly resolved not to fill such office or a resolution for the re-election of such Director is put to the meeting and lost;

 

(ii) where such Director has given notice in writing to the Company that he is unwilling to be re-elected;

 

(iii) where the default is due to the moving of a resolution in contravention of the next following Article;

 

(iv) where such Director has attained any retiring age applicable to him as Director.

 

The retirement shall not have effect until the conclusion of the meeting except where a resolution is passed to elect some other person in the place of the retiring Director or a

 

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resolution for his re-election is put to the meeting and lost and accordingly a retiring Director who is re-elected or deemed to have been re-elected will continue in office without a break.

 

Form of resolutions to appoint Directors

 

102 A resolution for the appointment of two or more persons as Directors by a single resolution shall not be moved at any general meeting unless a resolution that it shall be so moved has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it; and any resolution moved in contravention of this provision shall be void.

 

Removal of Directors

 

103 The Company may in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Statutes by ordinary resolution of which special notice has been given remove any Director from office (notwithstanding any provision of these Articles or of any agreement between the Company and such Director, but without prejudice to any claim he may have for damages for breach of any such agreement) and appoint another person in place of a Director so removed from office. In default of such appointment the vacancy arising upon the removal of a Director from office may be filled as a casual vacancy.

 

Casual vacancies

 

104 The Company may by ordinary resolution appoint any person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an additional Director. Without prejudice thereto the Directors shall have power at any time so to do, but so that the total number of Directors shall not thereby exceed the maximum number (if any) fixed by or in accordance with these Articles. Any person so appointed by the Directors shall hold office only until the next general meeting and shall then be eligible for re-election.

 

Meetings and Proceedings of Directors

 

Directors’ meetings

 

105 (A) Subject to the provisions of these Articles the Directors may meet together for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit.

 

(B) Subject always to Article 105 (A), all or any of the Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Directors or that committee by means of a conference telephone or any communication equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. Any person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be entitled to vote or be counted in a quorum accordingly. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting is then present.

 

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Calling Directors’ meetings

 

106 At any time any Director may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director shall, summon a meeting of the Directors. Any Director may waive notice of any meeting and any such waiver may be retroactive.

 

Quorum

 

107 The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed from time to time by the Directors and unless so fixed at any other number shall be two. A meeting of the Directors at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all powers and discretions for the time being exercisable by the Directors.

 

Votes

 

108 Questions arising at any meeting of the Directors shall be determined by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

 

Votes and Directors’ interests

 

109 (A) Save as herein provided, a Director shall not vote in respect of any contract or arrangement or any other proposal whatsoever in which he has any material interest otherwise than by virtue of his interests in shares or debentures or other securities of or otherwise in or through the Company. A Director shall not be counted in the quorum at a meeting in relation to any resolution on which he is debarred from voting.

 

(B) Subject to the provisions of the Statutes a Director shall (in the absence of some other material interest than is indicated below) be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of any resolution concerning any of the following matters, namely:

 

(i) the giving of any security or indemnity to him in respect of money lent or obligations incurred by him at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

(ii) the giving of any security or indemnity to a third party in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;

 

(iii) any proposal concerning an offer of shares or debentures or other securities of or by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for subscription or purchase in which offer he is or is to be interested as a participant in the underwriting or sub-underwriting thereof;

 

(iv) any proposal concerning any other company in which he is interested, directly or indirectly and whether as an officer or shareholder or otherwise howsoever, provided that he (together with persons connected with him within the meaning of Section 346 of the Act) is not the holder of or beneficially interested in one per cent. or more of the issued shares of any class of such company (or of any third company through

 

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which his interest is derived) or of the voting rights available to members of the relevant company (any such interest being deemed for the purposes of this Article to be a material interest in all circumstances);

 

(v) any proposal concerning the purchase and/or maintenance of any insurance policy under which he may benefit.

 

(C) Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment (including fixing or varying the terms of appointment) of two or more Directors to offices or employments with the Company or any company in which the Company is interested, such proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each Director separately and in such case each of the Directors concerned (if not debarred from voting under subparagraph (B)(iv) of this Article) shall be entitled to vote (and be counted in the quorum) in respect of each resolution except that concerning his own appointment.

 

(D) If any question shall arise at any time as to the materiality of a Director’s interest or as to the entitlement of any Director to vote and such question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting, such question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to any other Director shall be final and conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interests of such Director has not been fairly disclosed.

 

(E) The Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax the provisions of this Article to any extent or ratify any transaction not duly authorised by reason of a contravention of this Article.

 

(F) For the purposes of this Article:

 

(i) subject to sub-paragraph (iii) below, an interest of a person who is connected with a Director (within the meaning of Section 346 of the Act) shall be treated as an interest of that Director;

 

(ii) a general notice given to the Directors that a Director is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that the Director has an interest in any such transaction or arrangement of the nature and extent so specified, but not otherwise; and

 

(iii) an interest of which a Director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

Directors acting during vacancies

 

110 The continuing Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancies, but if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these Articles the continuing Directors or Director may act for the purpose of filling such vacancies or of summoning general meetings, but not for any other purpose. If there be no Directors or Director able or willing to act, then any two members may summon a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors.

 

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Chairman and Deputy Chairman

 

111 (A) The Directors may elect from their number a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman (or two or more Deputy Chairmen) and determine the period for which each is to hold office. If no Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall have been appointed or if at any meeting of the Directors no Chairman or Deputy Chairman shall be present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.

 

(B) If at any time there is more than one Deputy Chairman the right in the absence of the Chairman to preside at a meeting of the Directors or of the Company shall be determined as between the Deputy Chairmen present (if more than one) by seniority in length of appointment as Deputy Chairman or otherwise as resolved by the Directors.

 

Co-chairmen

 

112 (A) The Directors may appoint one of their number as Co-Chairman on such terms as they may determine and the provisions of Articles 64, 95 and 111 shall apply to any person so appointed and references herein to Chairman shall be construed to mean Co-Chairman, or any one of them.

 

(B) For so long as there are Co-Chairmen, the Chairman to preside at a meeting of the Directors or of the Company shall be determined by agreement between them, or if no such agreement can be reached, by the Directors present.

 

Written and e-mail resolutions

 

113 (A) A resolution executed by all the Directors, or by all the members of a committee constituted under these Articles, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Directors, or (as the case may be) at a meeting of that committee, which in every case was duly convened and held.

 

(B) For the purposes of this Article:

 

(i) a resolution shall consist of one or more written instruments (including faxes) or one or more electronic communications sent to an address specified for the purpose by the Secretary, or a combination of them, provided that each such written instrument and electronic communication (if more than one) is to the same effect;

 

(ii) a written instrument is executed when the person executing it signs it;

 

(iii) an electronic communication is executed when the person executing it sends it provided that it has been authenticated in such manner (if any) as the Secretary shall prescribe;

 

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(iv) the Directors, or (as the case may be) members of a committee constituted under these Articles, need not execute the same written instrument or electronic communication; and

 

(v) a resolution shall be effective when the Secretary certifies that sufficient evidence has been received by him that the resolution has been executed in accordance with this Article.

 

Committees and delegation to committees

 

114 The Directors may delegate any of their powers or discretions to committees consisting of one or more members of their body and (if thought fit) one or more other persons co-opted as hereinafter provided. Any committee so formed shall in the exercise of the powers so delegated conform to any regulations which may from time to time be imposed by the Directors. Any such regulations may provide for or authorise the co-option to the committee of persons other than Directors and for such co-opted members to have voting rights as members of the committee but so that (a) the number of co-opted members shall be less than one-half of the total number of members of the committee and (b) no resolution of the committee shall be effective unless a majority of the members of the committee present at the meeting are Directors.

 

Proceedings of committees

 

115 The meetings and proceedings of any such committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed mutatis mutandis by the provisions of these Articles regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Directors, so far as the same are not superseded by any regulations made by the Directors under Article 114.

 

Validity of acts

 

116 All acts done by any meeting of Directors, or of any such committee, or by any person acting as a Director or as a member of any such committee, shall as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, notwithstanding that there was some defect in the appointment of any of the persons acting as aforesaid, or that any such persons were disqualified or had vacated office, or were not entitled to vote, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director or member of the committee and had been entitled to vote.

 

Borrowing Powers

 

117 (A) Subject as hereinafter provided and to the provisions of the Statutes the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.

 

(B) The Directors shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries incorporated in the United Kingdom so as to secure that the aggregate

 

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amount for the time being remaining undischarged of all moneys borrowed by the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries incorporated in the United Kingdom (exclusive of moneys borrowed by the Company from and for the time being owing to any such subsidiary or by any such subsidiary from and for the time being owing to the Company or another such subsidiary) shall not, except with the consent of the Company in general meeting, at any one time exceed:

 

(i) the amount paid up on the Share Capital of the Company for the time being issued, plus

 

(ii) the aggregate of the sums for the time being standing to the credit of the capital and revenue reserves (including share premium account and undistributed profits but excluding amounts set aside for taxation) of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in the United Kingdom as appearing in the latest audited accounts of those companies.

 

(C) For the purposes of the said limits:

 

(i) the issue of debentures shall be deemed to constitute borrowing notwithstanding that the same may be issued in whole or in part for a consideration other than cash;

 

(ii) moneys borrowed for the purpose of repaying or redeeming (with or without premium) in whole or in part any other borrowed moneys falling to be taken into account and intended to be applied for such purpose within six months after the borrowing thereof shall not during such period, except to the extent so applied, themselves be taken into account;

 

(iii) any amounts borrowed from bankers or others for the purpose of financing any contract up to an amount not exceeding that part of the price receivable under such contract which is guaranteed or insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department or other like institution carrying on a similar business shall be deemed not to be borrowed moneys;

 

(iv) borrowed moneys expressed in or calculated by reference to a currency other than sterling shall be translated into sterling by reference to the rate of exchange used for the conversion of such currency in the latest audited balance sheet of the relevant company or, if the relevant currency was not thereby involved, by reference to the rate of exchange or approximate rate of exchange ruling on such date and determined on such basis as the auditors may determine or approve.

 

(D) No person dealing with the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be concerned to see or enquire whether the said limit is observed and no debt incurred or security given in excess of such limit shall be invalid or ineffectual unless the lender or the recipient of the security had, at the time when the debt was incurred or security given, express notice that the said limit had been or would thereby be exceeded.

 

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General Powers of Directors

 

General powers of the Directors

 

118 The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by the Directors, who may exercise all such powers of the Company as are not by the Statutes or by these Articles required to be exercised by the Company in general meeting, subject nevertheless to any regulations of these Articles, to the provisions of the Statutes and to such regulations, being not inconsistent with the aforesaid regulations or provisions, as may be prescribed by special resolution of the Company, but no regulation so made by the Company shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if such regulation had not been made. The general powers given by this Article shall not be limited or restricted by any special authority or power given to the Directors by any other Article.

 

Head office

 

119 The Directors shall ensure that the head office of the Company remains in England at all times.

 

Local boards

 

120 The Directors may establish any local boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company, either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and may appoint any persons to be members of such local boards, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration, and may delegate to any local board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in the Directors, with power to subdelegate, and may authorise the members of any local boards, or any of them, to fill any vacancies therein, and to act notwithstanding vacancies, and any such appointment or delegation may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may think fit, and the Directors may remove any person so appointed, and may annul or vary any such delegation, but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of any such annulment or variation shall be affected thereby.

 

Attorneys

 

121 The Directors may from time to time and at any time by power of attorney or otherwise appoint any company, firm or person or any fluctuating body of persons, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the Directors, to be the attorney or attorneys of the Company for such purposes and with such powers, authorities and discretions (not exceeding those vested in or exercisable by the Directors under these Articles) and for such period and subject to such conditions as they may think fit, and any such power of attorney may contain such provisions for the protection and convenience of persons dealing with any such attorney as the Directors may think fit, and may also authorise any such attorney to sub-delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in him.

 

Branch registers

 

122 Subject to and to the extent permitted by the Statutes, the Company, or the Directors on behalf of the Company, may cause to be kept in any territory a branch register of members resident in such territory, and the Directors may make and vary such regulations as they may think fit respecting the keeping of any such register.

 

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Signature on financial instruments

 

123 All cheques, promissory notes, drafts, bills of exchange, and other negotiable or transferable instruments, and all receipts for moneys paid to the Company, shall be signed, drawn, accepted, endorsed, or otherwise executed, as the case may be, in such manner as the Directors shall from time to time by resolution determine.

 

Secretary

 

124 The Secretary shall be appointed by the Directors on such terms and for such period as they may think fit. Any Secretary so appointed may at any time be removed from office by the Directors, but without prejudice to any claim for damages for breach of any contract of service between him and the Company. If thought fit two or more persons may be appointed as joint secretaries. The Directors may also appoint from time to time on such terms as they may think fit one or more deputy secretaries, assistant secretaries and deputy assistant secretaries. A signature or attestation or certification of or on any document by a deputy, assistant or deputy assistant secretary in that capacity shall in favour of any person dealing with the Company on the faith thereof be as effective as if it were the signature or attestation or certification of or on such document by the Secretary.

 

Authentication of Documents

 

125 Any Director or the Secretary or any person appointed by the Directors for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolutions passed by the Company or the Directors or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies thereof or extracts therefrom as true copies or extracts; and where any books, records, documents or accounts are elsewhere than at the Office the local manager or other officer of the Company having the custody thereof shall be deemed to be a person appointed by the Directors as aforesaid. A document purporting to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company or of the Directors or any committee which is certified as aforesaid shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company upon the faith thereof that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that any minute so extracted is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.

 

Reserves

 

126 (A) After payment of the dividends upon any preference shares of the Company, and of a dividend of 4.2 per cent. upon the Ordinary Shares, there shall be set aside a special reserve fund out of the balance of the profits of each year such sum as the Directors may determine, and no part of the moneys so set aside nor of the interest thereon shall without the sanction of an extraordinary resolution of the holders of the preference shares be applied otherwise than for the purpose of making up any deficit of

 

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cumulative dividend on the preference shares, or in the event of a reduction of capital or a winding up, for the purpose of repaying to the holders of the preference shares the amounts paid up on such shares together with the ten per cent. referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph (A) of Article 5 but the same may be used by the Directors as part of the working capital of the Company. All moneys from time to time standing to the credit of the special reserve fund may be invested in or upon such securities or investments as the Directors shall think fit, including the debentures of any company formed or promoted by this Company, or in which this Company shall hold shares.

 

(B) The Directors may from time to time set aside out of the profits of the Company and carry to a general reserve such further sums as they think proper which, at the discretion of the Directors, shall be applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the Company may properly be applied and pending such application may either be employed in the business of the Company or be invested. The Directors may divide the general reserve into such special funds as they think fit and may consolidate into one fund any special funds or any parts of any special funds into which the general reserve may have been divided. The Directors may also without placing the same to reserve carry forward any profits.

 

(C) In carrying sums to reserve and in applying the same the Directors shall comply with the provisions of the Statutes.

 

The Seal

 

General provisions about seals

 

127 (A) The Directors shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal and any Securities Seal, and neither shall be used without the authority of the Directors or of a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf.

 

(B) Affixing any seal of the Company (including the Seal, any Securities Seal and any other seal) to an instrument shall include:

 

(i) impressing that seal by mechanical means, or printing that seal or a facsimile of it, on the instrument;

 

(ii) applying that seal or a facsimile of it by any other means to the instrument.

 

(C) Every instrument to which the Seal shall be affixed shall be signed autographically by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors, save that as regards any certificates for shares or debentures or other securities of the Company the Directors may by resolution determine that such signatures, or either of them, shall be dispensed with or affixed by some method or system of mechanical signature.

 

(D) The Securities Seal shall be used only for sealing securities issued by the Company and documents creating or evidencing securities so issued. Any such securities or documents sealed with the Securities Seal shall not require to be signed.

 

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(E) Where the Statutes so permit, any instrument signed by one Director and the Secretary or by two Directors and expressed to be executed by the Company shall have the same effect as if executed under the Seal, provided that no instrument shall be so signed which makes it clear on its face that it is intended by the person or persons making it to have effect as a deed without the authority of the Directors or of a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf.

 

Official seals abroad

 

128 The Company may exercise the powers conferred by the Statutes with regard to having an official seal for use abroad and such powers shall be vested in the Directors.

 

Dividends

 

Powers and rights in respect of dividends

 

129 (A) The Company may by ordinary resolution declare dividends but no such dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Directors.

 

(B) The Directors may also from time to time declare and pay dividends on shares of any class of such amounts and on such dates and in respect of such periods as they think fit.

 

(C) Dividends may be declared and paid in any currency or currencies that the Directors shall determine, provided that:

 

(i) the Directors shall announce a sterling equivalent for any dividend declared in another currency, which sterling equivalent shall be determined in accordance with Article 131 (C); and

 

(ii) holders of Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to be paid dividends in sterling.

 

(D) When declaring a dividend, the Company or the Directors may identify either generally or in relation to any particular group or groups of shareholders the funds from which it is proposed that the dividend will be paid.

 

Payment of fixed dividends

 

130 If and so far as in the opinion of the Directors the profits of the Company justify such payments, the Directors may declare and pay the fixed dividends on any class of shares carrying a fixed dividend expressed to be payable on fixed dates on the half-yearly or other dates prescribed for the payment thereof and may also from time to time pay interim dividends on shares of any class of such amounts and on such dates and in respect of such periods as they think fit.

 

Supplementary rules relating to dividends

 

131 (A) Unless and to the extent that the rights attached to any shares, the terms of issue thereof or these Articles otherwise provide, all dividends shall (as regards any shares not fully paid throughout the period in respect of which the dividend is paid) be

 

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apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid. For the purposes of this Article no amount paid on a share in advance of calls shall be treated as paid on the share.

 

(B) The Directors may at their discretion make provisions to enable a member and/or an Approved Depositary and/or any Appointed Person to receive dividends duly payable in a currency or currencies other than sterling.

 

(C) For the purposes of the calculation of the amount receivable in respect of any dividend, the rate of exchange to be used to determine the relevant currency equivalent of any sum payable as a dividend shall be such market rate (whether spot or forward) selected by the Directors as they shall consider appropriate ruling at the close of business in London on the date which is the business day last preceding:

 

(i) in the case of a dividend to be declared by the Company in general meeting, the date on which the Directors publicly announce their intention to recommend that specific dividend; and

 

(ii) in the case of any other dividend, the date on which the Directors publicly announce their intention to pay that specific dividend.

 

Provided that where the Directors consider the circumstances to be appropriate they shall determine such relevant currency equivalent of any sums payable as a dividend by reference to such market rate or rates or the mean of such market rates prevailing at such time or times or on such other date or dates, in each case falling before the time of the relevant announcement, as the Directors may in their discretion select.

 

Limitation on dividends

 

132 No dividend shall be paid otherwise than out of profits available for distribution under the provisions of the Statutes.

 

Acquired profits

 

133 Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, where any asset, business or property is bought by the Company as from a past date the profits and losses thereof as from such date may at the discretion of the Directors in whole or in part be carried to revenue account and treated for all purposes as profits or losses of the Company. Subject as aforesaid, if any shares or securities are purchased cum dividend or interest, such dividend or interest may at the discretion of the Directors be treated as revenue, and it shall not be obligatory to capitalise the same or any part thereof.

 

No interest on dividends

 

134 No dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share shall bear interest as against the Company.

 

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Retention of dividends

 

135 (A) The Directors may retain any dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share on which the Company has a lien and may apply the same in or towards satisfaction of the debts, liabilities or engagements in respect of which the lien exists.

 

(B) The Directors may retain the dividends payable upon shares in respect of which any person is under the provisions as to the transmission of shares hereinbefore contained entitled to become a member, or which any person is under those provisions entitled to transfer, until such person shall become a member in respect of such shares or shall transfer the same.

 

Waiver of dividends

 

136 The waiver in whole or in part of any dividend on any share by any document (whether or not under seal) shall be effective only if such document is signed by the shareholder (or the person entitled to the share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder) and delivered to the Company and if or to the extent that the same is accepted as such or acted upon by the Company.

 

Unclaimed dividends

 

137 The payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or other moneys payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect thereof and any dividend unclaimed after a period of twelve years from the date of declaration of such dividend shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company.

 

Non-cash dividends

 

138 The Company may upon the recommendation of the Directors by ordinary resolution direct payment of a dividend in whole or in part by the distribution of specific assets (and in particular of paid-up shares or debentures of any other company) and the Directors shall give effect to such resolution. In addition the Directors may direct payment of any dividend in whole or in part by the distribution of Designated Shares. If at any time and from time to time there have been, or will be, allotted any shares which are Designated Shares, and the Directors resolve to allot to any person any Ordinary Shares (whether or not pursuant to an existing obligation of the Company) the Directors may, if and so far as in the opinion of the Directors the profits of the Company justify such payments, either at the time of such allotment or at any time thereafter, resolve that there be paid to the registered holder of such Ordinary Shares as at the close of business (or at such other time as the Directors may determine) on such date as the Directors may specify a dividend to be paid by the distribution of Designated Shares in such amount and manner as will secure that such holder will receive one Designated Share for each Ordinary Share held by him. (If and so far as the foregoing provisions are inconsistent with those contained in Articles 130, 131, 139 and 142, the foregoing provisions shall prevail.)Where any difficulty arises in regard to such distribution, the Directors may settle the same as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional certificates, may fix the value for distribution of such specific assets or any part thereof, may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members upon the footing of the

 

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value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of all parties and may vest any such specific assets in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors. The Directors may in relation to any such distribution of Designated Shares authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members interested into an agreement with the relevant Designated Subsidiary whereby such members agree to become members and to be bound, in respect of their holdings of Designated Shares from time to time, by the memorandum and articles of association (as amended from time to time) of such Designated Subsidiary and each mandate or other instruction relating to the payment of dividends or making of distributions by the Company, and which is in force at the time of determining entitlement to any distribution of Designated Shares, shall, unless and until revoked, become a valid and binding mandate or other instruction to such Designated Subsidiary in respect of any dividend or other distribution paid or made by it, and any agreement made under the authority given to the Directors pursuant to this Article shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

Payment mechanisms for dividends

 

139 (A) Any dividend or other moneys payable in cash (whether in sterling or foreign currency pursuant to provision made under these Articles) on or in respect of a share may be paid by cheque or warrant sent through the post to the registered address (or in the case of an Approved Depositary, subject to the approval of the Directors, such persons and postal addresses as an Approved Depositary may direct) of the member or person entitled thereto (or, if two or more persons are registered as joint holders of the share or are entitled thereto in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, to any one of such persons) or to such person and such postal address as such member or person or persons may in writing direct. Every such cheque or warrant shall be made payable to, or to the order of, the person to whom it is sent or to such person as the holder or joint holders or person or persons entitled to the share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder may direct and payment of the cheque or warrant by the banker upon whom it is drawn shall be a good discharge to the Company. If any such cheque or warrant has or shall be alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Directors may, on request of the person entitled thereto, issue a replacement cheque or warrant subject to compliance with such conditions as to evidence and indemnity and the payment of out of pocket expenses of the Company in connection with the request as the Directors may think fit. Every such cheque or warrant shall be sent at the risk of the person entitled to the money represented thereby. If on three consecutive occasions cheques or warrants in payment of dividends or other moneys payable on or in respect of any share have been sent through the post in accordance with the provisions of this Article but have been returned undelivered or left uncashed during the periods for which the same are valid, the Company need not thereafter despatch further cheques or warrants in payment of dividends or other moneys payable on or in respect of the share in question until the member or other person entitled thereto shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing to the Transfer Office a postal address for the purpose.

 

(B) Where an Approved Depositary approved by the Directors for the purposes of this Article has elected or agreed pursuant to provision made under these Articles to receive dividends in a foreign currency, the Directors may in their discretion

 

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approve the entering into of arrangements with such Approved Depositary to enable payment of the dividend to be made to such Approved Depositary in such foreign currency for value on the date on which the relevant dividend is paid, or such later date as the Directors may determine.

 

Payment of dividends to joint shareholder

 

140 If two or more persons are registered as joint holders of any share, or are entitled jointly to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of the holder, any one of them may give effectual receipts for any dividend or other moneys payable or property distributable on or in respect of the share.

 

Dividend re-investment plans

 

141 (A) The Directors may with the prior sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company implement and maintain in accordance with the terms and conditions of such resolution but otherwise as the Directors may determine from time to time a share dividend or distribution reinvestment plan or plans for the benefit of the holders of Ordinary Shares of the Company whereby such holders may be given one or more of the following options namely:

 

(i) instead of taking the net cash amount due to them in respect of any dividend (or any part thereof) declared or payable on all or any Ordinary Shares held by them either to invest such cash in subscribing for unissued Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company payable in full or by instalments or in paying up in full or by instalments any unpaid or partly paid Ordinary Shares held by them on the terms of any such plan; or

 

(ii) instead of taking the net cash amount due to them in respect of any dividend (or any part thereof) declared or payable on all or any Ordinary Shares held by them to elect to receive new Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company credited as fully paid on the terms and conditions of any such plan; or

 

(iii) to forego their entitlement to any dividend (or any part thereof) declared or payable on all or any Ordinary Shares held by them and to take instead fully paid bonus Ordinary Shares on the terms and conditions of any such plan; or

 

(iv) any other option in respect of the whole or any part of any dividend on all or any Ordinary Shares held by them as the Directors shall determine.

 

Where in the case of any plan such as those contemplated in sub-paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, holders of Ordinary Shares are not entitled to payment of a cash dividend (otherwise than in respect of fractional entitlements), the plan may provide for them to receive allotments of Ordinary Shares credited as fully paid having a value of more than the net cash amount which would otherwise be due to them in respect of the relevant dividend but not exceeding a value equivalent to the sum of the net cash amount of the dividend together with the associated tax credit (as defined in paragraph (H) below).

 

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(B) The Directors may in their discretion suspend or terminate or modify in any manner consistent with these Articles or the sanctioning resolution any such plan which is in operation.

 

(C) For the purposes of any such plan the Directors may capitalise out of such of the sums standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve or any other undistributable reserve) or any of the profits available for distribution under the provisions of the Statutes and which could otherwise have been applied in paying dividends in cash as the Directors may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of any Ordinary Shares to be allotted under any such plan and shall apply the same in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued Ordinary Shares for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst the holders of Ordinary Shares entitled to the same. The Directors may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation and may authorise any person on behalf of all the holders of Ordinary Shares entitled to the same to enter into an agreement with the Company providing for any such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

(D) No fraction of any share shall be allotted. The Directors may make such provisions as they think fit for any fractional entitlements including provisions whereby, in whole or in part, the benefit thereof accrues to the Company and/or under which fractional entitlements are accrued and/or retained and in each case accumulated on behalf of any shareholder and such accruals or retentions are applied to the allotment (by reference to the aggregate net cash amount thereof or value equivalent to the sum of the aggregate net cash amount thereof together with the associated tax credit which it would have attracted if paid as a dividend) by way of bonus to or cash subscription on behalf of such shareholder of fully paid Ordinary Shares.

 

(E) The Directors shall notify the holders of Ordinary Shares of the terms and conditions of any such plan and shall make available or provide to them forms of election so that they may exercise the rights granted.

 

(F) The power conferred under this Article and by any authority given by the Shareholders shall not be exercised unless the Company shall then have:

 

(i) sufficient unissued shares in the capital of the Company capable of being issued as Ordinary Shares; and

 

(ii) if any shares are to be allotted other than for cash, sufficient profits available for distribution or reserves standing to the credit of an appropriate account to give effect to the terms of any such plan.

 

(G) The Directors may in their discretion on any occasion determine that any such plan shall not be made available to Ordinary Shareholders resident within or beyond specified territories or jurisdictions or in respect of Ordinary Shares held by an Approved Depositary or in respect of Ordinary Shares the dividends on which are payable or liable to be payable in a currency other than US dollars or sterling pursuant to provision made under these Articles.

 

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(H) “associated tax credit” means for the purposes of this Article and any plan the tax credit which would be available to the recipient of a dividend under Section 231 of the Income and Taxes Act 1988 on the assumption that such recipient is an individual resident in the UK for UK taxation purposes.

 

Record Date

 

142 Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles but subject always to the Statutes, the Company or the Directors may by resolution specify any date (“record date”) as the date at the close of business (or such other time as the Directors may determine) on which persons registered as the holders of shares or other securities shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment, issue, notice, information, document or circular and such record date may be on or at any time before the date on which the same is paid or made or (in the case of any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment or issue) at any time after the same is recommended, resolved, declared or announced but without prejudice to the rights inter se in respect of the same of transferors and transferees of any such shares or other securities.

 

Capitalisation of Profits and Reserves

 

143 The Directors may, with the sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, capitalise any sum standing to the credit of any of the Company’s reserve accounts (including any share premium account, capital redemption reserve or other undistributable reserve) or any sum standing to the credit of profit and loss account by appropriating such sum to the members who would have been entitled to it if it were distributed by way of dividend on the Ordinary Shares and in the same proportions and applying such sum on their behalf in paying up in full unissued Ordinary Shares (or, subject to any special rights previously conferred on any shares or class of shares for the time being issued, unissued shares of any other class not being redeemable shares) for allotment and distribution credited as fully paid up to and amongst them as bonus shares in the proportions aforesaid. The Directors may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation, with full power to the Directors to make such provisions as they think fit for any fractional entitlements which would arise on the basis aforesaid (including provisions as to the date or dates by reference to which the entitlement of such members is to be determined and provisions whereby fractional entitlements are disregarded or the benefit thereof accrues to the Company rather than to the members concerned). The Directors may authorise any person to enter on behalf of all the members interested into an agreement with the Company providing for any such capitalisation and matters incidental thereto and any agreement made under such authority shall be effective and binding on all concerned.

 

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Accounts

 

Accounts to be kept

 

144 Accounting records sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and otherwise complying with the Statutes shall be kept at the Office, or at such other place as the Directors think fit, and shall always be open to inspection by the officers of the Company. Subject as aforesaid no member of the Company or other person shall have any right of inspecting any account or book or document of the Company except as conferred by statute or ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or authorised by the Directors.

 

Copies of accounts

 

145 A copy of every balance sheet and profit and loss account which is to be laid before a general meeting of the Company (including every document required by law to be comprised therein or attached or annexed thereto) shall not less than twenty-one days before the date of the meeting be sent to every member of, and every holder of debentures of, the Company and to every other person who is entitled to receive notices of meetings from the Company under the provisions of the Statutes or of these Articles. Provided that this Article shall not require a copy of these documents to be sent to more than one of joint holders or to any person for whom the Company does not have on record either a postal address or an address for electronic communication to which the copies can be sent, but any member or holder of debentures to whom a copy of these documents has not been sent shall be entitled to receive a copy free of charge on application at the Office and provided further that if the Statutes so permit the Company need not send copies of these documents to members who do not wish to receive them but may send them such summary financial statement or other documents as may be authorised by the Statutes. So long as and whenever any of the shares or debentures of the Company are for the time being listed or dealt in on the London Stock Exchange, there shall be forwarded to the appropriate officer of the London Stock Exchange such number of copies of such documents as may for the time being be required under its regulations or practice. Where permitted by the Statutes, any document or copy referred to in this Article may be sent by electronic communication.

 

Auditors

 

Defective appointment of auditors

 

146 Subject to the provisions of the Statutes, all acts done by any person acting as an auditor shall, as regards all persons dealing in good faith with the Company, be valid, notwithstanding that there was some defect in his appointment or that he was at the time of his appointment not qualified for appointment or subsequently became disqualified.

 

Auditors’ rights

 

147 An auditor shall be entitled to attend any general meeting and to receive all notices of and other communications relating to any general meeting which any member is entitled to receive and to be heard at any general meeting on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns him as auditor.

 

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Notices

 

Service of notices and documents

 

148 (A) Any notice or document (including a share certificate) may be served on or delivered to any member by the Company either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid cover (in such form as any Director or the Secretary may determine) addressed to such member at his registered address, or (if he has no registered address within the United Kingdom) to the postal address, if any, within the United Kingdom supplied by him to the Company as his address for the service of notices, or by delivering it to such address addressed as aforesaid. In the case of a member registered on a branch register any such notice or document may be posted either in the United Kingdom or in the territory in which such branch register is maintained.

 

(B) Where a notice or other document is served or sent by post, service or delivery shall be deemed to be effected at the expiration of twenty-four hours (or, where second-class mail is employed, forty-eight hours) after the time when the cover containing the same is posted and in proving such service or delivery it shall be sufficient to prove that such cover was properly addressed, stamped and posted.

 

(C) The Company may also, subject to the provisions of the Statutes, give or send to any members any notice or other document (excluding a share certificate) by electronic communication where:

 

(i) the Company and that member have agreed to the use of electronic communication for sending copies of documents to the member and:

 

(a) the documents are documents to which the agreement applies; and

 

(b) copies of the documents are sent using electronic communication to such address (or to one of such addresses if more than one) as may for the time being be notified by the member to the Company for that purpose; or

 

(ii) the Company and that member have agreed to that member having access to documents on a website (instead of the documents being sent to him) and:

 

(a) the documents are documents to which the agreement applies; and

 

(b) the member is notified in a manner for the time being agreed for the purpose between the member and the Company of:

 

(1) the publication of the documents on a website;

 

(2) the address of that website;

 

(3) the place on that website where the documents may be accessed and how they may be accessed; and

 

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(4) the period of time for which the documents will be available on the website, which must be for a period of not less than twenty-one days from the date of notification or, if later, until the conclusion of any general meeting to which the documents relate; and

 

(c) the documents are published on that website throughout the period referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) (b) (4) above, provided that, if the documents are published on that website for a part but not all of such period, the documents will be treated as published throughout that period if the failure to publish those documents throughout that period is wholly attributable to circumstances which it would not be reasonable to have expected the Company to prevent or avoid.

 

(D) Where a notice or other document is given or sent by electronic communication, it shall be deemed to have been given or sent at the expiration of two hours from the time it was sent to an address supplied by the member or of notification to the member of its publication on a website. Proof that a notice or other document given or sent by electronic communication was given or sent in accordance with current guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice or document was sent or given.

 

Notices to joint shareholders

 

149 Any notice given to that one of the joint holders of a share whose name stands first in the Register of Members in respect of the share shall be sufficient notice to all the joint holders in their capacity as such. For such purpose a joint holder having no registered address in the United Kingdom and not having supplied a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices shall be disregarded.

 

Notices to successors of shareholders

 

150 A person entitled to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member upon supplying to the Company such evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show his title to the share, and upon supplying also a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service and delivery of notices and documents, and, if he wishes, an address for the service and delivery of electronic communications, shall be entitled to have served upon or delivered to him at any address given by him any notice or document to which the member but for his death or bankruptcy would have been entitled, and any such service or delivery shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service or delivery of such notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under him) in the share. Save as aforesaid any notice or document delivered or sent to a member in accordance with these Articles shall, notwithstanding that such member be then dead or bankrupt or in liquidation, and whether or not the Company have notice of his death or bankruptcy or liquidation, be deemed to have been duly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of such member as sole or first-named joint holder.

 

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Loss of entitlement to notices

 

151 A member who (having no registered address within the United Kingdom) has not supplied to the Company a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, or an address for the service of notices by electronic communication, shall not be entitled to receive notices from the Company. If on three consecutive occasions a notice to a member has been returned undelivered, such member shall not thereafter be entitled to receive notices from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing to the Transfer Office a new registered address, or a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, or shall have informed the Company, in such manner as may be specified by the Company, of an address for the service of notices by electronic communication. For these purposes, a notice sent by post shall be treated as returned undelivered if the notice is sent back to the Company (or its agents), and a notice sent by electronic communication shall be treated as returned undelivered if the Company (or its agents) receive notification that the notice was not delivered to the address to which it was sent.

 

Service of notices when post disrupted

 

152 If at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services within the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting, a general meeting may be convened by a notice advertised on the same date in at least two leading daily newspapers with appropriate circulation, and such notice shall be deemed to have been duly served on all members entitled thereto at noon on the day when the advertisement appears. In any such case the Company may still serve notices by electronic communication, subject always to the Statutes, and shall send confirmatory copies of the notice by post to members to whom it was not sent by electronic communication if at least seven days prior to the meeting the posting of notices to addresses throughout the United Kingdom again becomes practicable.

 

Savings

 

153 Nothing in any of the preceding five Articles shall affect any requirement of the Statutes that any particular offer, notice or other document be served in any particular manner.

 

Winding Up

 

Petitioning for winding-up

 

154 The Directors shall have power in the name and on behalf of the Company to present a petition to the Court for the Company to be wound up.

 

Powers of liquidator

 

155 If the Company shall be wound up (whether the liquidation is voluntary, under supervision or by the Court) the Liquidator may, with the authority of an extraordinary resolution, divide among the members in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and whether or not the assets shall consist of property of one kind or shall consist of properties of different kinds, and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any one or more class or classes of property and may determine

 

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how such division shall be carried out as between the members or different classes of members. The Liquidator may, with the like authority, vest any part of the assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of members as the Liquidator with the like authority shall think fit, and the liquidation of the Company may be closed and the Company dissolved, but so that no contributory shall be compelled to accept any shares or other property in respect of which there is a liability.

 

Indemnity

 

156 Subject to the provisions of and so far as may be consistent with the Statutes, every Director, auditor, Secretary or other officer of the Company shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred by him in the execution and/or discharge of his duties and/or the exercise of his powers and/or otherwise in relation to or in connection with his duties, powers or office.

 

Approved Depositaries

 

Appointment of an Approved Depositary

 

157 The Directors may appoint as an Approved Depositary any person:

 

(i) who is a member holding Ordinary Shares;

 

(ii) on whose behalf Ordinary Shares are held by a nominee, or

 

(iii) by whom or on whose behalf Share Warrants have been deposited pursuant to Article 27 (viii).

 

The appointment of an Approved Depositary already effected prior to the adoption of these Articles shall remain in force on the terms and conditions as approved by the Directors.

 

An Approved Depositary’s Nominee

 

158 An Approved Depositary’s “Nominee” shall mean any member who holds Ordinary Shares as the Approved Depositary’s nominee.

 

Manner of appointing an Approved Depositary

 

159 The appointment of an Approved Depositary shall be in writing and may be in relation to all or any specified number of such person’s Overall Holding and be on such terms and conditions as the Directors may approve.

 

“Overall Holding”

 

160 The expression “Overall Holding” in relation to an Approved Depositary means the aggregate of the Ordinary Shares which shall for the time being:

 

(i) be registered in the name of the Approved Depositary or its Nominee; or

 

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(ii) be represented by Share Warrants which have been deposited by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary pursuant to Article 27 (viii) or which are the subject matter of a certificate deposited by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary and accepted by the Directors pursuant to Article 26.

 

The Approved Depositary Register

 

161 (A) An Approved Depositary shall maintain a register or system (s) (“Approved Depositary Register”) in which shall be recorded the number of Ordinary Shares in relation to which the Approved Depositary has been appointed (“Specified Shares”).

 

(B) An Approved Depositary or its Nominee may appoint such person as it thinks fit as its proxy (including appointment by electronic communication) in relation to Specified Shares by entering the name of each such person (“Appointed Person”) in the Approved Depositary Register together with such details as the Directors shall require.

 

(C) Upon the entry of an Appointed Person’s name in the Approved Depositary Register the Approved Depositary or its Nominee shall be deemed to have appointed such person as its proxy and otherwise conferred on him the rights set out under Article 163.

 

(D) The Approved Depositary Register shall:

 

(i) in the case of each Appointed Person specify the number (the “Appointed Number”) of Specified Shares in respect of which the appointment of the Appointed Person as a proxy has been made; and

 

(ii) be open to inspection by any person authorised by the Company or the Approved Depositary during usual business hours.

 

(E) The Approved Depositary shall furnish to the Company or its agents upon demand all such information contained in the Approved Depositary Register, or any part of it as may be requested.

 

Restrictions on the Approved Depositary

 

162 In relation to an Approved Depositary:

 

(i) the aggregate of Appointed Numbers of Appointed Persons recorded in the Approved Depositary Register shall not exceed the aggregate number of Specified Shares so recorded; and

 

(ii) the aggregate number of Specified Shares recorded in the Approved Depositary Register shall not exceed the Approved Depositary’s Overall Holding.

 

Rights of Appointed Persons

 

163 (A) Subject to the Statutes and subject to the provisions of these Articles an Appointed Person:

 

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(i) shall upon production to the Company at any general meeting of written evidence of his status as an Appointed Person (which shall be in such form as the Company and the Approved Depositary shall determine from time to time) be entitled in relation to that meeting to the same rights, and subject to the same restrictions, in relation to his Appointed Number of Specified Shares as though he had been validly appointed as a proxy in relation to such Specified Shares by his Approved Depositary or his Approved Depositary’s Nominee in accordance with Articles 83 - 85 (inclusive); and

 

(ii) shall himself be entitled to appoint any other person as proxy in relation to his Appointed Number of Specified Shares (or some lesser number of them) using any of the means by which a proxy may be appointed under or pursuant to Articles 83 - 85 (inclusive) and so that the provisions of these Articles relating to the appointment by a member of a person to act as proxy, and to the revocation of such an appointment, and relating to the rights and duties of the person so appointed, shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to the appointment of a person as the proxy of an Appointed Person in relation to his Appointed Number of Specified Shares, as though the Appointed Person was the registered holder of Ordinary Shares of the Appointed Number and he had appointed his proxy under or pursuant to the provisions of Articles 83—85 (inclusive).

 

(B) Subject to such terms and conditions as may have been agreed between the Company and the Approved Depositary and to such terms and conditions as govern the relationship between the Approved Depositary and its Appointed Persons, the Approved Depositary or its Nominee shall, on the request of an Appointed Person, exercise in relation to the Appointed Person’s Appointed Number of Specified Shares such other rights in relation to general meetings of the Company as may be conferred upon a member of the Company by the Statutes.

 

Reserved rights of an Approved Depositary (or its Nominee)

 

164 For the avoidance of doubt and subject to Article 168 below an Approved Depositary or its Nominee shall as between the Approved Depositary or its Nominee on the one hand and the Company on the other be entitled in relation to any general meeting to exercise all the voting rights in relation to all or any of the shares comprised in that Approved Depositary’s Overall Holding, and in particular may exercise the right to vote in person (or by corporate representative) notwithstanding the appointment by that Approved Depositary or its Nominee of any Appointed Person (s), the rights conferred by such appointment, or the exercise of such rights.

 

Service of notices and documents on Appointed Persons

 

165 The Company may, if requested by any Approved Depositary, send to each Appointed Person entered in the Approved Depositary Register all notices and other documents which are sent to the holders of Ordinary Shares. Any such notices and documents shall be sent to the postal address of the Appointed Person in question as it appears in the Approved Depositary Register, save that if he shall have an address for electronic communication recorded in the Approved Depositary Register, they may be sent by electronic communication to that address.

 

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Payments to Appointed Persons

 

166 The Company may if requested by an Approved Depositary pay to an Appointed Person at his postal address as shown in the Approved Depositary Register or by electronic funds transmission to an account notified by the Approved Person all dividends payable on the Ordinary Shares in respect of which he has been appointed as an Appointed Person, and payment of any such dividend shall be a good discharge to the Company of its obligation to make payment of the dividend in question in respect of the Ordinary Shares concerned.

 

Record dates in relation to Appointed Persons

 

167 (A) For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled as Appointed Persons:

 

(i) to exercise the rights conferred by Article 163;

 

(ii) to receive documents sent pursuant to Article 165; and

 

(iii) to be paid dividends paid pursuant to Article 166, and each such person’s Appointed Number of Specified Shares the Approved Depositary may determine that the Appointed Persons so entitled shall be the persons entered as such in the Approved Depositary Register at the close of business on any date specified for the particular purpose and determined by agreement between the Approved Depositary and the Company (the “Approved Depositary Record Date”).

 

(B) When the Approved Depositary Record Date is determined for a particular purpose then subject to Article 168:

 

(i) each Appointed Person’s Appointed Number of Specified Shares shall be the number appearing against his name in the Approved Depositary Register as at the close of business on the Approved Depositary Record Date; and

 

(ii) changes to entries in the Approved Depositary Register after the close of business on the Approved Depositary Record Date shall be disregarded in determining the entitlement of any person for the particular purpose specified in setting the Approved Depositary Record Date.

 

Adjustments to votes

 

168 If it appears:

 

(i) in relation to a particular resolution at a particular meeting; and

 

(ii) in relation to a particular Approved Depositary,

 

that the aggregate number of votes cast by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary would without an adjustment exceed that Approved Depositary’s Overall Holding at the time specified under Article 60 (D) for establishing the entitlement of members of the Company to attend or vote at the meeting then such adjustments shall be made to the

 

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aggregate number of votes cast for or against the resolution so that the total number of votes cast by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary does not exceed that Approved Depositary’s Overall Holding and the following provisions for making that adjustment shall apply:

 

(a) such adjustments (which may be adjustments to nil) may be adjustments of all votes which would otherwise be cast by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary or of some of them only and then in the latter event such adjustments may vary as between some votes and others;

 

(b) if it is willing and able to do so within such time as the chairman of the meeting may prescribe, such adjustments shall be made by the Approved Depositary;

 

(c) in any other case such adjustments shall be made by the chairman of the meeting on a pro rata basis or in such other manner as may have been prescribed by regulations or procedures made or established by the Directors under Article 84; and

 

(d) any adjustments made in good faith in accordance with this Article shall be conclusive and binding on all persons interested.

 

For the avoidance of doubt votes cast by or on behalf of the Approved Depositary shall include votes cast by its Nominee, or by any Appointed Person appointed by that Depositary or its Nominee, or by any proxy of such an Appointed Person.

 

No recognition of trusts etc

 

169 Except as required by law, no Appointed Person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any interest in shares upon any trust and subject to the recognition of the rights conferred in relation to general meetings by appointments made by Appointed Persons pursuant to Article 163 (A)(ii) the Company shall be entitled to treat any person entered in the Approved Depositary Register as an Appointed Person as the only person (other than the Approved Depositary or its Nominee) who has any interest in the Specified Shares in respect of which the Appointed Person has been appointed.

 

Determination of questions relating to an Appointed Person’s rights

 

170 Subject and without prejudice to the provisions of Article 168, if in any circumstances other than those provided for in that Article any question shall arise as to whether an Appointed Person or a proxy for an Appointed Person has been validly appointed to vote (or exercise any other right) in respect of any Specified Shares or as to the Appointed Number of Specified Shares in respect of which he is entitled to do so, then:

 

(i) if such question arises at or in relation to a general meeting it shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting or in such other manner as may have been prescribed by regulations or procedures made or established by the Directors under Article 84; and

 

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(ii) if it arises in any other circumstances it shall be determined by the Directors

 

and any such determination if made in good faith shall be final and conclusive and binding on all persons interested.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF BP p.l.c]

BP p.l.c.
1 St. James's Square
London SW1Y 4PD, England

BP Capital Markets p.l.c.
Breakspear Park
Breakspear Way
Hemel Hempstead
Herts HP2 4UL, England

November 3, 2003

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of US$10,000,000,000 aggregate amount of guaranteed debt securities (the "Securities") of BP Capital Markets America Inc., a Delaware corporation, BP Capital Markets p.l.c., an English company ("BP Capital"), BP Canada Finance Company, a Canadian company and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, an Australian company (each an "Issuer" and collectively, the "Issuers"), and the related guarantees (the "Guarantees") of the Securities by BP p.l.c., an English company ("BP"), as Group General Counsel of BP, I have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that, in my opinion:

1. each of BP and BP Capital is a public limited company duly incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985;

2. when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Securities and the Guarantees and of the issuance and sale of the Securities and the Guarantees have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to such Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of an agreement or instrument then binding upon the Issuers or BP, the Securities to be issued have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture relating to such Securities, and the Securities and the Guarantees have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and, only in the case of the Securities of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, the Indenture relating to such Securities has been duly executed and delivered, the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of BP;

3. when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Securities of BP Capital and the Guarantees and of the issuance and sale of the Securities of BP Capital and the Guarantees have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to such Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of an agreement or instrument then binding on BP Capital or BP, the Securities of BP Capital have been duly executed and authenticated and the Guarantees have been duly executed in each case in accordance with the Indenture relating thereto, and the Securities of BP Capital and the Guarantees have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Securities of BP Capital will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of BP Capital; and


4. I confirm to you that my opinion is as set forth under the caption "Tax Considerations - United Kingdom Taxation" in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of England in force on this date and I am expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction. I understand you are relying as to all matters governed by the laws of the state of New York upon the opinion dated [Date to be inserted] of Daniel B. Pinkert, special United States counsel to BP, which opinion is being delivered to you by such counsel.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement relating to the Securities and the Guarantees and to the references to me under the captions "Tax Considerations - United Kingdom Taxation" and "Validity of Securities" in the Prospectus included therein. In giving such consent I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Yours faithfully,

/s/ Peter B. P. Bevan
---------------------
P.B. Bevan


                                                                     Exhibit 5.2

                         [LETTERHEAD OF BP AMERICA INC.]

November 3, 2003

BP Capital Markets America Inc.             BP Capital Markets p.l.c.
4101 Winfield Road                          Breakspear Park
Warrenville, Illinois 60555                 Breakspear Way
                                            Hernel Hempstead
                                            Herts HP2 4UL England

BP p.l.c.
1 St. James's Square
London SW1Y 4PD England

BP Canada Finance Company                   BP Australia Capital Markets Limited
240 - 4th Avenue, S.W.                      (CAN 006 507 768)
Calgary, Alberta                            Level 29, The Tower
Canada, T2P 4H4                             Melbourne Central
                                            360 Elizabeth Street
                                            Melbourne 3000 Australia

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of (i) guaranteed debt securities (the "Securities") of BP Capital Markets America Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"); (ii) the guaranteed debt securities (the "Affiliate Securities") of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, BP Capital Markets p.l.c., and BP Canada Finance Company (collectively, the "Affiliates", and each, an "Affiliate"), and (iii) the guarantees (the "Guarantees") of the Securities by BP p.l.c., an English corporation ("BP"); as counsel to the Company, and US counsel to BP and the Affiliates, I have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that, in my opinion:

(1) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(2) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Securities and of their issue and sale have been duly established in conformity with


the Indenture relating to the Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or breach of any agreement binding upon the Company, the terms of the Guarantees have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to the Securities, the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture relating to the Securities, the Guarantees have been endorsed on the Securities and executed as contemplated in the Indenture relating to the Securities, and the Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement:

(a) the Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, and

(b) the Guarantees will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of BP,

subject in each case to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor's rights and to general equity principles.

(3) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the Affiliate Securities and of their issue and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to the Affiliate Securities so as not to violate any applicable law or breach of any agreement binding upon the Affiliate issuing such Affiliate Securities, the terms of the Guarantees have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture relating to the Affiliate Securities, the Affiliate Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with such Indenture, the Guarantees have been endorsed on the Affiliate Securities and executed as contemplated in such Indenture, and the Affiliate Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and, only in the case of the Affiliate Securities of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited, the Indenture relating to the Affiliate Securities has been duly executed and delivered, the Affiliate Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Affiliate issuing such Affiliate Securities, subject, in each case to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor's rights and to general equity principles.

In rendering the opinions in paragraphs (2)(b) and (3) above, I have, with your approval,

(i) relied as to all matters governed by the laws of England upon the opinions of P.B.P. Bevan delivered to BP and BP Capital Markets
p.l.c. on this date,
(ii) relied as to all matters governed by the laws of Australia upon the opinion of R.W. Venner delivered to BP Capital Markets Australia Limited on this date,
(iii) relied as to all matters governed by the laws of Canada or Nova Scotia on the opinion of F. Swanson delivered to BP Canada Finance Company on this date.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to me under the heading "Validity of Securities" in the Prospectus. In giving such


consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Very truly yours,

  /s/ D.B. Pinkert
-------------------------
D.B. Pinkert
Assistant General Counsel
BP America Inc.


Exhibit 5.3

[LETTERHEAD OF BP CANADA ENERGY COMPANY]

November 3, 2003

BP Canada Finance Company
240 - 4th Avenue, S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 4H4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the "Registration Statement") of guaranteed debt securities (the "Securities") of BP Canada Finance Company, a Nova Scotia company (the "Company"), I have, as counsel to the Company, examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents and considered such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. All capitalized words herein not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings as set out in the Indenture among the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "Indenture").

Based on such examination, I am of the opinion that:

1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of Nova Scotia.

2. When:

(a) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act;

(b) the terms of the Securities and of their issue and sale have been duly established in conformity with such Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or breach of any agreement binding upon the Company;

(c) the terms of the Guarantee have been duly established in conformity with such Indenture;

(d) the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with such Indenture;

(e) the Guarantees have been endorsed on the Securities and executed as contemplated in such Indenture; and


- 2 -

(f) the Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement,

then the Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company in accordance with, and subject to, the terms thereof and of the Indenture.

My opinions expressed above are subject to the following:

(a) the effects of any applicable bankruptcy, winding-up, liquidation, insolvency, fraudulent preference, re-organization, moratorium or any other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies generally, including, without limitation, the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), Winding-Up and Restructuring Act (Canada) and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada);

(b) general principles of equity which may apply to any proceeding including, without limitation, the powers of the court to stay proceedings before them, to stay the execution of judgments and to relieve from the consequences of default and the discretion of a court to review or limit the recovery of legal fees or other expenses;

(c) equitable remedies, such as specific performance and injunctive relief, may only be available in the discretion of the court and accordingly may not be available as a remedy in any particular circumstance;

(d) claims becoming barred under laws regarding limitation of actions;

(e) the Judgment Interest Act (Alberta) limits interest on a judgment debt;

(f) the Currency Act (Canada) precludes a court in Canada from giving a judgment in any currency other than Canadian currency;

(g) I express no opinion on any provision governing the Securities which may provide or have the effect of providing for a higher rate of interest after than before default or for the payment of rates and/or fees which may exceed the "criminal interest rate" provisions of the Criminal Code (Canada);

(h) enforceability of rights of indemnity may be limited to the extent that any such indemnity is found by a court to indemnify a party against the consequences of an unlawful act or is found to constitute a penalty or be against public policy; and

(i) the application by a Canadian court of the laws of New York in respect of the Securities, as to which I express no opinion.

In rendering this opinion I have, with your approval, relied as to all matters governed by the laws of the United States or the State of New York upon the opinion of D.B. Pinkert, Assistant General Counsel to BP America Inc., delivered to the Company, among others, on this date. Except for reliance on the opinion noted above, this opinion is limited to the laws of the provinces of Nova Scotia and Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable therein. I wish to point


- 3 -

out that I am a member of the Law Society of Alberta and do not hold myself out as an expert in the laws of other provinces.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Yours truly,

BP CANADA ENERGY COMPANY

  /s/ Francine Swanson
----------------------
Francine Swanson, Q.C.
Senior Legal Counsel


Exhibit 5.4

[LETTERHEAD OF BP AUSTRALIA CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED]

November 3, 2003

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited
(ACN 006 507 768)
Level 29
The Tower
Melbourne Central
360 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne 3000
Victoria, Australia

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the "Registration Statement") of guaranteed debt securities (the "Securities") of BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (ACN 006 507 768), a limited liability corporation (the "Company"); as Managing Legal Adviser of the Company, I have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Upon the basis of such examination, I advise you that, in my opinion:

(1) The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia.

(2) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the Indenture relating to the Securities and the Guarantee has been duly executed and delivered, the terms of the Securities and of their issue and sale have been duly established in conformity with such Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law (including any prohibitions and restrictions on offers of securities under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) or breach of any agreement binding upon the Company, the terms of the Guarantee have been duly established in conformity with such Indenture, the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with such Indenture, the Guarantees have been endorsed on the Securities and executed as contemplated in such Indenture and the Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to the lapse of time, failure to take action, laws (including, without limitation, laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, administration, reorganisation and reconstruction) and defences generally affecting creditors' rights and equitable remedies.


The foregoing opinion is based on the laws of the State of Victoria and the Commonwealth of Australia in force on this date, and in rendering it I have, with your approval, relied as to all matters governed by the laws of the United States or the state of New York upon the opinion of D.B. Pinkert, Assistant General Counsel to BP America Inc. delivered to the Company, among others, on this date.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to me under the heading "Validity of Securities" in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Yours faithfully,

   /s/ R. W. Venner
------------------------------------
Managing Legal Adviser - Australasia


Exhibit 8.2

[LETTERHEAD OF SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP]

November 3, 2003

BP Capital Markets America Inc.,
4101 Winfield Road,
Warrenville, Illinois 60585.

BP Capital Markets p.l.c.,
Breakspear Park,
Breakspear Way,
Hemel Hampstead,
Herts, HP2 4UL,
England.

BP Canada Finance Company,
240 - 4th Avenue S.W.,
Calgary, Alberta,
Canada, T2P 4H4.

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (ACN 006 507 768), Level 29,
The Tower,
Melbourne Central,
360 Elizabeth Street,
Melbourne 3000,
Victoria,
Australia.

BP p.l.c.,
1 St. James's Square,
London, SW1Y 4PD
England.


BP Capital Markets America Inc.
BP Capital Markets p.l.c.
BP Canada Finance Company
BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (ACN 006 507 768) BP p.l.c. -2-

RE: BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and BP p.l.c. - Registration Statement on Form F-3

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as United States counsel to BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Capital Markets p.l.c., BP Canada Finance Company, BP Australia Capital Markets Limited (ACN 006 507 768) (the "Debt Issuers") and BP p.l.c. (the "Guarantor") in connection with the registration statement on Form F-3, filed by the Debt Issuers and the Guarantor (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of $9,147,000,000 aggregate amount of guaranteed debt securities of the Debt Issuers fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantor. We hereby confirm to you our opinion as set forth in the Registration Statement under the caption "Taxation" insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law.

We hereby consent to the use of our name and the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Very truly yours,

SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP


Exhibit 8.3

[LETTERHEAD OF BP CANADA ENERGY COMPANY]

November 3, 2003

BP Canada Finance Company
240 - 4th Avenue, S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 4H4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the "Registration Statement") of guaranteed debt securities (the "Securities") of BP Canada Finance Company, a Nova Scotia company (the "Company"), I have, as counsel to the Company, examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents and considered such questions of law as I have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In particular, I have relied on the advice of BP Canada Energy Company's tax department.

I have reviewed the subsection in the Registration Statement under the caption "Tax Considerations - Canadian Taxation" and hereby confirm that it is my opinion that the disclosure under such subsection is accurate as to matters of Canadian income tax law.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable therein and I do not express any opinion herein concerning the laws of any other jurisdiction.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Yours truly,

BP CANADA ENERGY COMPANY

  /s/ Francine Swanson
------------------------
Francine Swanson, Q.C.
Senior Legal Counsel
BP Canada Energy Company


Exhibit 8.4

[LETTERHEAD OF MALLESONS STEPHEN JAQUES]

November 3, 2003

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited
Level 29
The Tower
Melbourne Central
360 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia

Dear Sirs

BP Australia Capital Markets Limited - Registration Statement on Form F-3

We have acted as Australian counsel to BP Australia Capital Markets Limited in connection with the offer of Guaranteed Debt Securities of the Debt Issuers as described in the Registration Statement on Form F-3 ("Registration Statement") filed by BP Group on or about the date of this letter under Rule 462(b) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"). We confirm to you our opinion as set out in the Registration Statement under the caption "Taxation Considerations - Australian Taxation" in relation to matters of Australian tax law.

We consent to the use of our name and the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Yours faithfully

/s/ Mallesons Stephen Jaques


Exhibit 23.1

[LOGO OF ERNST & YOUNG]

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of BP p.l.c., BP Capital Markets America Inc., BP Canada Finance Company, BP Capital Markets
p.l.c. and BP Australia Capital Markets Limited and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 11, 2003 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of BP p.l.c. included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                        /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

London, England                         Ernst & Young LLP
3 November 2003


Exhibit 25.1


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   ----------

BP CAPITAL MARKETS AMERICA INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

DELAWARE                                                              74-3028746
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

4101 Winfield Road
Warrenville, Illinois                                                      60555
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                           GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)



GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

-2-

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001 in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 file din connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 28th day of October, 2003.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By     /s/James P. Freeman
   ---------------------------
       James P. Freeman
       Authorized Officer

-3-

Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

JPMorgan Chase Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business June 30, 2003, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                                       Dollar Amounts
                                      ASSETS                                            in Millions
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ..............................   $ 22,657
     Interest-bearing balances .......................................................     10,600
Securities:
Held to maturity securities ..........................................................        268
Available for sale securities ........................................................     76,771
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
     Federal funds sold in domestic offices ..........................................      3,844
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell .................................     86,290
Loans and lease financing receivables:
     Loans and leases held for sale ..................................................     31,108
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income ........................................   $166,046
     Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses .......................................      3,735
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance ..........................    162,311
Trading Assets .......................................................................    186,546
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) .............................      6,142
Other real estate owned ..............................................................        133
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ..................        696
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .........................        225
Intangible assets
     Goodwill ........................................................................      2,201
     Other Intangible assets .........................................................      3,058
Other assets .........................................................................     68,983
TOTAL ASSETS .........................................................................   $661,833
                                                                                         ========


                                   LIABILITIES

Deposits
     In domestic offices .............................................................   $189,571
     Noninterest-bearing .............................................................   $ 82,747
     Interest-bearing ................................................................    106,824
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries and IBF's ...................    125,990
    Noninterest-bearing ..............................................................   $  6,025
     Interest-bearing ................................................................    119,965
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
     Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .....................................      4,978
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..................................    114,181
Trading liabilities ..................................................................    129,299
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
     and obligations under capitalized leases) .......................................     10,186
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .............................        225
Subordinated notes and debentures ....................................................      8,202
Other liabilities ....................................................................     41,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES ....................................................................    624,084
Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries .......................................        104

                                  EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ........................................          0
Common stock .........................................................................      1,785
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) .............................     16,304
Retained earnings ....................................................................     18,426
Accumulated other comprehensive income ...............................................      1,130
Other equity capital components ......................................................          0
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .................................................................     37,645
                                                                                         --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, AND EQUITY CAPITAL .............................   $661,833
                                                                                         ========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the in- structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)
HANS W. BECHERER )
FRANK A. BENNACK, JR. )


Exhibit 25.2


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   ----------

BP CAPITAL MARKETS p.l.c.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

ENGLAND AND WALES                                                            N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

Breakspear Park
Breakspear Way
Hemel Hempstead
Herts, England                                                           HP2 4UL
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                           GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================


GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

-2-

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001 in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 file din connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 28th day of October, 2003.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By     /s/James P. Freeman
   ----------------------------
       James P. Freeman
       Authorized Officer

-3-

Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

JPMorgan Chase Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business June 30, 2003, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                                 Dollar Amounts
                                    ASSETS                                        in Millions
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ......................      $ 22,657
     Interest-bearing balances ...............................................        10,600
Securities:
Held to maturity securities ..................................................           268
Available for sale securities ................................................        76,771
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
     Federal funds sold in domestic offices ..................................         3,844
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell .........................        86,290
Loans and lease financing receivables:
     Loans and leases held for sale ..........................................        31,108
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income ................................      $166,046
     Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses ...............................         3,735
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance ..................       162,311
Trading Assets ...............................................................       186,546
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) .....................         6,142
Other real estate owned ......................................................           133
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ..........           696
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .................           225
Intangible assets
     Goodwill ................................................................         2,201
     Other Intangible assets .................................................         3,058
Other assets .................................................................        68,983
TOTAL ASSETS .................................................................      $661,833
                                                                                    ========


                                  LIABILITIES

Deposits
     In domestic offices .....................................................     $189,571
     Noninterest-bearing .....................................................     $ 82,747
     Interest-bearing ........................................................      106,824
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries and IBF's ...........      125,990
    Noninterest-bearing ......................................................     $  6,025
     Interest-bearing ........................................................      119,965
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
     Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .............................        4,978
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..........................      114,181
Trading liabilities ..........................................................      129,299
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
     and obligations under capitalized leases) ...............................       10,186
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .....................          225
Subordinated notes and debentures ............................................        8,202
Other liabilities ............................................................       41,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES ............................................................      624,084
Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries ...............................          104

                                 EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ................................            0
Common stock .................................................................        1,785
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) .....................       16,304
Retained earnings ............................................................       18,426
Accumulated other comprehensive income .......................................        1,130
Other equity capital components ..............................................            0
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .........................................................       37,645
                                                                                   --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, AND EQUITY CAPITAL .....................     $661,833
                                                                                   ========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the in- structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)
HANS W. BECHERER )
FRANK A. BENNACK, JR. )


Exhibit 25.3


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   ----------

BP CANADA FINANCE COMPANY
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

NOVA SCOTIA                                                                  N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

240-4th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada                                                                   T2P 4H4
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                           GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================


GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

-2-

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001 in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 file din connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 28th day of October, 2003.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By    /s/James P. Freeman
  ----------------------------
      James P. Freeman
      Authorized Officer

-3-

Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

JPMorgan Chase Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business June 30, 2003, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                               Dollar Amounts
                                       ASSETS                                   in Millions
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .....................     $ 22,657
     Interest-bearing balances ..............................................       10,600
Securities:
Held to maturity securities .................................................          268
Available for sale securities ...............................................       76,771
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
     Federal funds sold in domestic offices .................................        3,844
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell ........................       86,290
Loans and lease financing receivables:
     Loans and leases held for sale .........................................       31,108
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income ...............................     $166,046
     Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses ..............................        3,735
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance .................      162,311
Trading Assets ..............................................................      186,546
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ....................        6,142
Other real estate owned .....................................................          133
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies .........          696
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ................          225
Intangible assets
     Goodwill ...............................................................        2,201
     Other Intangible assets ................................................        3,058
Other assets ................................................................       68,983
TOTAL ASSETS ................................................................     $661,833
                                                                                  ========


                                         LIABILITIES

Deposits
     In domestic offices ....................................................     $189,571
     Noninterest-bearing ....................................................     $ 82,747
     Interest-bearing .......................................................      106,824
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries and IBF's ..........      125,990
    Noninterest-bearing .....................................................     $  6,025
     Interest-bearing .......................................................      119,965
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
     Federal funds purchased in domestic offices ............................        4,978
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .........................      114,181
Trading liabilities .........................................................      129,299
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
     and obligations under capitalized leases) ..............................       10,186
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ....................          225
Subordinated notes and debentures ...........................................        8,202
Other liabilities ...........................................................       41,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES ...........................................................      624,084
Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries ..............................          104

                                        EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ...............................            0
Common stock ................................................................        1,785
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) ....................       16,304
Retained earnings ...........................................................       18,426
Accumulated other comprehensive income ......................................        1,130
Other equity capital components .............................................            0
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ........................................................       37,645
                                                                                  --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, AND EQUITY CAPITAL ....................     $661,833
                                                                                  ========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the in- structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)
HANS W. BECHERER )
FRANK A. BENNACK, JR. )


Exhibit 25.4


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   ----------

BP AUSTRALIA CAPITAL MARKETS LIMITED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

AUSTRALIA                                                                    N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

Level 29, The Tower
Melbourne Central
360 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne 3000
Victoria, Australia
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                           GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================


GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

-2-

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001 in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 file din connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 28th day of October, 2003.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By     /s/James P. Freeman
   ---------------------------
       James P. Freeman
       Authorized Officer

-3-

Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

JPMorgan Chase Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business June 30, 2003, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                      Dollar Amounts
                     ASSETS                                             in Millions
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ............... $     22,657
     Interest-bearing balances ........................................       10,600
Securities:
Held to maturity securities ...........................................          268
Available for sale securities .........................................       76,771
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
     Federal funds sold in domestic offices ...........................        3,844
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell ..................       86,290
Loans and lease financing receivables:
     Loans and leases held for sale ...................................       31,108
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income ......................... $    166,046
     Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses ........................        3,735
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance ...........      162,311
Trading Assets ........................................................      186,546
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ..............        6,142
Other real estate owned ...............................................          133
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ...          696
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ..........          225
Intangible assets
     Goodwill .........................................................        2,201
     Other Intangible assets ..........................................        3,058
Other assets ..........................................................       68,983
TOTAL ASSETS .......................................................... $    661,833
                                                                        ============


                                      LIABILITIES

Deposits
     In domestic offices .....................................................  $189,571
     Noninterest-bearing .....................................................  $ 82,747
     Interest-bearing ........................................................   106,824
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries and IBF's ...........   125,990
   Noninterest-bearing .......................................................  $  6,025
     Interest-bearing ........................................................   119,965

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
     Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .............................     4,978
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..........................   114,181
Trading liabilities ..........................................................   129,299
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
     and obligations under capitalized leases) ...............................    10,186
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .....................       225
Subordinated notes and debentures ............................................     8,202
Other liabilities ............................................................    41,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES ............................................................   624,084
Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries ...............................       104

                                    EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ................................         0
Common stock .................................................................     1,785
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) .....................    16,304
Retained earnings ............................................................    18,426
Accumulated other comprehensive income .......................................     1,130
Other equity capital components ..............................................         0
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .........................................................    37,645
                                                                                --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, AND EQUITY CAPITAL .....................  $661,833
                                                                                ========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the in- structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)
HANS W. BECHERER )
FRANK A. BENNACK, JR. )


Exhibit 25.5


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549


FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

NEW YORK                                                              13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                         (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                      identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                         10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                               William H. McDavid
                                 General Counsel
                                 270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                               Tel: (212) 270-2611
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                   ----------

BP p.l.c.


(Exact name of guarantor as specified in its charter)

ENGLAND AND WALES                                                            N/A
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification No.)

1 St. James's Square
London, England                                                        SW1Y 4PD
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)

                           GUARANTEED DEBT SECURITIES
                       (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================


GENERAL

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

-2-

Item 16. List of Exhibits

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001 in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 file din connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference.)

5. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

8. Not applicable.

9. Not applicable.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 28th day of October, 2003.

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By     /s/James P. Freeman
   ---------------------------
       James P. Freeman
       Authorized Officer

-3-

Exhibit 7 to Form T-1

Bank Call Notice

RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

JPMorgan Chase Bank
of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System,

at the close of business June 30, 2003, in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                      Dollar Amounts
                                      ASSETS                            in Millions
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .................  $  22,657
     Interest-bearing balances ..........................................     10,600
Securities:
Held to maturity securities .............................................        268
Available for sale securities ...........................................     76,771
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell
     Federal funds sold in domestic offices .............................      3,844
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell ....................     86,290
Loans and lease financing receivables:
     Loans and leases held for sale .....................................     31,108
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income ...........................  $ 166,046
     Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses ..........................      3,735
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance .............    162,311
Trading Assets ..........................................................    186,546
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ................      6,142
Other real estate owned .................................................        133
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies .....        696
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ............        225
Intangible assets
     Goodwill ...........................................................      2,201
     Other Intangible assets ............................................      3,058
Other assets ............................................................     68,983
TOTAL ASSETS ............................................................  $ 661,833
                                                                           =========


                                      LIABILITIES

Deposits
     In domestic offices .....................................................  $189,571
     Noninterest-bearing .....................................................  $ 82,747
     Interest-bearing ........................................................   106,824
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries and IBF's ...........   125,990
   Noninterest-bearing .......................................................  $  6,025
     Interest-bearing ........................................................   119,965

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
     Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .............................     4,978
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..........................   114,181
Trading liabilities ..........................................................   129,299
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
     and obligations under capitalized leases) ...............................    10,186
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .....................       225
Subordinated notes and debentures ............................................     8,202
Other liabilities ............................................................    41,452
TOTAL LIABILITIES ............................................................   624,084
Minority Interest in consolidated subsidiaries ...............................       104

                                     EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus ................................         0
Common stock .................................................................     1,785
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) .....................    16,304
Retained earnings ............................................................    18,426
Accumulated other comprehensive income .......................................     1,130
Other equity capital components ..............................................         0
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL .........................................................    37,645
                                                                                --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST, AND EQUITY CAPITAL .....................  $661,833
                                                                                ========

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the in- structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.)
HANS W. BECHERER )
FRANK A. BENNACK, JR. )