SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

August 8, 2005

 


 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   001-06991   71-0415188

(State or other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

702 S.W. 8th Street

Bentonville, Arkansas 72716

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(479) 273-4000

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 



Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (the “Company”) and Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., Utendahl Capital Group, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., acting for themselves and as the representatives for the other underwriters named in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement (as defined below) (the “Underwriters”), have entered into a Pricing Agreement, dated August 8, 2005 (the “Pricing Agreement”), pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth therein, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from the Company, $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.75% Notes Due 2010 (the “Notes”). The Pricing Agreement incorporates by reference the terms and conditions of an Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and, as to the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Underwriters.

 

The Company and the Underwriters intend to consummate the sale and purchase of the Notes pursuant to the Pricing Agreement on August 15, 2005. The Notes will be sold to the public at an issue price of 99.872% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, which is an aggregate issue price of $798,976,000. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Notes, after the underwriting discount, but before transaction expenses of the sale of the Notes, will be $796,176,000.

 

The Notes constitute the Company’s newly created series of 4.75% Notes Due 2010 (the “Series”) and are senior, unsecured debt securities of the Company. The Series was created and established, and its terms and conditions were established, by action of the Company and an authorized officer of the Company pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the Notes are as set forth in the Indenture and in the form of Global Note (referred to below) that will represent the Notes.

 

The material terms of the Notes are described in (i) the prospectus supplement of the Company dated August 8, 2005, which relates to the offer and sale of the Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and supplements the Company’s prospectus dated July 19, 2005, which prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up to $5,000,000,000 of the Company’s debt securities (the “Prospectus”), and (ii) in the Prospectus. The Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus were filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on August 10, 2005 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) of the Commission promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes.

 

The Notes will be delivered in book-entry form only and will be represented by two global notes, one of which will be in the original principal amount of $500,000,000 and the other of which will be in the original principal amount of $300,000,000 (the “Global Notes”). Each of the Global Notes will be payable to CEDE & Co., as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company. The Global Notes will be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee.

 

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Filed as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K are (i) the Pricing Agreement, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement that was entered into by the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co. to establish the form of underwriting agreement to be entered into by the Company and the underwriters, and the provisions of which will be incorporated by reference into each pricing agreement entered into by the Company and the underwriters, in connection with underwritten offers and sales of the Company’s debt securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, (iii) the Indenture, (iv) the Series Terms Certificate that relates to the Series, that was executed in accordance with the Indenture and that evidences the establishment of the terms and conditions of the Series in accordance with the Indenture, (v) the form of the Global Notes and (vi) the opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP regarding the legality of the Notes.

 

The Notes are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-126512), which relates to the offer and sale on a delayed basis from time to time of $5,000,000,000 of the Company’s debt securities and which was declared effective by the Commission on July 19, 2005 (the “Registration Statement”). This Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes as described herein and to file with the Commission in connection with the Registration Statement the documents and instruments attached hereto as exhibits.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(c) Exhibits

 

1(a)   Pricing Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, between the Company and the Underwriters.
1(b)   Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, by and among the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
4(a)   Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005, between the Company and the Trustee.
4(b)   Series Terms Certificate for the 4.75% Notes Due 2010 of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
4(c)   Form of Global Note to represent the 4.75% Notes Due 2010 of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
5   Legality Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Dated: August 12, 2005

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

By:  

/s/ Thomas M. Schoewe


Name:   Thomas M. Schoewe
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number


 

Description


1(a)   Pricing Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., Utendahl Capital Group, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., acting for themselves and as the representatives for the other underwriters named in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement.
1(b)   Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, by and among Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
4(a)   Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005, by and between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee.
4(b)   Series Terms Certificate for the 4.75% Notes Due 2010 of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
4(c)   Form of Global Note to represent the 4.75% Notes Due 2010 of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
5   Legality Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP.

Exhibit 1(a)

 

PRICING AGREEMENT

 

August 8, 2005

 

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

61 Broadway, Suite 2924

New York, New York 10006

 

Utendahl Capital Group, LLC

30 Broad Street, 21st floor

New York, New York 10004

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

 

As Representatives of the several

Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

 

c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

 

Dear Sirs:

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company, on the one hand, and you, as parties which are signatories or deemed to be signatories to the Underwriting Agreement with respect to the issuance and sale of the Designated Securities contemplated hereby, on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the “Designated Securities”).

 

Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty that refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined) and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities that are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the

 

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Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

 

A supplement to the Prospectus, relating to the Designated Securities, in all material respects in the form heretofore delivered to you, is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

By:  

/s/ Steven R. Zielske


Name:   Steven R. Zielske
Title:   Vice President

 

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Accepted as of the date hereof:

 

SAMUEL A. RAMIREZ & COMPANY, INC.

By:  

/s/ Lawrence F. Goldman


Name:   Lawrence F. Goldman
Title:   Managing Director

UTENDAHL CAPITAL GROUP, LLC

By:  

/s/ Carlos A. Sanchez


Name:   Carlos A. Sanchez
Title:   Managing Director
   

/s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.


    (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

 

  For themselves and as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter


  

Principal Amount of
Designated
Securities

to be Purchased


Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

   $ 184,000,000

Utendahl Capital Group, LLC

     184,000,000

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

     92,000,000

Blaylock & Company, Inc.

     68,000,000

Guzman & Company

     68,000,000

Jackson Securities, LLC

     68,000,000

Loop Capital Markets, LLC

     68,000,000

Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc.

     68,000,000
    

TOTAL

   $ 800,000,000
    


SCHEDULE II

 

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

 

4.75% Notes due 2010 (the “Notes”).

 

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:

 

$800,000,000.

 

PRICE TO PUBLIC:

 

99.872% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 15, 2005.

 

PURCHASE PRICE TO UNDERWRITERS:

 

99.522% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 15, 2005; and the selling concession shall be 0.200% and the reallowance concession shall be 0.100%, in each case of the principal amount of the Notes.

 

INDENTURE:

 

Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee.

 

MATURITY:

 

August 15, 2010.

 

INTEREST RATE:

 

4.75% from and including August 15, 2005.

 

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:

 

February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2006.

 

INTEREST PAYMENT RECORD DATES:

 

February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on February 1, 2006.

 

Schedule II - Page 1


REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

 

No mandatory redemption provisions.

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, as set forth under the caption “Description of the Notes—Redemption upon Tax Event” in the Prospectus Supplement dated August 8, 2005 relating to the Notes.

 

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:

 

None.

 

OTHER PROVISIONS:

 

As set forth in the Prospectus Supplement dated August 8, 2005 (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the Prospectus dated July 19, 2005 (the “Prospectus”).

 

TIME OF DELIVERY:

 

9.30 a.m. (New York City time) on August 15, 2005.

 

CLOSING LOCATION:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

 

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

61 Broadway, Suite 2924

New York, New York 10006

 

Utendahl Capital Group, LLC

30 Broad Street, 21st floor

New York, New York 10004

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

 

Schedule II - Page 2


ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES:

 

Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.

61 Broadway, Suite 2924

New York, New York 10006

Attention: Jerry Auld, with a copy to each of Larry Goldman and Santiago Abuaf

Fax: (212) 248-3856

 

Utendahl Capital Group, LLC

30 Broad Street, 21st floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Legal Department

Fax: (212) 968-1378

 

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

85 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Registration Department

Fax: (212) 902-9020

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

  (A) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that, in relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), it has not made and will not make an offer of Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Notes which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of Notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time: (i) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; (ii) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year, (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or (iii) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the Company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

Schedule II - Page 3


For the purposes of the foregoing provision, the term an “offer of Notes to the public” means, in relation to any Notes in any Relevant Member State, the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information of the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for Notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the term “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

 

  (B) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that: (i) (1) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (2) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) by the Company; (ii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and (iii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

 

  (C) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold by means of any document other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent, or in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder.

 

Schedule II - Page 4


  (D) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that it has not circulated or distributed and will not circulate or distribute the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Notes, and it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell the Notes, and has not made and will not make an invitation for subscription or purchase of the Notes, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than under circumstances in which such offer, sale or invitation does not constitute an offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Notes to the public in Singapore.

 

  (E) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any Notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

 

  (F) Each of the Underwriters hereby represents and agrees that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the Notes directly or indirectly or distribute the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus or any other offering material relating to the Notes, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on the Company except as set forth in this Pricing Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement.

 

  (G) The Underwriters hereby severally confirm, and the Company hereby acknowledges, that the sole information furnished in writing to the Company by, or on behalf of, the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Prospectus Supplement is as follows:

 

(1) the names of the Underwriters on the front and back cover pages of the Prospectus Supplement;

 

(2) the fourth paragraph of text on page S-2 of the Prospectus Supplement concerning stabilization, overallotment and related activities by the Underwriters;

 

Schedule II - Page 5


(3) the first sentence of the third paragraph of text under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus Supplement concerning certain terms of the offering by the Underwriters; and

 

(4) the fourth paragraph of text under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus Supplement concerning stabilization, overallotment and related activities by the Underwriters.

 

Schedule II - Page 6

Exhibit 1(b)

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

August 8, 2005

 

The Underwriters Listed on Schedule I

to the applicable Pricing Agreement (as defined herein)

 

Dear Sirs:

 

From time to time WAL-MART STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each, a “Pricing Agreement”) in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the “Underwriters” with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the “Securities”) specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the “Designated Securities”).

 

The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities shall be as specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement and in or pursuant to the indenture (the “Indenture”) identified in such Pricing Agreement.

 

1. Introduction . Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the applicable Pricing Agreement will act as representatives (the “Representatives”). The term “Representatives” also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the Securities or as an obligation of the Underwriter to purchase the Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify (a) in Schedule I thereto (i) the names of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities and (ii) the principal amount of Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter at the Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) and (b) in Schedule II thereto (i) the title or titles of the Designated Securities, (ii) the aggregate principal amount or amounts of the Designated Securities, (iii) the price or prices of the Designated Securities to the public, (iv) the purchase price or prices of the Designated Securities to the Underwriters, and, to the extent applicable, any selling concession or concessions and reallowance concession or concessions applicable to the Underwriters and dealers, as the case may be, (v) specified funds, if not immediately available funds, for payment of the purchase price


for the Designated Securities, (vi) the title of the Indenture under which the Designated Securities are being issued, (vii) the maturity or maturities of the Designated Securities, (viii) the interest rate or rates of the Designated Securities, (ix) the interest payment dates of the Designated Securities, (x) the record dates of the Designated Securities, (xi) the redemption provisions, if any, of the Designated Securities, (xii) the sinking fund provisions, if any, of the Designated Securities, (xiii) the Time of Delivery, (xiv) the closing location with respect to the closing of the sale of the Designated Securities pursuant to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, (xv) the name or names and address or addresses of the Representatives of the Underwriters and (xvi) such other terms, conditions or other provisions that supplement, amend or modify this Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities or the Indenture. Each Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.

 

2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

 

(a) A registration statement in respect of the Securities (File No. 333-126512) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”); such registration statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to such registration statement but including all documents incorporated by reference in each prospectus contained therein, delivered to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters has been declared effective by the Commission in such form; no other document with respect to such registration statement or document incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), being hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”); the various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits thereto (other than the Form T-1 of J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association), the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement at the time such part of the registration statement became effective and any related abbreviated registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement became effective, being hereinafter called the “Registration Statement”; each prospectus relating to the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under the

 

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Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference to the “Prospectus as amended or supplemented” shall be deemed to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such filing;

 

(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however , that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto conform, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective dates as to the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however , that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in

 

3


conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, results of operations or internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement;

 

(e) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not individually or in the aggregate materially affect the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries in any material respect;

 

(f) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, service marks and trade names necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, service marks or trade names that, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially adversely affect the conduct of the business, operations, financial condition or income of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise;

 

(g) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, or

 

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is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization;

 

(h) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares, except that the Company holds approximately 62.40% of issued and outstanding shares of Wal-Mart de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. as of the date hereof, except for 122 shares of the capital stock of Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust owned by persons other than the Company, which shares in the aggregate do not constitute more than 4.00% of the issued and outstanding shares of Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust, and except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

 

(i) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, and, when such Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement, such Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, such Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(j) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, each as amended to date, or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of

 

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or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or each Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except (i) such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act, (ii) such, if any, as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery, obtained under securities laws and regulations of the European Union or any foreign country to which the Company is, has or will become subject due to actions taken, or omitted, by the Company or by the Underwriters with the knowledge of the Company and (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

 

(k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others; and

 

(l) Ernst & Young LLP, which has audited and reported on certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof, is, to the best knowledge of the Company, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Rule 101 of the Code of Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its interpretations and rulings thereunder.

 

3. Offer and Sale of Designated Securities . Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

 

4. Payment and Settlement for Designated Securities . Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the applicable Pricing Agreement, in definitive form to the extent practicable, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such name as the Representatives may request upon at least twenty-four hours’ prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by one or more wire transfers in immediately available funds (or such other funds as specified in the applicable Pricing Agreement), payable to the order of the Company, all at the place and time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the “Time of Delivery” for such Designated Securities.

 

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5. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities:

 

(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation to the Designated Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of the applicable Pricing Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities that shall be disapproved by the Representatives promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Designated Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives promptly after it receives notice thereof of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information relating to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or the offer and sale of the Designated Securities; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

 

(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Designated Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Designated Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction (it being recognized that, solely for purposes of this Section

 

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5(b), the Company shall not be required by the Representatives, without its consent, to subject itself to any securities laws or regulations of the European Union or any country to which the Company was not subject immediately prior to the offering and sale of such Designated Securities);

 

(c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Designated Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and, upon their request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

(d) To make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

 

(e) During the period beginning from the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for the Designated Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company that mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and that are substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior written consent of the Representatives;

 

(f) To furnish to the holders of the Designated Securities, upon such holders’ request, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by an independent registered public accounting firm) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail;

 

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(g) During a period of five years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to the Representatives copies of all periodic or current reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to shareholders, and deliver to the Representatives (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any periodic or current reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which the Designated Securities or any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request (such financial information and statements to be on a consolidated basis in reports furnished to its shareholders generally or to the Commission); and

 

(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Designated Securities pursuant to this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement in the manner specified in the Prospectus, including in any supplement thereto, relating to the offer and sale of such Designated Securities.

 

6. Payment of Expenses . The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof (including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys); (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities; (v) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vi) the fees and expenses of any indenture trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any indenture trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; and (vii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 6. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 6, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities under the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be subject, in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in such Pricing Agreement are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the

 

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Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives’ reasonable satisfaction;

 

(b) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the Company, the validity of the Indenture, such Designated Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

 

(c) Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:

 

(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable;

 

(iii) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and, in respect of matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company, provided that such counsel shall state that such counsel believes that both the Representatives and such counsel is justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates and the Representatives are entitled to rely upon such opinions);

 

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(iv) Each significant subsidiary of the Company (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act) incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization; and all of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each such subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and (except for directors’ qualifying shares, except for 122 shares of the capital stock of Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust owned by persons other than the Company, which shares in the aggregate do not constitute more than 4.00% of the issued and outstanding shares of Wal-Mart Real Estate Business Trust, and except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and, in respect of matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that such counsel believes that both the Representatives and such counsel is justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates and the Representatives are entitled to rely upon such opinions);

 

(v) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge and other than as set forth in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others;

 

(vi) This Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

 

(vii) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(viii) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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(ix) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as then amended, or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties;

 

(x) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the applicable Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

 

(xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to believe that any of such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement that became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents that were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading;

 

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(xii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), complied, as of their respective effective or issue dates, as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on such dates; such counsel has no reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its issue date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein as to which such counsel need express no opinion), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; and such counsel does not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented that are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required;

 

(xiii) The statements made in any tax consequences or tax considerations sections in the Prospectus, and in any amendment or supplement thereto, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of matters of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects; and

 

(xiv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and the Prospectus, together with all amendments and supplements thereto, relating to the Designated Securities was filed within the prescribed time periods pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations under the Act and, to such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued or proceeding for the purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission;

 

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(d) At the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives a “comfort” letter or letters dated such Time of Delivery as to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

 

(e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and (ii) since the dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

 

(f) On or after the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities (including, without limitation, any guaranteed debt securities) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

(g) On or after the date of the applicable Pricing Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv), in the judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and

 

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(h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at, or prior to, such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in Sections 7(a) and 7(e) and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities or included in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities or included in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of any Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

 

(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities or included in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the Statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any

 

15


Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities or included in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Designated Securities, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such Section. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other shall reasonable costs of investigation.

 

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under Section 8(c), then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection with the statement or omissions that resulted in such losses claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative

 

16


fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this Section 8(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Designated Securities and are not joint.

 

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director and officer of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

 

9. Defaulting Underwriters . (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Designated Securities that it has agreed to purchase under the applicable Pricing Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein and therein. In the event that, within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter, the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the

 

17


Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 9 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to the applicable Pricing Agreement.

 

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the applicable Pricing Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Designated Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Designated Securities or a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the aggregate principal amount or Designated Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, as referred to in Section 9(b), or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in Section 9(b) to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the applicable Pricing Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

10. Survival . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company or any director or officer or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Designated Securities with respect to which such indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements are made or given.

 

11. Termination . If the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason the Designated Securities are not

 

18


delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof.

 

12. Authority of Representatives . In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such purpose in the applicable Pricing Agreement.

 

13. Nature of Underwriters’ Obligations . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Designated Securities pursuant to this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. The Company agrees that it shall not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

14. Notices . All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail, air courier or facsimile transmission (which shall be effective upon confirmation by telephone) to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to the General Counsel of the Company; and, if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, air courier or facsimile transmission (which shall be effective upon confirmation by telephone) to the address or addresses of the Representative or Representatives, as the case may be, as set forth in the Pricing Agreement, provided, however , that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail telex or facsimile transmission (which shall be effective upon confirmation by telephone) to such Underwriter at its address which, if not set forth in the applicable Pricing Agreement, will be supplied to the Company by the Representative or Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon the addressee’s receipt thereof.

 

15. Persons Entitled to the Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the

 

19


Company and, to the extent provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the directors and officers of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective successors and assigns (including, in the case of natural persons, their respective heirs, executors and administrators), and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or the applicable Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

16. Time of Essence . Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein, “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

 

17. Definitive Agreement . This Agreement and the applicable Pricing Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

 

18. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND THE APPLICABLE PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

19. Waiver of Jury Trial . THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE APPLICABLE PRICING AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

20. Counterparts . This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

20


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us five counterparts hereof.

 

Very truly yours,

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

By:  

/s/ Steven R. Zielske


Name:   Steven R. Zielske
Title:   Vice President

 

21


Accepted as of the date hereof (with respect to, but subject to the terms of, Pricing Agreements to which the undersigned is or is deemed to be a signatory):

 

 

/s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.


(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

 

22


ANNEX I

 

FORM OF PRICING AGREEMENT

 

             , 200_

 

 
 
As Representative[s] of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/o    
     
     

 

Dear Sirs:

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005, (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company, on the one hand, and you, as parties which are signatories or deemed to be signatories to the Underwriting Agreement with respect to the issuance and sale of the Designated Securities contemplated hereby, on the other hand, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the “Designated Securities”).

 

Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty that refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined) and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities that are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

 

A supplement to the Prospectus, relating to the Designated Securities, in all material respects in the form heretofore delivered to you, is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.

 

ANNEX I - Page 1


Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

 

 

ANNEX I - Page 2


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us three counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company.

 

Very truly yours,

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

By:

 

 


Name:    
Title:    

 

 

ANNEX I - Page 3


Accepted as of the date hereof:

By:

   
    (Goldman Sachs & Co.)

 

 

ANNEX I - Page 4


SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter


  

Principal Amount of

Designated Securities

to be Purchased


     $  
    

TOTAL

   $  
    


SCHEDULE II

 

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

 

             due              (the “Designated Securities”).

 

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:

 

             of the Designated Securities.

 

PRICE TO PUBLIC:

 

     % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, from                      .

 

PURCHASE PRICE TO UNDERWRITERS:

 

     % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, from                      ; and the selling concession shall be      % and the reallowance concession shall be      %, in each case of the principal amount of the Designated Securities.

 

INDENTURE:

 

Indenture dated as of              , 200_, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee.

 

MATURITY:

 

                         .

 

INTEREST RATE:

 

     % from and including the original issue date.

 

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:

 

             and              of each year, commencing on              .

 

INTEREST PAYMENT RECORD DATES:

 

             and              of each year, commencing on              .

 

Schedule II - Page 1


REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

 

                             .

 

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:

 

                             .

 

OTHER PROVISIONS:

 

                             .

 

TIME OF DELIVERY:

 

             a.m.,                             

 

CLOSING LOCATION:

 

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVE[S]:

 

     
     
     

 

ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES:

 

     
     
     

 

OTHER MATTERS:

 

     
     
     

 

Schedule II - Page 2

Exhibit 4(a)

 


 

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

and

 

J. P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Indenture Trustee

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of July 19, 2005

 



CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA Section

  

Indenture Section


310    8.08
      (a)(1)    8.09
      (a)(2)    8.09
      (a)(3)    N.A.
      (a)(4)    N.A.
      (a)(5)    8.09, 8.10, 8.11
      (b)    1.06, 8.08, 8.09, 8.10, 8.11
      (c)    N.A.
311(a)    8.13
      (b)    8.13
      (c)    N.A.
312    6.01
      (a)    6.01
      (b)    6.01
      (c)    6.01
313    6.02
313(a)    6.02
      (b)(1)    N.A.
      (b)(2)    6.02
      (c)    1.06, 6.02
      (d)    6.02
314(a)    1.02, 1.06, 6.03
      (b)    N.A.
      (c)(1)    1.02
      (c)(2)    1.02
      (c)(3)    N.A.
      (d)    N.A.
      (e)    1.02
      (f)    N.A.
315(a)    8.01(i)
      (b)    1.06, 6.02, 8.02
      (c)    8.01(ii)
      (d)    8.01(iii)
      (e)    7.14
316(a)(1)(A)    7.02, 7.12
      (a)(1)(B)    7.13
      (a)(2)    N.A.
      (b)    7.08
317(a)(1)    7.03
      (a)(2)    7.04
      (b)    5.03
318(a)    1.08
      (c)    1.08

* This cross-reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and other Provisions of General Application

 

SECTION 1.01.

   Definitions    1
     “Act”    1
     “Affiliate”    1
     “Authenticating Agent”    1
     “Authorized Newspaper”    2
     “Authorized Officer”    2
     “Board of Directors”    2
     “Board Resolution”    2
     “Business Day”    2
     “Clearstream”    2
     “Commission”    2
     “Company”    2
     “Company Request” and “Company Order”    2
     “corporation”    2
     “Defaulted Interest”    2
     “Definitive Security”    2
     “Depositary”    2
     “Designated Currency”    2
     “Dollar” or “$”    2
     “Euroclear”    2
     “Event of Default”    2
     “Exchange Act”    2
     “Exchange Rate”    3
     “Exchange Rate Agent”    3
     “Federal Bankruptcy Code”    3
     “Foreign Currency”    3
     “Global Exchange Date”    3
     “Global Security”    3
     “Government Securities”    3
     “Holder”    3
     “incorporated provision”    3
     “interest”    3
     “Interest Payment Date”    3
     “Maturity”    3
     “Officers’ Certificate”    3
     “Opinion of Counsel”    3
     “Original Issue Discount Security”    3
     “Outstanding”    3
     “Participant”    4
     “Paying Agent”    4
     “Person”    4
     “Place of Payment”    4
     “Predecessor Security”    4
     “Principal Corporate Trust Office”    4
     “Principal Paying Agent”    4

1 This Table of Contents is not part of the Indenture.

 

ii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

     “Redemption Date”    4
     “Redemption Price”    4
     “Registered Security”    4
     “Registrar”    4
     “Registry”    5
     “Regular Record Date”    5
     “Repurchase Date”    5
     “Repurchase Price”    5
     “Responsible Officer”    5
     “Security” or “Securities”    5
     “Series”    5
     “Series Terms Certificate”    5
     “Special Record Date”    5
     “Stated Maturity”    5
     “Subsidiary”    5
     “Supplemental Indenture”    5
     “Trustee”    5
     “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA”    5
     “United States”    5
     “United States Alien”    5
     “Vice President”    6

SECTION 1.02.

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions    6

SECTION 1.03.

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee    6

SECTION 1.04.

   Acts of Holders    6

SECTION 1.05.

   Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company    8

SECTION 1.06.

   Notices to Holders; Waiver    8

SECTION 1.07.

   Language of Notices, etc.    8

SECTION 1.08.

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act    8

SECTION 1.09.

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents    8

SECTION 1.10.

   Successors and Assigns.    8

SECTION 1.11.

   Severability Clause.    8

SECTION 1.12.

   Benefits of Indenture    8

SECTION 1.13.

   Legal Holidays    9

SECTION 1.14.

   Governing Law    9

SECTION 1.15

   Submission to Jurisdiction    9
ARTICLE TWO
Forms of the Securities

SECTION 2.01.

   Forms Generally.    10

SECTION 2.02.

   Form of Securities    10

SECTION 2.03.

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    10

SECTION 2.04.

   Global Securities    10
ARTICLE THREE
The Securities

SECTION 3.01.

   Terms of Securities    11

SECTION 3.02.

   Denominations    14

SECTION 3.03.

   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating    14

SECTION 3.04.

   Registrar, Paying Agent and Depositary    15

SECTION 3.05.

   Temporary Securities    16

 

iii


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

SECTION 3.06.

   Transfer and Exchange    17

SECTION 3.07.

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities    18

SECTION 3.08.

   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved    19

SECTION 3.09.

   Persons Deemed Owners    19

SECTION 3.10.

   Cancellation.    20

SECTION 3.11.

   Computation of Interest    20

SECTION 3.12.

   Currency Indemnity    20

SECTION 3.13.

   CUSIP Numbers    20

SECTION 3.14.

   Book-Entry Only System    20
ARTICLE FOUR
Redemption of Securities

SECTION 4.01.

   Applicability of Article.    21

SECTION 4.02.

   Election To Redeem; Notice To Trustee    21

SECTION 4.03.

   Selection by Registrar of Securities To Be Redeemed    21

SECTION 4.04.

   Notice of Redemption    21

SECTION 4.05.

   Deposit of Redemption Price    22

SECTION 4.06.

   Securities Payable on Redemption Date    22

SECTION 4.07.

   Securities Redeemed in Part.    22

SECTION 4.08.

   Redemption Suspended During Event of Default    22
ARTICLE FIVE
Covenants

SECTION 5.01.

   Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.    23

SECTION 5.02.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency    23

SECTION 5.03.

   Money for Security Payments To Be Held in Trust    23

SECTION 5.04.

   Additional Amounts    24

SECTION 5.05.

   Statement as to Compliance    24

SECTION 5.06.

   Maintenance of Corporate Existence, Rights and Franchises    25
ARTICLE SIX
Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Trustee and the Company

SECTION 6.01.

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders    25

SECTION 6.02.

   Reports, Records and Filings by the Trustee    26

SECTION 6.03.

   Reports by the Company    26
ARTICLE SEVEN
Events of Default and Remedies

SECTION 7.01.

   Events of Default    27

SECTION 7.02.

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment    28

SECTION 7.03.

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee    28

SECTION 7.04.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    29

SECTION 7.05.

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities    29

SECTION 7.06.

   Application of Money Collected    30

SECTION 7.07.

   Limitation on Suits    30

SECTION 7.08.

   Unconditional Right of Holders To Receive Principal, Premium and Interest    30

 

iv


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

SECTION 7.09.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies    30

SECTION 7.10.

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative    31

SECTION 7.11.

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver    31

SECTION 7.12.

   Control by Holders    31

SECTION 7.13.

   Waiver of Past Defaults    31

SECTION 7.14.

   Undertaking for Costs    31

SECTION 7.15.

   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    31
ARTICLE EIGHT
The Trustee

SECTION 8.01.

   Certain Duties and Responsibilities    32

SECTION 8.02.

   Notice of Default    32

SECTION 8.03.

   Certain Rights of Trustee    33

SECTION 8.04.

   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities    33

SECTION 8.05.

   May Hold Securities.    34

SECTION 8.06.

   Money Held in Trust    34

SECTION 8.07.

   Compensation and Reimbursement    34

SECTION 8.08.

   Disqualification; Conflicting Interests    34

SECTION 8.09.

   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility    34

SECTION 8.10.

   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee    35

SECTION 8.11.

   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee    36

SECTION 8.12.

   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee    37

SECTION 8.13.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company    37

SECTION 8.14.

   Appointment of Authenticating Agents    37
ARTICLE NINE
Supplemental Indentures

SECTION 9.01.

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders    38

SECTION 9.02.

   Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders    39

SECTION 9.03.

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures    39

SECTION 9.04.

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures    39

SECTION 9.05.

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act    40

SECTION 9.06.

   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures    40
ARTICLE TEN
Amalgamation, Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

SECTION 10.01.

   Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms    40

SECTION 10.02

   Successor Corporation Substituted    40
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Satisfaction and Discharge

SECTION 11.01.

   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.    41

SECTION 11.02.

   Legal Defeasance and Discharge    41

SECTION 11.03.

   Covenant Defeasance    41

SECTION 11.04.

   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance    41

 

v


Table of Contents

(continued)

 

          Page

SECTION 11.05.

   Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.    42

SECTION 11.06.

   Repayment to the Company    43

SECTION 11.07.

   Reinstatement    43

SECTION 11.08.

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture    43

SECTION 11.09.

   Application of Trust Money    44
ARTICLE TWELVE
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

SECTION 12.01.

   Exemption from Individual Liability.    44
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Sinking Funds

SECTION 13.01.

   Applicability of Article.    45

SECTION 13.02.

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities    45

SECTION 13.03.

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund    45
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
Meetings of Holders of Securities

SECTION 14.01.

   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called    45

SECTION 14.02.

   Call, Notice and Place of Meetings    45

SECTION 14.03.

   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings    46

SECTION 14.04.

   Quorum; Action    46

SECTION 14.05.

   Determination of Voting Rights’ conduct and Adjournment of Meetings    46

SECTION 14.06

   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings    47
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
Miscellaneous

SECTION 15.01.

   Counterparts    47

 

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THIS INDENTURE, dated as of July 19, 2005, is made by and between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), which has its principal executive office at 702 S.W. Eighth Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72716, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, at its corporate trust office at 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 2600, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company deems it necessary from time to time to issue its unsecured notes, debentures, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that shall be issued in one or more Series (hereinafter called the “Securities”) as hereinafter set forth. To provide for the issuance and governance of the Securities, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Company has taken all actions necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company.

 

For and in consideration of the premises set forth in this Indenture and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities and of any Series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and Other

Provisions of General Application

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires or any Security issued hereunder shall expressly define a term defined below in a different manner:

 

(i) the term “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more Supplemental Indentures entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with reference and respect to the Securities of any Series, the particular terms and conditions of that Series as established in accordance with Section 3.01;

 

(ii) all references in this Indenture to designated “Articles,” “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this Indenture. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture;

 

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

 

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

 

(v) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as may be otherwise expressly provided herein or in one or more Supplemental Indentures, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the date of such computation.

 

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized, pursuant to Section 8.14, to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

 

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“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

“Authorized Officer” means each of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Controller and the Treasurer of the Company.

 

“Board of Directors” means, the board of directors of the Company, the executive committee of the board of directors of the Company or any other committee of the board of directors of the Company or any other group of the Company’s directors, which other committee or group has been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors or to which the Company’s board of directors has delegated the authority, either generally or specifically, to make a decision on the matter in question or to bind the Company as to the matter in question.

 

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

 

“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banking institutions in the City of New York, New York and any Place of Payment for the Securities are open for business.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or its successors.

 

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

 

“Company” has the meaning assigned to it in the first paragraph of this instrument until any successor entity or other business organization shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean any such successor entity or other business organization to the Person named in the first paragraph of this instrument.

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“corporation” includes corporations, companies limited by shares, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, associations, joint-stock companies, real estate investment trusts, statutory trusts and business trusts.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

 

“Definitive Security” means one or more certificated Securities registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 3.06.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, the Person initially designated as the depositary for the Securities of that Series by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until a successor Depositary shall have been appointed for the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.06, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is appointed as a depositary with respect to the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.06.

 

“Designated Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12.

 

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

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

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

 

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“Exchange Rate” means, with respect to any Securities of a Series that are denominated in the currency of one country, a common currency or a composite currency, but are required to be paid in, or, at the option of the Holders of the Securities, will be payable in, the currency of another country, a common currency or a composite currency, the rate at which the currency, the common currency or the composite currency of denomination will be converted into the currency, the common currency or the composite currency of payment or determined in accordance with the terms of those Securities.

 

“Exchange Rate Agent” means an agent appointed to determine the Exchange Rate if it is not expressly stated in the terms of any Security and to calculate the amounts payable under a Security if payable in the currency of a country, a common currency or a composite currency other than the currency in which that Security is denominated.

 

“Federal Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, as amended and as codified in Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time hereafter, or any successor federal law.

 

“Foreign Currency” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States of America, including any common currency and composite currency.

 

“Global Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.05(b)(ii).

 

“Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of the Securities of a Series in accordance with Section 3.03.

 

“Government Securities” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America, (ii) obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America, and (iii) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (i) or (ii) above or in any specific principal or interest payments due in respect thereof.

 

“Holder” means, with respect to a Registered Security, a Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Registry.

 

“incorporated provision” has the meaning specified in Section 1.08.

 

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

 

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

 

“Maturity” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of that Security (or any installment of principal) becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, pursuant to any redemption right, pursuant to any put or repurchase right or otherwise.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall contain the statements set forth in Section 1.02, if applicable.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of the Company, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall contain the statements set forth in Section 1.02, if applicable.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable on the Stated Maturity to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02.

 

“Outstanding” means, with respect to all Securities issued pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any Series, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) such Securities in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 3.07 of this Indenture;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given or made any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02, and Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the securities of any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who maintains an account with the Depositary, respectively (and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream) as a participant in the Depositary.

 

“Paying Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, company limited by shares, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, real estate investment trust, statutory trust, business trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series, the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Sections 3.04 and 5.02, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that Series are payable as specified in accordance with the terms of the Securities of that Series.

 

“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Principal 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 of execution of this instrument is at the address set forth in the first paragraph of this instrument.

 

“Principal Paying Agent” means the Paying Agent, if any, designated as such by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Indenture.

 

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

 

“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the price specified in, or determined in accordance with the terms of, such Security at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to such Security and this Indenture.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 that is registered in the Registry.

 

“Registrar” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

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“Registry” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, the date, if any, specified in such Security as the “Regular Record Date” or as the “Record Date.”

 

“Repurchase Date” means, with respect to any Security to be repurchased, the date fixed for such repurchase pursuant to the terms of that Security and this Indenture.

 

“Repurchase Price” means, with respect to any Security to be repurchased pursuant to the terms of that Security and this Indenture, the price specified in, or determined in accordance with the terms of, such Security at which it is to be repurchased pursuant to the terms of that Security and this Indenture.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any Security or Securities, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any Series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

“Series” means a series of Securities designated or established pursuant to Section 3.01, all of which Securities in such series shall have like terms and conditions (other than the principal amount thereof).

 

“Series Terms Certificate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

“Special Record Date” means the date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.08 for the payment of any Defaulted Interest.

 

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

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, a corporation, limited liability company, company limited by shares, trust, real estate investment trust, statutory trust, business trust, partnership, joint stock company, or unincorporated association, at least a majority of the outstanding voting equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company. For purposes of this definition, the term “voting equity interests” means equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managers, trustees or other Persons in which the power to manage the entity issuing such equity interests is vested, irrespective of whether or not equity interests of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the occurrence of any contingency.

 

“Supplemental Indenture” means an indenture supplemental to this Indenture, which supplements, amends or modifies this Indenture and is entered into by the parties to this Indenture as provided in Article Nine.

 

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

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, and, to the extent required by law, as amended.

 

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

 

“United States Alien” means, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual, a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership, one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a nonresident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.02. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition provided for in this Indenture (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture or a certificate provided pursuant to TIA §314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA §314(e) and shall include:

 

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

 

(ii) 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;

 

(iii) a statement which, 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 condition or covenant has been complied with; and

 

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

 

SECTION 1.03. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. (a) 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.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 1.04. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture or in the Securities of any Series to be given or taken by Holders or Holders of the Securities of that Series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing or, if such is authorized by the vote of the Holders at a meeting of the Holders duly called in accordance with the provisions of Article Fourteen, a record of the actions taken by the Holders at that meeting. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act”

 

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of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or any such Person being a Holder of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 8.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 14.06.

 

(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 the certificate of any 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 or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same. 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 that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Registry.

 

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

 

(e) For purposes of determining the principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any Series the Holders of which are required, requested or permitted to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other Act under the Indenture, each Security denominated in a Foreign Currency or composite currency shall be deemed to have the principal amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount of such Security in the currency in which such Security is denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the date such Act is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, by Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series (or, if there is no such rate on such date, such rate on the date determined as specified as contemplated in Section 3.01).

 

(f) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other Act, or to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such Series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Securities of such Series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.01 prior to the commencement of such solicitation.

 

(g) 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. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

 

(h) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 or pursuant to one or more Supplemental Indentures, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

(i) The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction,

 

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notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

 

SECTION 1.05. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

 

(i) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Principal Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trustee Administration Department; or

 

(ii) the Company by any Holder or by the Trustee shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, by certified or registered mail, with the postage prepaid, to the Company, to the attention of its Treasurer, or by an overnight delivery service that provides for confirmed receipts of delivery addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

SECTION 1.06. Notices to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities affected by such event, at the Holder’s address as it appears in the Registry, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. 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 to Holders of Registered Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made at a time and in a manner approved by the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of Registered Securities shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities.

 

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.

 

SECTION 1.07. Language of Notices, etc. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

SECTION 1.08. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the TIA, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

 

SECTION 1.09. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

SECTION 1.10. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 1.11. Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities of any Series 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 1.12. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 1.13. Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any Series of Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Repurchase Date or Redemption Date of any Security or any date on which any Defaulted Interest is proposed to be paid shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provisions of the Securities or this Indenture) payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Repurchase Date or Redemption Date or on the date on which Defaulted Interest is proposed to be paid, and, if such payment is made, no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Repurchase Date or Redemption Date, or date on which Defaulted Interest is proposed to be paid, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 1.14. Governing Law. This Indenture and each of the Securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 1.15. Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto agrees that any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, may be instituted in any of the courts of the State of New York and the United States District Courts, in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. In addition, each such party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each such party hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. Each such party agrees that final judgment in any suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in any court to whose jurisdiction it is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

For purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any of the foregoing courts, the Company irrevocably designates CT Corporation System, whose address on the date hereof is 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, U.S.A., to receive for and on behalf of it and its property service of copies of the summons and complaints and any other process, by personal service or by mail, which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding. Such service may be made by mailing or delivering a copy of such process to such agent at the above address. In the event that such agent for service of process resigns or ceases to serve as the agent of the Company, the Company agrees to give notice (as provided herein) to the Trustee of the name and address of any new agent for service of process with respect to it appointed hereunder. The Company agrees that the failure of its agent for service of process to forward such service to it shall not impair or affect the validity of such service or of any judgment based thereof.

 

If, despite the foregoing, in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any of the aforesaid courts, there is for any reason no such agent for service of process for each of the parties available to be served, then to the extent that service of process by mail shall then be permitted by applicable law, each of such parties further irrevocably consents to the service of process on it in any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court by the mailing thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its address given in or pursuant to Section 1.05 hereof.

 

Nothing herein contained shall preclude any party from effecting service of process in any lawful manner or from bringing any suit, action or proceeding in respect of this Indenture in any other state, country or jurisdiction.

 

To the extent that the Company may in any jurisdiction claim for itself or its property any immunity from suit, execution, attachment (whether in aid of execution, before judgment or otherwise) or other legal process and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed to itself or its property such immunity (whether or not claimed), the Company irrevocably agrees not to claim and irrevocably waives such immunity to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

 

Forms of the Securities

 

SECTION 2.01. Forms Generally. (a) All Securities shall have such appropriate terms, 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 and the Depositary, if any, for Securities of a Series or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Authorized Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any Series of Securities, the Securities of each Series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons.

 

(c) The Securities shall be printed, typewritten, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on any type of paper, as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

SECTION 2.02. Form of Securities. Each Security in a Series shall be in a form approved by or pursuant to a Supplemental Indenture or a Board Resolution or by an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers pursuant to authority delegated to that Authorized Officer or those Authorized Officers pursuant to a Board Resolution. If the form of the Securities of a Series is not prescribed by the Supplemental Indenture relating to that Series, upon or prior to the delivery to the Trustee for authentication of the first Security to be issued of that Series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of the Security for that Series has been approved, which Board Resolution shall have attached thereto a copy of the form of the Security approved, or a certificate of an Authorized Officer, attested to by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, certifying that an Authorized Officer, acting pursuant to delegated authority from the Board of Directors, approved the form of the Securities of that Series and attaching a copy of the form of the Security approved and a true and complete copy of the resolutions of the Board of Directors delegating authority to that Authorized Officer to approve the form of Securities. If temporary Securities of any Series are issued in global form as permitted by Section 3.05, the form thereof also shall be established as provided in this Section 2.02.

 

SECTION 2.03. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificates of authentication on the Securities issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in substantially the following form:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association, as Trustee,

By  

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

SECTION 2.04. Global Securities. If Securities of a Series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, then, notwithstanding clause (xiv) of Section 3.01 and the provisions of Section 3.02, such Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Securities of that Series as shall be specified in such Global Security and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased to reflect exchanges or partial redemptions or increased to reflect the issuance of additional uncertificated Securities of that Series. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities of a Series represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.03 or Section 3.05.

 

Global Securities shall be issued in registered form and in either temporary or permanent form.

 

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ARTICLE THREE

 

The Securities

 

SECTION 3.01. Terms of Securities. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Company may issue up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities from time to time authorized by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions of the Company.

 

The Securities of the Company may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of each Series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to that Series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time or times of the authentication and delivery or Maturity of the Securities of such Series. Unless expressly provided otherwise with respect to a Series, not all Securities of a Series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of that Series or in this Indenture, a Series may be reopened and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a Series may be increased and additional Securities of that Series may be issued up to a maximum aggregate principal amount authorized for that Series, as that maximum aggregate principal amount may be increased from time to time. All Securities of a Series shall rank equally among themselves and with the other existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

 

The Company may from time to time establish one or more Series pursuant to this Indenture. A Series shall be established by (1) the execution and delivery of a Supplemental Indenture or (2) the adoption of a Board Resolution by the Board of Directors establishing that Series. The specific terms and conditions of the Securities of any Series established shall be determined and set either (1) by the Supplemental Indenture that establishes the Series, (2) if the Series is established by a Supplemental Indenture, to the extent that those specific terms and conditions are not determined and set by that Supplemental Indenture, by the adoption of a Board Resolution or Board Resolutions by the Board of Directors and, to the extent that those specific terms and conditions are not determined and set by the Supplemental Indenture or by the adoption of a Board Resolution or Board Resolutions by the Board of Directors or by a combination of those means of determining and setting the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series, by the action of one or more Authorized Officers pursuant to authority to determine and set the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series specifically delegated by the Board of Directors to that Authorized Officer or those Authorized Officers or (3) if the Series is established by action of the Board of Directors, to the extent that those specific terms and conditions are not set by the adoption of a Board Resolution or Board Resolutions by the Board of Directors, by the action of one or more Authorized Officers pursuant to authority to determine and set the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series specifically delegated by the Board of Directors to that Authorized Officer or those Authorized Officers. If the specific terms and specific conditions of the Securities of a Series are determined and set by action of the Board of Directors, that action shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. If the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of a Series established by action of the Board of Directors are determined and set by an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers pursuant to authority delegated to them by the Board of Directors, that action shall be evidenced by a certificate executed by the Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers determining and setting those terms and conditions, which certificate shall also be attested to by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company (a “Series Terms Certificate”). If the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of a Series established by action of the Board of Directors are determined and set by an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers pursuant to authority delegated to them by the Board of Directors and a Series Terms Certificate has been delivered in connection with the establishment of the terms and conditions of the Securities of a Series and the issuance of the Securities of that Series, an additional Series Term Certificate shall not be required to be delivered in connection with any subsequent issuance of additional Securities of that Series.

 

Upon a Series being established and the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series being determined and set otherwise than through a Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate of the Company signed by an Authorized Officer and attested to by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company certifying that the Series has been established and the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of the Series have been determined and set and attaching to that Officers’ Certificate (1) the Board Resolution establishing the Series, (2) the Board Resolution or Board Resolutions determining and setting the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series or providing for the delegation of authority to one or more Authorized Officers to determine and set the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series and (3) if an Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers has determined and set the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of that Series, attaching the Series Terms Certificate evidencing the action of that Authorized Officer or

 

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those Authorized Officers. The Officers’ Certificate of the Company that is required to be delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, may be provided before or at the time of the consummation of the first issuance of Securities of the Series to which the Officers’ Certificate relates.

 

Each Board Resolution of the Company determining and setting the specific terms and conditions of the Securities of a Series and each Series Terms Certificate shall set forth therein, and each Supplemental Indenture setting forth the terms and conditions of the Securities of a Series, shall set forth the following information as to the terms and conditions of that Series:

 

(i) the title of the Securities of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the Series from all other Securities);

 

(ii) if any limit has been established upon the aggregate principal amount or aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities of the Series that 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 that Series pursuant to this Article Three or Sections 4.07 or 9.06), the maximum aggregate principal amount or aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities of the Series that 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 that Series pursuant to this Article Three or Section 4.07 or 9.06);

 

(iii) if any priority of payment is set for the Securities of the Series, the nature and terms of that priority of payment set for the Securities of the Series;

 

(iv) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of the Series or each installment of the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

(v) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, or the method or methods by which the rate or rates, if any, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest may be determined, the date or dates from which any interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any accrued interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;

 

(vi) if any of the Securities of the Series will be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities, the terms on which such Securities of the Series will be issued as Original Discount Securities and the portion of the principal amount as shown on the face of those Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 or at the time of any prepayment of those Securities or the method or methods for determining that portion of that principal amount payable at any of those times;

 

(vii) if the Company will have the right to prepay the Securities of the Series in whole or in part, the terms on which the Company may prepay the Securities of the Series in whole or in part, the time or times at which any such prepayment may be made, whether the prepayment may be made in whole or may be made in part from time to time and the terms and conditions on which such prepayment may be made, including the obligation to pay any premium, any break funding costs or any make-whole amount;

 

(viii) if any Securities of the Series will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, the extent to which any of the Securities of the Series will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities, and the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent Global Security will be paid, whether or not consistent with Section 3.05 or 3.06;

 

(ix) the office or offices or agency where, subject to Sections 3.04 and 5.02, the Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

 

(x) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Sections 3.04 and 5.02, the principal of and premium, if any and interest, if any, on Securities of the Series shall be payable;

 

(xi) if the Company will have any right to redeem or repurchase the Securities of the Series, in whole or in part, at its option, the terms of the right or rights of the Company to redeem or repurchase the

 

12


Securities of the Series, in whole or in part, at its option, the time or times or the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, or the method or methods for determining the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the Series may be redeemed or repurchased by the Company at its option;

 

(xii) if the Company will be obligated to redeem or repurchase any Securities of the Series, the terms upon which the Company will be obligated to repurchase or redeem Securities of the Series, whether pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or without the benefit of any sinking fund or analogous provisions, stating whether each such redemption will be at the option of a Holder of any Security of a Series or upon the occurrence of any stated event or satisfaction of any condition or conditions, the time or times or the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, or the method or methods for determining the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, repaid or repurchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(xiii) if any Securities of the Series will be convertible into any other securities of the Company or exchangeable for other securities of the Company or any other Person, the terms on which any Securities of the Series will be convertible into any other securities of the Company or exchangeable for other securities of the Company or any other Person, the conversion or exchange price or prices or conversion or exchange ratio or ratios, when such conversion or exchange may occur, or the method or methods of determining that price or prices or that ratio or ratios and the other terms and conditions, including anti-dilution terms, upon which any conversion or exchange may occur;

 

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

 

(xv) the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, interest on and any other amounts owing with respect to the Securities of that Series will be made, which may be in Dollars, a Foreign Currency or composite currency, any currency or currencies, if any, in which, at the election of each of the Holders thereof, payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, the interest and any other amounts owing with respect to Registered Securities, may be payable which may be in Dollars, Foreign Currency or composite currency, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made, the Exchange Rate for calculating the amount of the payment in a currency other than the currency or currencies in which the Securities of that Series are denominated or, if the Exchange Rate is not expressly stated in the Securities of that Series, the method or methods for determining the Exchange Rate, the Exchange Rate Agent, and if any payment may be made in a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

 

(xvi) if the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, or any interest on Securities of the Series may be determined with reference to an index, the method or methods by which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(xvii) if the Securities of the Series will be subordinated in right of payment to other Securities or other indebtedness of the Company, the terms and conditions of that subordination;

 

(xviii) if additional amounts will be payable to Holders of Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 5.04, the terms (other than the terms expressly set forth in Section 5.04) upon, and conditions under, which such additional amounts will be payable;

 

(xix) if any Securities of the Series will be issued on a book-entry only basis, any appropriate information with respect to book-entry procedures to the extent that the book-entry procedures relating to those Securities of the Series will deviate from customary book-entry procedures in effect at the time at which the terms and conditions of the Securities of the Series are established;

 

(xx) any addition to or change in the Events of Default or covenants of the Company set forth in this Indenture pertaining to the Securities of the Series;

 

(xxi) whether the Securities of the Series will be subject to the defeasance provisions of Article Eleven or the terms, if any, on which they may otherwise be defeasible; and

 

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(xxii) any other terms and conditions of the Series (which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

 

All Securities of any one Series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Officers’ Certificate of the Company relating to the Series provided to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.01 and set forth or determined in the manner provided in that Officers’ Certificate or in this Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture.

 

Securities of any particular Series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different Redemption Dates or Repurchase Dates and may be denominated in different currencies or payable in different currencies.

 

SECTION 3.02. Denominations. The Securities of each Series shall be issuable in such form and denominations determined as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any specification with respect to the Securities of any Series, the Registered Securities of each Series shall be issuable only as Securities without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 3.03. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

(a) The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one of its Authorized Officers or such other officer or agent to which the authority to execute such Securities is delegated by the Board of Directors, and by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signatures of any or all of these officers or agents 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 or authorized agents of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that one or more of those individuals have ceased to hold a proper office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices or, in the case of an agent, continue to have proper authority at the date of such Securities.

 

(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any Series, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order, for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of the Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Securities as this Indenture provides and not otherwise.

 

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a Series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and a Company Order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Global Securities with respect to that Series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in permanent or temporary form, and such Global Securities (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series to be represented by one or more Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, and (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions.

 

Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

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 Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

 

(a) an Officers’ Certificate required pursuant to Section 3.01;

 

(b) a Company Order of the Company; and

 

(c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 1.02 and stating that:

 

(i) the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

14


(ii) the terms of such Securities or the manner of determining such terms, have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(iii) 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 against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity; and

 

(iv) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate any Securities if the issuance of the Securities pursuant to the Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all Securities of a Series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Board Resolution of the Company or Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 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 and such documents reasonably contemplate the issuance of all Securities of such Series; provided that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such Series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate or other certificates delivered pursuant to Sections 1.02 and 3.01 shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

A Company Order, Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution or Supplemental Indenture delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph may provide that Securities that are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time in the aggregate principal amount, if any, established for such Series pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order upon telephonic (promptly confirmed in writing), electronic or written order of Persons designated in that Company Order, Officers’ Certificate, Supplemental Indenture or Board Resolution and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with that Company Order, Officers’ Certificate, Supplemental Indenture or Board Resolution, those terms and conditions of said Securities as are specified in that Company Order, Officers’ Certificate, Supplemental Indenture or Board Resolution.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, and unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any temporary Global Security referred to in Section 3.05 shall be dated as of the date of original issuance of that Security.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture endorsed thereon 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 is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security or portion thereof shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.10 together with a written statement (that need not comply with Section 1.02 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security or portion thereof has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 3.04. Registrar, Paying Agent and Depositary. (a) The Company will maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where Securities issued by it may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented and surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities issued by the Company (“Registry”) and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and

 

15


one or more additional paying agents for the Securities of each Series issued by it. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar, and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar with respect to the Securities of any Series that it issues without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent for the affected Series of Securities, the Trustee shall act as that Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

(b) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent for any Series, each such Paying Agent shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of that Series all money held by it as Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities issued by the Company.

 

(c) If the Securities of a Series are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that Series in Dublin, Ireland or any other required city located outside the United States, so long as the Securities of that Series are listed on such exchange, and subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for Securities of that Series located outside the United States an office for registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of that Series.

 

SECTION 3.05. Temporary Securities. (a) If the Definitive Securities of any Series are to be printed on paper with engraved borders or engraved, then pending the preparation of Definitive Securities of that Series, the Company may execute, and upon the receipt of a Company Order and the receipt of the certifications and opinions required under Sections 3.01 and 3.03, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denominations, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

  (b) Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01:

 

(i) Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, each of which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs, if temporary Securities of any Series are issued, the Company will cause Definitive Securities of such Series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities, 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 a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of such Series of authorized denominations. 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.

 

(ii) Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Security as the “Global Exchange Date” (the “Global Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, or, if the Trustee appoints an Authenticating Agent pursuant to Section 8.14, to any such Authenticating Agent, Definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Global Exchange Date, such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for Definitive Securities without charge and the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same Series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged.

 

(iii) Upon any exchange of a portion of any such temporary Global Security, such temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee or any such Authenticating Agent, as the case may be, to

 

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reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon its remaining principal amount shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged. Until so exchanged in full, such temporary Global Security shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such Series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 3.06. Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any Series at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of an authentication order, 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 denomination or denominations, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. At the option of the Holder, Securities of any Series (other than a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same Series of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose. Upon receipt at such office or agency of an appropriate request for exchange, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of an authentication order from the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the exchanging Holder, one or more new Securities of the appropriate Series of any authorized denomination or denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal amount to the Securities surrendered for exchange. Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed, by the Holder thereof or the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

(b) Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the individual Securities represented by the Global Security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the Depositary. The institutional accounts to be credited may be designated by the underwriter, underwriters, agent or agents for such Securities or, if the Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company, by the Company. Upon receipt of any payment in respect of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee will immediately credit the institutional accounts with amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Security as shown in the records of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a Series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such Series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(d) If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a Series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such Series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such Series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03(b), the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

(e) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that Securities of any Series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Global Securities. In such event, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities of such Series, will authenticate and deliver, certificated Securities of such Series (“Definitive Securities”) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Global Securities representing Securities of such Series in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their benefit interests in a Global Security if (a) a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the Company’s receipt of notice described in Section 3.06(d) above or (b) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee has received a request from the Depositary for the issuance of Definitive Securities representing the Securities of such Series.

 

(f) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a Series of Securities, the Depositary for such Series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such Series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Definitive Securities of such Series on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and

 

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deliver, without service charge: (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new definitive Security or Securities of the same Series of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

(g) Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Definitive Securities, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Definitive Securities exchanged for portions of a Global Security pursuant to this Section 3.06 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect Participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

(h) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security or to a Holder of a Definitive Security for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.05 and 4.07).

 

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

 

(j) The Registrar shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption under Section 4.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Security between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(k) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Security, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities, payment of the redemption price of the Securities and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(l) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Securities and Definitive Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.03.

 

SECTION 3.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Registrar, or if the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) there is delivered to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.07, 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, 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 the same Series duly issued hereunder.

 

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The provisions of this Section 3.07 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the placement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 3.08. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. (a) Unless otherwise provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series as established in accordance with Section 3.01, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall unless otherwise provided in that Security 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 that interest payment. At the option of the Company, payment of interest on any Registered Security may be made by check in the currency designated for such payment pursuant to the terms of such Registered Security mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Registry or by wire transfer to an account in such currency designated by such Person in writing not later than 10 days prior to the date of such payment.

 

(b) Any interest on any Registered Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of such Person having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or clause (ii) below.

 

(i) The Company may elect to make payments of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any such Registered Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which Special Record Date 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 Registered Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which Special Record Date shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears in the Registry, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 3.08.

 

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities with respect to which there exists such default may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.08, 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, that were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 3.09. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

(a) Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Registered Security, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium, if any, and, subject to Section 3.08, interest on such Security, and for all purposes whatsoever, whether or not that Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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(b) None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Registrar will have the responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest, and they shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting on any such information provided by the Depositary.

 

SECTION 3.10. Cancellation. Unless otherwise provided with respect to a Series of Securities, all Securities surrendered for payment, registration of transfer, exchange, repayment or redemption shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so delivered or surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, 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 or such Securities. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with the Trustee’s customary procedures, and the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company.

 

SECTION 3.11. Computation of Interest. Interest on the Securities of each Series shall be computed as shall be specified in the terms of those Securities as established in accordance with Section 3.01; provided, however, that if the terms of any Securities do not provide a method for computation of interest with respect thereto, interest on that Security shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 3.12. Currency Indemnity. The Company may provide, pursuant to Section 3.01, for the Securities of any Series that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law and except as may otherwise be specified as contemplated in Section 3.01, (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any Series in a Foreign Currency, composite currency or Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other currency, whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise, be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other currency, after any premium and cost of exchange, in the country of issue of the Designated Currency in the case of Foreign Currency or Dollars or in the international banking community in the case of a composite currency on the Business Day immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 3.13. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN,” or “Common Code” numbers or other Euroclear or Clearstream reference numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use such numbers in notices of redemption or other related material as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice or other related material may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or other related material and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any such reference number.

 

SECTION 3.14. Book-Entry Only System. If made a part of the terms of the Securities of a Series in accordance with Section 3.01 with respect to Securities represented by a Global Security, Securities of a Series may be issued initially in book-entry only form and, if issued in such form, shall be represented by one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or other depositary designated with respect thereto. So long as such book-entry only system of registration is in effect, (a) Securities of a Series so issued in book-entry only form will not be issuable in the form of or exchangeable for Securities in certificated or definitive registered form, (b) the records of the Depositary or such other depositary will be determinative for all purposes as to the beneficial owners

 

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of the Securities of that Series and (c) neither the Company, the Trustee nor any Paying Agent, or Registrar for such Securities will have any responsibility or liability for (i) any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of owners of beneficial interests in the Securities of that Series, (ii) maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests, (iii) receipt of notices, voting and requesting or directing the Trustee to take, or not to take, or consenting to, certain actions hereunder, or (iv) the record and procedures of the Depositary or such other depositary, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

Redemption of Securities

 

SECTION 4.01. Applicability of Article. Securities of any Series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, except as otherwise set forth in the terms of the Securities of that Series as established in accordance with Section 3.01, in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 4.02. Election To Redeem; Notice To Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemable at the option of the Company shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee and the Registrar 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 (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of those Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of those Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

SECTION 4.03. Selection by Trustee of Securities To Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any Series with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of that Series having such terms not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Securities of such Series of a denomination equal to or larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such Series. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of the Securities of any Series so selected for partial redemption, the portions of the principal of Securities of that Series so selected for partial redemption shall be, in the case of Registered Securities, equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount of any such Security that remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such Series.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 4.04. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.06, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(i) the Redemption Date;

 

(ii) the Redemption Price;

 

(iii) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any Series having the same terms are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

 

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

 

(v) the place or places where such Securities, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

(vi) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

 

(vii) the CUSIP number or the Euroclear or the Clearstream reference numbers (or any other number used by a Depository to identify such Securities), if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 1.06 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, on Company Request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 4.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. At or prior to the opening of business on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited 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 5.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all the Securities that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 4.06. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities 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) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Securities for redemption in accordance with said notice, those Securities surrendered shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such on the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.08.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by such Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

SECTION 4.07. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Registrar so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder of such Security or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same Series and Stated Maturity, containing identical terms and conditions, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

SECTION 4.08. Redemption Suspended During Event of Default. The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities (unless all Securities then Outstanding are to be redeemed) or commence the giving of any notice of redemption of Securities during the continuance of any Event of Default known to the Trustee, except that where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities, provided funds are deposited with it for such purpose. Any moneys theretofore or thereafter received by the Trustee shall, during the continuance of such Event of Default, be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders and applied in the manner set forth in Section 7.06; provided, however, that in case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided herein or otherwise cured, such moneys shall thereafter be held and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

 

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ARTICLE FIVE

 

Covenants

 

SECTION 5.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such Series in accordance with the terms of the Securities of that Series, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Principal, premium if any, or interest payable with respect to any Securities shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent holds, or if the Company acts as its own Paying Agent, the Company holds in a segregated account in trust for the Holders due such payment, on the date money sufficient to pay all principal and premium, if any and interest then due. Unless otherwise set forth in the terms of Securities of Series established in accordance with Section 3.01, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

 

SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. In addition to the offices and agencies maintained pursuant to Section 3.04, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any Series of Securities as to which it issues Securities, an office or agency where Securities of any Series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that Series and this Indenture may be served. Each such office may be the office of any Paying Agent appointed by the Company. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands where Securities of that Series, if they are convertible or exchangeable, may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, 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 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 of such purposes specified above in this Section. 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 5.03. Money for Security Payments To Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent for any Series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such Series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable sufficient to pay the principal, premium 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.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any Series of Securities, it will, at or prior to the opening of business on each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such Series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable sufficient to pay the principal, premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, 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) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of that Series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

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(ii) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such Series) in the making of any payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that Series; and

 

(iii) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

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 payments 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, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any Series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of that Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company with respect to that Security for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; 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 an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, that 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.

 

SECTION 5.04. Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a Series provide for the payment of additional amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of any Series the additional amounts as provided in the terms of the Securities of that Series. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any Series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any Series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of additional amounts, if applicable, in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

If the Securities of a Series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to 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 premium, if any, is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, and premium, if any, or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’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 such payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that Series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that Series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that Series. 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 Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or reasonable expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

 

SECTION 5.05. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate (that need not comply with Section 1.02) (provided, however, that one of the signatories of that Officers’ Certificate shall be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer) stating, as to each signer thereof, that:

 

(i) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture and under the terms of the Securities has been made under his supervision; and

 

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(ii) to the best of each signer’s knowledge, based on such review, (a) the Company has fulfilled all of its obligations and complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and under the terms of the Securities throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, condition or covenant specifying each such default known to the signer and the nature and status thereof, and (b) no event has occurred and is continuing that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, or if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying such event known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

For purposes of this Section 5.05, compliance or default shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided for herein.

 

SECTION 5.06. Maintenance of Corporate Existence, Rights and Franchises. So long as any of the Securities shall be Outstanding, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights and franchises to carry on its business; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 5.06 shall (i) require the Company to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders, (ii) prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company, or any conveyance or transfer of its property and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, permitted by Article Ten, or (iii) prevent the liquidation or dissolution of the Company after any conveyance or transfer of its property and assets substantially as an entirety to any person permitted by Article Ten.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

Holders’ Lists and Reports by the Trustee and the Company

 

SECTION 6.01. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders; Communications Between Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders of the Securities of each Series issued hereunder and shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a) with respect to each Series of Securities issued hereunder. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause the Registrar (if other than the Company) to furnish, to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities of that Series, and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA §312(a) with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in this Section 6.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

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

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.01(a); or

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of Securities of such Series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.01(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of a Security of such Series or all Holders of Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.01(a), a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such

 

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request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless, within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of Securities of such Series or all Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders of Securities with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise, the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent or any Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 6.01 or TIA §312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under this Section 6.01 or TIA §312(b).

 

(d) Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA §312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of any Series issued hereunder. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA §312(c), and the Trustee shall comply with TIA §312(b) in connection with any such communication.

 

SECTION 6.02. Reports, Records and Filings by the Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee shall, within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 2003, mail to each Holder reports concerning the Trustee and its action under the Indenture as may be required pursuant to Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. The Trustee shall comply with TIA §313(b)(2) and shall transmit by mail all reports as required by TIA §313(c). The Trustee shall also comply with the other provisions of Section 313 of the TIA. Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted by mail (1) to all Holders of Registered Securities, as their names and addresses appear in the Registry, and (2) except in the cases of reports under Section 313(b)(2) of the TIA, to each Holder of a Security of any Series whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.01. A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed, and also with the Commission in accordance with TIA §313(d). The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any securities exchange.

 

(b) The Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall be responsible for (a) obtaining from Holders all Internal Revenue Service forms (and similar forms under applicable state, local, and foreign tax law) required under applicable U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign tax law in order to establish exemptions from or reductions in withholding taxes, (b) preparing, filing with the applicable taxing authority, and (to the extent required under applicable tax law) furnishing Holders with copies of, all tax reports or statements with respect to interest or principal payments on, or redemptions of, Securities which are required to be prepared, filed, and furnished under applicable U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign tax law, and (c) withholding and paying over to the applicable taxing authorities any tax withholdings that are required to be made under such applicable tax law.

 

(c) The Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, shall maintain all appropriate records documenting compliance with such requirements until such time as all applicable periods of limitation for assessing or collecting any taxes or penalties for failure to comply fully with such requirements have expired, and shall make such records available, on written request, to the Company or its authorized representative within a reasonable period of time after receipt of such request.

 

SECTION 6.03. Reports by the Company. The Company will:

 

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company 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) that the Company is then required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange

 

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Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of those sections of the Exchange Act, then the Company will 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 that 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;

 

(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(c) transmit by mail to Holders of Securities, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 6.02(a), 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 pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.03 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Events of Default and Remedies

 

SECTION 7.01. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” with respect to any Series of Securities, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless it is either inapplicable to a particular Series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the Supplemental Indenture, the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate under which such Series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for that Series:

 

(i) the Company fails to pay any interest upon any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and such failure continues for a period of 30 days; or

 

(ii) the Company fails to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or

 

(iii) with respect to the Securities of that Series, the Company fails to perform, or a breach occurs as to any covenant or warranty it is obligated to perform or made by the Company in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that Series (other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the performance of which or a breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or that has expressly been included in this Indenture by means of a Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), and continuance of such failure or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or 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

 

(iv) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises granting relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, adjudging the Company, a bankrupt, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State, or foreign, bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, custodian, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of substantially all of its properties, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(v) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the consent of the Company to the institution of bankruptcy proceedings against it, or the filing by the

 

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Company of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal, State or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, or the consent by the Company to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, custodian, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of substantially all of its properties; or

 

(vi) any other event or occurrence that is designated to be an Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series in the Supplemental Indenture, Board Resolution or Resolutions or Series Terms Certificate that establishes or evidences the terms of the Securities of that Series.

 

SECTION 7.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(iv) or (v) with respect to the Company) with respect to any Series of Securities for which there are Securities Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then, and in every such case, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such Series (or, if the Securities of that Series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in, or determined in accordance with, the terms of that Series) to be immediately due and payable, by giving a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration, such amount, together with accrued interest thereof, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(iv) or (v) occurs with respect to the Company and is continuing, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Outstanding Securities of all Series shall automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

 

At any time after an 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 such Series by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences, and any Event of Default giving rise to such acceleration shall not be deemed to have occurred, if:

 

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

 

(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of such Series,

 

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

 

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

 

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Registrar, any Paying Agent, and their agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07; and

 

(ii) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of Securities of that Series that have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.13.

 

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

 

SECTION 7.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants, that if:

 

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

 

(ii) default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of any Series at the Maturity thereof,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security of that Series, the whole amount then due and payable on any Security of that Series for principal, premium, if any, and

 

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interest, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be lawful, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor by the terms of any Security of that Series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07.

 

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, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of 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 7.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of any Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal, (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the portion of the stated principal of the Original Issue Discount Securities as may be provided in the terms thereof) premium, if any, and interest due and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding;

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and

 

(iii) unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, to vote on behalf of the Holders of the Securities in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other person performing similar functions;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 7.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or under the Securities of any Series, may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such Series 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 and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such Series in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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SECTION 7.06. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee with respect to a Series of Securities 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, premium, if any, or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that Series, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.07 with respect to the Securities of that Series;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that Series for principal, premium, if any, and interest 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 Securities of that Series, for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively. The Holders of each Series of Securities denominated in any composite currency or a Foreign Currency shall be entitled to receive a ratable portion of the amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount Outstanding of that Series of Securities and matured but unpaid interest on such Series of Securities in the currency in that Series of Securities denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the Business Day immediately preceding the date of payment; and

 

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

 

SECTION 7.07. 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:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) 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;

 

(iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(v) 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 such Series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such Series 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 Holders of Securities of such Series or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other 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 the Holders of Securities of such Series.

 

SECTION 7.08. 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, that is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and, subject to Section 3.08, interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security or, in the case of redemption or repurchase on the Redemption Date or Repurchase Date and to institute suit for the enforcement of such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 7.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

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SECTION 7.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.07, 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 7.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall 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 7.12. 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:

 

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

 

(ii) the Trustee shall not determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction;

 

(iii) subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, 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; and

 

(iv) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

SECTION 7.13. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of 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 and its consequences, except a default not theretofore cured:

 

(i) in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such Series; or

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 7.14. 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, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 7.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of Securities for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in that Security (or, in the case of redemption or repurchase, on or after the Redemption Date or Repurchase Date).

 

SECTION 7.15. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company 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

 

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benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture. The Company (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 EIGHT

 

The Trustee

 

SECTION 8.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (i) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities:

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) In case an Event of Default with respect to any Series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to such Series, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

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

 

(a) this Section 8.01(iii) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 8.01(i);

 

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

 

(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to Securities of such Series; and

 

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

 

(iv) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 8.01.

 

SECTION 8.02. Notice of Default. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such Series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 6.02(a) notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless

 

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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, 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 and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such Series. For the purpose of this Section 8.02, the term “default,” with respect to Securities of any Series, means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such Series.

 

SECTION 8.03. Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.01:

 

(i) 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, Security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(ii) any request or direction of the Board of Directors referred to herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(iii) 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;

 

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

 

(v) 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 that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(vi) 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, security or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and, if so requested to do so by any of the Holders, at the sole cost and expense of the Holders;

 

(vii) 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;

 

(viii) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default (as defined in Section 8.02) or Event of Default unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of such default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any Holder;

 

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

 

(x) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent or Registrar hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article Eight shall also be afforded to such Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent or Registrar.

 

SECTION 8.04. 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

 

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Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 8.05. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, the Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 8.08 and 8.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 8.06. 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 in writing with the Company.

 

SECTION 8.07. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:

 

(i) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered to the Company by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(ii) 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 and relating to Securities issued by the Company (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 the Trustee’s negligence or bad faith; and

 

(iii) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the Trustee’s part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust in connection with the Securities of the Company, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

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 in connection with the Securities of the Company as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on particular Securities.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(iv) or (v) as to the Securities of a Series, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration in connection with the Securities of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The obligations of the Company set forth in this Section 8.07 and any lien arising hereunder shall survive the resignation or removal of any Trustee, the discharge of the Company’s obligations pursuant to Article Eleven of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture and the repayment of the Securities whether at the Stated Maturity or otherwise.

 

SECTION 8.08. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the TIA, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any Series by virtue of being Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.

 

SECTION 8.09. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities hereunder that shall 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 exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority; provided, however, that if Section 310(a) of the TIA or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the TIA at any time permit a corporation organized and doing

 

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business under the laws of any other jurisdiction to serve as trustee of an indenture qualified under the TIA, this Section 8.09 shall be automatically deemed amended to permit a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any such jurisdiction to serve as Trustee hereunder. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 8.09, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. Neither the Company nor any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company may serve as Trustee. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any Series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.09, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Eight. The Trustee is subject to TIA §310(b), including the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of TIA §310(b)(9). The Trustee and any successor Trustee shall always satisfy the requirements of TIA §310(a)(1), (2) and (5).

 

SECTION 8.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee.

 

(i) 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 under Section 8.11.

 

(ii) The Trustee may resign with respect to any Series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the resigning 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 Securities of such Series.

 

(iii) The Trustee may be removed with respect to any Series of Securities at any time 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.

 

(iv) If at any time:

 

(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 8.08 with respect to any Series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such Series for at least six months; or

 

(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 8.09 with respect to any Series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of Securities of such Series; or

 

(c) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any Series of Securities or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;

 

then, in any such case, (1) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to such Series, or (2) subject to Section 7.14, 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 removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such Series.

 

(v) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any Series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Trustee with respect to any Series of Securities for any cause, 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 8.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such Series of Securities shall be appointed by the Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee with respect to such Series, the

 

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successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to such Series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such Series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such Series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities of such Series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, 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 such Series.

 

(vi) 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 that event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities of that Series as their names and addresses appear in the Registry. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series and the address of its Principal Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee. (i) In the case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to any Series of Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective with respect to all or any Series as to that it is resigning as Trustee, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to all or any such Series; but, on request of the Company or such 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 such retiring Trustee with respect to all or any such Series; and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to all or any such Series, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 8.07.

 

(ii) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) Series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series shall execute and deliver a Supplemental Indenture wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Series of Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (c) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such Supplemental Indenture shall constitute such Trustee’s co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such Supplemental Indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall 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, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 8.07.

 

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

 

(iv) No successor Trustee with respect to a Series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to such Series under this Article.

 

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SECTION 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder; provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee is and shall be subject to the provisions of TIA §311(a). There shall be excluded from the operation of TIA §311(a) for all purposes, each creditor relationship described or listed in TIA §311(b). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to and shall comply with TIA §311(a) to the extent required thereby.

 

SECTION 8.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agents. The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents, that may include any Affiliate of the Company, with respect to one or more Series of Securities. Such Authenticating Agent or Agents shall, at the option of the Trustee, be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such Series issued upon original issuance, exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.07, 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. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication or the delivery of Securities to the Trustee for authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent, a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and delivery of Securities to the Authenticating Agent on behalf of the Trustee. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Authenticating Agent located outside the United States may be appointed by the Trustee if previously approved in writing by the Company and if such Authenticating Agent meets the minimum capitalization requirements of this Section 8.14. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any 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 (and upon request by the Company shall) 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 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 that shall be acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY,

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee,

By  

 


    Authenticating Agent
By  

 


    Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holder of any Securities, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more Supplemental Indentures, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(i) to evidence the succession of another corporation or Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

 

(ii) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more Series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to Section 8.11; or

 

(iii) to add to the covenants of the Company, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities 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 that Series or those Series specified in such Supplemental Indenture), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(iv) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any Series; or

 

(v) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any Series of the Securities (and, if such Event of Default is applicable to less than all Series of Securities, specifying the Series to which such Event of Default is applicable); or

 

(vi) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (a) shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any Series created prior to the execution of such Supplemental Indenture that is adversely affected by such change in or elimination of such provision or (b) shall not apply to any Securities Outstanding; or

 

(vii) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any Series as permitted by Sections 2.02 and 3.01; or

 

(viii) to evidence any changes to Section 8.09 as permitted by the terms thereof; or

 

(ix) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or

 

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(x) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the TIA; provided such action shall not adversely affect the interest of Holders of Securities of any Series.

 

SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. (a) With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such Supplemental Indenture or Indentures (acting as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution and the Trustee may enter into an Indenture or Supplemental Indenture 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 each 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:

 

(i) change the Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of any installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon or the rate of interest thereon or change the method or methods for determining the rate of interest thereon or change the obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 5.04 (except as contemplated by Section 10.01(i) and permitted by Section 9.01), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 or a repurchase or redemption of any Securities affected, or change the method of calculating interest thereon or the coin or currency in which any Security, premium, if any, thereon, or the interest thereon is payable, or reduce the minimum rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repurchase on or after the Redemption Date or Repurchase Date);

 

(ii) 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 certain defaults hereunder and their consequences as provided for in this Indenture or reduce the requirements of Section 14.04 for a quorum;

 

(iii) change any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in Section 5.02; or

 

(iv) modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.02 or Section 7.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived.

 

(b) 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.

 

(c) A Supplemental Indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular Series of Securities, or that 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.

 

SECTION 9.03. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any Supplemental Indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by and complies with this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such Supplemental Indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, liabilities, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 9.04. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any Supplemental Indenture under this Article Nine, 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.

 

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SECTION 9.05. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every Supplemental Indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.06. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any Supplemental Indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall, if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such Supplemental Indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such Supplemental Indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Amalgamation, Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate Only on Certain Terms. So long as any Security remains Outstanding, the Company shall not amalgamate or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person or enter into any reorganization or arrangement, unless:

 

(i) the Company shall be the surviving or continuing entity or the Person formed by such amalgamation, consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety is an entity organized under the laws of a state of the United States of America, and the Company has delivered to the Trustee (x) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer transaction involving the Company, 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 transaction had not been effected, which Opinion of Counsel shall be based upon (and accompanied by a copy of) a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect unless there has been a change in applicable Federal income tax law after the Closing Date such that a ruling is no longer required or (y) a ruling directed to the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect as the aforementioned Opinion of Counsel;

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 10.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any amalgamation, consolidation, merger, reorganization or arrangement or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 10.01, the successor Person formed by such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company, as the case may be, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company, as the predecessor corporation, shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of Securities of any Series issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued, or annexed, or endorsed at the date of the execution hereof.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

SECTION 11.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may, at the option of the Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 11.02 or 11.03 be applied to all outstanding Securities of all Series or any Series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Eleven.

 

SECTION 11.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.01 of the option applicable to this Section 11.02 as to the outstanding Securities of all Series or any Series, the Company, as applicable, shall, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 11.04, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities as to which the option provided in Section 11.01 is exercised, on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 11.05, Section 11.09 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section 11.04, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Article Three and Section 5.02, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article Eleven. Subject to compliance with this Article Eleven, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 11.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 11.03.

 

SECTION 11.03. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.01 of the option applicable to this Section 11.03 as to the outstanding Securities of all Series or any Series, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 11.04, the Company shall be released from its respective obligations under Section 5.06 and any covenants which are made a part of the terms of the Securities of a Series in accordance with clause (xx) of the fifth paragraph of Section 3.01 (unless such a covenant is expressly excluded from the release contemplated by this Section 11.03), in each case on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied as to those Securities as to which that option is exercised (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of any Series as to which the Covenant Defeasance has occurred, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute or give rise to a default or an Event of Default under Section 7.01(iii), but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 11.01 of the option applicable to this Section 11.03, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 11.04, Section 7.01(iii) shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

SECTION 11.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 11.02 or 11.03 to the outstanding Securities of a Series:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities as to which Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will occur, moneys (which shall be United States legal tender except to the extent necessary to provide for the payment of any

 

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Series of Securities that is denominated in a currency other than Dollars, in which case such moneys shall include such other currency) and Government Securities (or to the extent that a Series of Securities is denominated in a currency other than Dollars, equivalent securities issued by a government, governmental agency or central bank of a country in whose currency the Series of Securities is denominated that are backed by the full faith and credit of the government of that country) or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, interest on such Securities on the Stated Maturity for payment thereof or on the redemption date of such principal or installment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Securities (and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date), and the Holders of such Securities must have a valid, perfected, exclusive security interest in such trust;

 

(2) in the case of an election under Section 11.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service, a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3) in the case of an election under Section 11.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

 

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

 

(6) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to such Trustee confirming that, after the 91st day following such deposit, the deposited funds will not be part of any “estate” formed by the bankruptcy of the Company or subject to the “automatic stay” under the Bankruptcy Code or, in the case of Covenant Defeasance, will be subject to a first priority Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders;

 

(7) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company, or others; and

 

(8) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the conditions precedent provided for in such documents have been complied with.

 

If the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities when due, then the obligations of the Company under this Indenture will be revived, no such defeasance shall be deemed to have occurred and, at the request of the Company, the Trustee will return to the Company the funds deposited by the Company to effect the Covenant Defeasance.

 

SECTION 11.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 11.06, all moneys and Government Securities (and any foreign government securities) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 11.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 11.04 in respect of outstanding Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest (and Additional Interest, if any), but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 11.04 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 the outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article Eleven to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 11.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 11.04), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

SECTION 11.06. Repayment to the Company. Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security 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 on its written request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as a creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; 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 the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), 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 notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 11.07. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys, Government Securities or other securities that have been deposited pursuant to Section 11.04 in accordance with Section 11.02 or 11.03, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities as to which the option under Section 11.01 is exercised shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.04, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such moneys, Government Securities or other securities in accordance with Section 11.02 or 11.03, as the case may be; provided, however , that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the moneys, Government Securities or other securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 11.08. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities as provided in Sections 3.06 and 3.07 and in the Securities, all rights to receive payments thereof or thereon as provided in Sections 3.08 and 5.01 and otherwise in this Indenture and in the Securities and any right to receive additional amounts as provided in Section 5.04), and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Request and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Company, when:

 

(i) either

 

(a) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (1) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07, and (2) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 5.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

(1) have become due and payable, or

 

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(2) will become due and payable at their Maturity within 60 days, or

 

(3) are to be called for redemption within 60 days under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of clause (b) (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for that purpose, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable), or to the Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by it; and

 

(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(iv) 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 to the Trustee under Section 8.07 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (i)(b) of this Section 11.08, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 11.02 and the last paragraph of Section 5.03 shall survive.

 

SECTION 11.09. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 5.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

 

SECTION 12.01. Exemption from Individual Liability. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations of the Company, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.

 

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ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

Sinking Funds

 

SECTION 13.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article Thirteen shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a Series except as otherwise specified in the terms of that Series as established in accordance with Section 3.01. 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 13.02. 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 13.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a Series (other than any previously called for redemption), and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a Series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such Series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such Series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in or calculated in accordance with such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 13.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Registrar an Officers’ Certificate specifying (i) the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for the Securities of that Series pursuant to the terms of the Securities of that Series, (ii) the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 13.02, and (iii) that none of such Securities has theretofore been so credited, and stating the basis for such credit, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each sinking fund payment date the Registrar shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 4.03 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 4.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 4.06 and 4.07 and shall be subject to Section 4.08.

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

Meetings of Holders of Securities

 

SECTION 14.01. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. A meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article Fourteen to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such Series.

 

SECTION 14.02. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings. (a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series for any purpose specified in Section 14.01, to be held at such time and at such place, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 1.06, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(b) If at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any such Series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such Series for any purpose specified in Section 14.01, by written request setting

 

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forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such Series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in Section 14.02(a).

 

SECTION 14.03. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series, a Person shall be (i) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such Series, or (ii) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such Series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 14.04. Quorum; Action. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a Series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such Series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a greater percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a Series, the Persons entitled to vote such greater percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such Series, be dissolved. In the absence of a quorum in any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairperson of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 14.02(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series that shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the provisos to Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the Series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the provisos to Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver that this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a greater percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a Series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such greater percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that Series; and provided further that, except as limited by the provisos to Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, that is less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a Series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that Series.

 

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

 

SECTION 14.05. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such Series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such Series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it

 

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shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.04, and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.04. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.04 or other proof.

 

(ii) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairperson of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 14.02(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the Series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairperson. A permanent chairperson and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series represented at the meeting.

 

(iii) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such Series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or the equivalent in any Foreign Currency) of Securities of such Series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairperson of the meeting not to be Outstanding. The chairperson of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such Series or a proxy.

 

(iv) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series duly called pursuant to Section 14.02 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such Series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 14.06. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such Series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such Series held or represented by them. The permanent chairperson of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, with at least four copies thereof, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 14.02 and, if applicable, Section 14.04. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairperson and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 15.01. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; which taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set forth.

 

47


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

{SEAL}   WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Attest:        

/s/ Anthony D. George


  By:  

/s/ Steven R. Zielske


    Name:   Steven R. Zielske
    Title:   Vice President
{SEAL}   J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY,
    NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
Attest:        

/s/ George N. Reaves


  By:  

/s/ Benita A. Vaughn


    Name:   Benita A. Vaughn
    Title:   Authorized Officer

 

48


STATE OF ARKANSAS    §            
     §      ss.:     
COUNTY OF BENTON    §            

 

On July 19, 2005, before me personally appeared Stephen Zielske, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he works at 702 S.W. Eighth St., Bentonville, Arkansas; that he is a Vice President of WAL-MART STORES, INC., one of the parties described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

 

/s/ Sunshine Hester-Redmond


Sunshine Hester-Redmond, Notary Public

 

{Notarial Seal}

 

49


STATE OF ILLINOIS    §            
     §      ss.:     
COUNTY OF COOK    §            

 

On July 19, 2005, before me personally appeared Benita A. Vaughn, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that she works at 227 West Monroe Street, Suite 2600, Chicago, Illinois 60606 that she is an authorized officer of J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, one of the parties described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that she knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that she signed her name thereto by like authority.

 

/s/ Diane Mary Wuertz


Notary Public

 

{Notarial Seal}

 

50

Exhibit 4(b)

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

Series Terms Certificate

Pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture

 

Pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), made between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), Steven R. Zielske, Vice President of Finance of the Company, hereby certifies as follows, and Anthony D. George, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Finance and Assistant Secretary of the Company, attests to the following certification. Any capitalized term used herein shall have the definition ascribed to that term as set forth in the Indenture unless otherwise defined herein.

 

A. This certificate is a Series Terms Certificate contemplated by Section 3.01 of the Indenture and is being executed to evidence the establishment and approval of the terms and conditions of the Series that was established pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture by means of a Unanimous Written Consent of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, dated as of August 8, 2005 (the “Original Series Consent”), which Series is designated as the “4.75% Notes Due 2010” (the “2010 Series”), by Steven R. Zielske, Vice President of Finance of the Company, pursuant to the grant of authority under the terms of the Original Series Consent.

 

B. Each of the undersigned has read the Indenture, including the provisions of Sections 1.02 and 3.01 and the definitions relating thereto, and the resolutions adopted in the Original Series Consent. In the opinion of the undersigned, the undersigned have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable the undersigned to express an informed opinion as to whether or not all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the execution and delivery by the Trustee of the Indenture, to the creation, establishment and approval of the title, the form and the terms of a Series under the Indenture, and to the authentication and delivery by the Trustee of promissory notes of a Series, have been complied with. In the opinion of the undersigned, (i) all such conditions precedent have been complied with and (ii) there are no Events of Default (as defined in the Indenture), or events which, with the passage of time, would become an Event of Default under the Indenture.

 

C. Pursuant to the Original Series Consent, the Company is authorized to issue $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of promissory notes of the 2010 Series (the “Initial Notes”). A copy of the Original Series Consent is attached hereto as Annex A . Any promissory notes that the Company issues that are a part of the 2010 Series (the “Notes”) shall be represented by one or more global securities substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex B (the “Form of Note”).

 

D. Pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Indenture, the terms and conditions of the 2010 Series and the promissory notes forming a part of the 2010 Series, including the Notes, are established and approved to be the following:

 

  1. Designation :

 

The Series established by the Original Series Consent is designated as the “4.75% Notes Due 2010.”


  2. Aggregate Principal Amount :

 

The 2010 Series is not limited as to the aggregate principal amount of all the promissory notes of the 2010 Series that the Company may issue. The Company is issuing the Initial Notes, which have an aggregate original principal amount of $800,000,000.

 

  3. Maturity :

 

Final maturity of the Notes of the 2010 Series will be August 15, 2010.

 

  4. Interest :

 

  a. Rate

 

The Notes will bear interest at the per annum rate of 4.75%, which interest shall commence accruing from and including August 15, 2005. Additional Amounts (as defined in Section 4(a) of the Form of Note), if any, will also be payable on the Notes.

 

  b. Payment Dates

 

Interest will be payable on the Notes semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2006, to the person or persons in whose name or names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the preceding February 1 or August 1, as the case may be. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

  5. Currency of Payment :

 

The principal and interest payable with respect to the Notes shall be payable in United States dollars.

 

  6. Payment Places :

 

All payments of principal of and interest on the Notes will be made to The Depository Trust Company so long as the Notes are in global form, otherwise payment shall be made at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

2


  7. Optional Redemption Features :

 

The Company may redeem the Notes upon the occurrence of certain tax events pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Form of Note.

 

  8. Special Redemption Features, etc. :

 

None.

 

  9. Denominations :

 

$2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 for the Notes.

 

  10. Principal Repayment :

 

100% of the principal amount of the Notes.

 

  11. Registrar and Paying Agent :

 

J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association will be the registrar and paying agent for the Notes.

 

  12. Payment of Additional Amounts :

 

The Company shall pay additional amounts as set forth under Section 4 of the Form of Note.

 

  13. Book-Entry Procedures :

 

The Notes shall be issued in the form of global Notes registered in the name of CEDE & Co. as nominee of The Depository Trust Company and will be issued in certificated form only in limited circumstances, in each case, as set forth under Sections 11 and 12 of the Form of Note.

 

  14. Other Terms :

 

Sections 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Form of Note attached hereto as Annex B shall also apply to the Notes.

 

The Notes will not have any terms or conditions of the type contemplated by clause (iii), (vi), (vii), (xii), (xiii), (xv), (xvi), (xvii), or (xx) of Section 3.01 of the Indenture.

 

3


E. The Notes will be issued pursuant to and governed by the Indenture. To the extent that the Indenture’s terms apply to the Notes specifically or apply to the terms of all Securities of all Series established pursuant to and governed by the Indenture, such terms shall apply to the Notes.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto executed this Certificate as of August 15, 2005.

 

   

/s/ Steven R. Zielske


    Steven R. Zielske
    Vice President of Finance and Assistant Treasurer
ATTEST:    

/s/ Anthony D. George


   
Anthony D. George    
Senior Assistant General Counsel, Finance and Assistant Secretary    


ANNEX A

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ACTION

IN LIEU OF SPECIAL MEETING

OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OF WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

August 8, 2005

 


 

The undersigned, being all of the members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), do hereby consent to the adoption of the following resolutions in accordance with the provisions of Section 141(f) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware:

 

Debt Offering

 

WHEREAS , the Company has registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder, the offer and sale of $5,000,000,000 of debt securities, to be issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) in one or more offerings; and

 

WHEREAS , the Company desires to offer and sell in an underwritten public offering up to $800,000,000 of such securities.

 

RESOLVED , that a series of senior, unsecured promissory notes of the Company that shall mature on or about August 15, 2010 (the “Series 2010 Notes”) shall be, and it hereby is, created, established and authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the terms of the Indenture; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Series 2010 Notes shall have such terms, including the rate at which interest shall accrue thereunder, and shall be in such form as may be established and approved by one or more of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Controller and the Treasurer of the Company (each an “Authorized Officer”) in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 of the Indenture pursuant to the authority granted by these resolutions, which approval will be conclusively evidenced by that Authorized Officer’s or those Authorized Officers’ execution of a Series Terms Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the Series 2010 Notes; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Authorized Officers shall be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to establish and to approve the terms and conditions of the Series 2010 Notes and to approve the form, terms and conditions of the promissory notes representing notes in the Series 2010 Notes (the “2010 Promissory Notes”); and


RESOLVED , that the Authorized Officers shall be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to execute the 2010 Promissory Notes, all as provided in the Indenture, and to deliver the 2010 Promissory Notes to the Indenture Trustee for authentication and delivery in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, which 2010 Promissory Notes shall be in such amounts as are determined by the Authorized Officers or any of them, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution of such 2010 Promissory Notes by such Authorized Officer or Authorized Officers, but which 2010 Promissory Notes so executed and delivered for authentication, shall not have, in the aggregate, an original principal amount in excess of $800,000,000; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Indenture Trustee shall be, and it hereby is, authorized and directed to authenticate and deliver the 2010 Promissory Notes to or upon the written order of the Company, as provided in the Indenture; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Company shall be, and it hereby is, authorized to perform its obligations under the 2010 Promissory Notes and its obligations under the Indenture, as those obligations relate to the 2010 Promissory Notes; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Company shall be, and it hereby is, authorized to enter into and perform its obligations under, and each Authorized Officer is authorized to execute and deliver, for and on behalf of the Company, a Pricing Agreement and an Underwriting Agreement between the Company and one or more of Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., Utendahl Capital Group, L.L.C. and Goldman Sachs & Co. and the other underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters of up to $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2010 Promissory Notes (collectively, the “Underwriting Agreement”), which aggregate amount of such promissory notes shall comprise such amount of 2010 Promissory Notes as determined by one or more Authorized Officers, such determination to be conclusively evidenced by the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by an Authorized Officer on behalf of the Company, and any other agreements necessary to effectuate the intent of these resolutions, the Underwriting Agreement and any other such agreements to be in the forms and to contain the terms, including the price to be paid to the Company by the Underwriters for the 2010 Promissory Notes being purchased pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, and conditions that the Authorized Officer executing the same approves, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by that Authorized Officer’s execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement or other agreement; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Company shall be, and it hereby is, authorized to sell the 2010 Promissory Notes to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at the prices set forth in, and pursuant to the other terms and conditions of, the Underwriting Agreement; and

 

RESOLVED , that the Company shall be, and it hereby is, authorized to issue one or more global certificates to represent all of the 2010 Promissory Notes and not otherwise issue the 2010 Promissory Notes in definitive form, and to permit each global certificate representing 2010 Promissory Notes to be registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and beneficial interests in the global certificates representing the 2010 Promissory Notes to be otherwise shown on, and transfers of such beneficial interests effected through, records maintained by DTC and its participants; and

 

RESOLVED , that the signatures of the Authorized Officers executing any 2010 Promissory Note may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future


Authorized Officers and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon, and any such facsimile signature shall be binding upon the Company, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the 2010 Promissory Notes are authenticated and delivered and disposed of, the person signing the facsimile signature shall have ceased to be an Authorized Officer; and

 

RESOLVED , that, without in any way limiting the authority heretofore granted to any Authorized Officer, the Authorized Officers shall be, and each of them singly is, authorized and empowered to do and perform all such acts and things and to execute and deliver, for and on behalf of the Company, any and all documents and instruments and to take any and all such actions as they may deem necessary, desirable or proper in order to carry out the intent and purpose of the foregoing resolutions and fully to establish the Series 2010 Notes and to perform the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the 2010 Promissory Notes, and to incur on behalf of the Company all such expenses and obligations in connection therewith as they may deem proper.

 

Dated this 8 th day of August 2005.

 

/s/ David D. Glass


David D. Glass

 

/s/ S. Robson Walton


S. Robson Walton

/s/ H. Lee Scott, Jr.


H. Lee Scott, Jr.

   


ANNEX B

 

Form of Global Note

 

This Note is a global security and is registered in the name of CEDE & CO., as nominee of the Depositary, The Depository Trust Company. Unless and until this Note is exchanged for Notes in definitive form, this Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of such successor depositary.

 

Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

 

W AL -M ART S TORES , I NC .

 

4.75% NOTES DUE 2010

 

Number A-

$  ,000,000

 

CUSIP No.: 931142 CA 9

ISIN No.: US931142CA92

Common Code: 022740725

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and any successor corporation pursuant to the Indenture (herein referred to as the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      MILLION DOLLARS on August 15, 2010 in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such interest payment shall be made on the Business Day immediately preceding such day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on February 15, 2006, on said principal sum in like coin or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note from August 15, 2005 or from the most recent February 15 or August 15 to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered (the “holder”) at the close of business on the preceding February 1, in the case of an Interest Payment Date of February 15, and on the preceding August 1, in the case of an Interest Payment Date of August 15 (each, a “Record Date”).


Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the succeeding sections hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to in Section 1 hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be signed by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman, its President or one of its Vice Presidents by manual or facsimile signature under its corporate seal, attested by its Secretary, one of its Assistant Secretaries, its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers by manual or facsimile signature.

 

        WAL-MART STORES, INC.
            By:    
               

Name:  

Title:    

         
[SEAL]           Attest:    
               

Name:  

Title:    

 

Dated: August 15, 2005

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:    
    Authorized Signatory


WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

4.75% NOTES DUE 2010

 

1. Indenture; Notes . This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company designated as the “4.75% Notes Due 2010” (the “Notes”), initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000 on August 15, 2005. Such series of Securities has been established pursuant to, and is one of an indefinite number of series of debt securities of the Company, issued or issuable under and pursuant to, the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company, as Issuer, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which this Note is, and is to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and those set forth in this Note. To the extent that the terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note modify, supplement or are inconsistent with those of the Indenture, then the terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note shall govern.

 

All capitalized terms which are used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

The Company may, without the consent of the holders, issue and sell additional Securities ranking equally with the Notes and otherwise identical in all respects (except for their date of issue, issue price and the date from which interest payments thereon shall accrue) so that such additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes; provided, however, that no additional Securities of any existing or new series may be issued under the Indenture if an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured thereunder.

 

2. Ranking . The Notes shall constitute the senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and shall rank equally in right of payment among themselves and with all other existing and future senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company.

 

3. Payment of Overdue Amounts . The Company shall pay interest, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

 

4. Payment of Additional Amounts; Redemption Upon a Tax Event .

 

(a) Payment of Additional Amounts . The Company shall pay to the holder (including, for purposes of this Section 4, the beneficial owner) of this Note who is a Non-U.S. Person (as defined below) such additional amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of principal of and interest on this Note to such holder, after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon


such holder by the United States of America or any taxing authority thereof or therein, will not be less than the amount provided in this Note to be then due and payable (such amounts, the “Additional Amounts”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:

 

(i) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for (A) the existence of any present or former connection between such holder, or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary of, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, and the United States including, without limitation, such holder, or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor, being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States of America or treated as a resident thereof or being or having been engaged in trade or business or present in the United States of America, or (B) the presentation of this Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the later of (x) the date on which such payment becomes due and payable and (y) the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for;

 

(ii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(iii) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by reason of such holder’s past or present status as a passive foreign investment company, a controlled foreign corporation, a personal holding company or foreign personal holding company with respect to the United States of America, or as a corporation which accumulates earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;

 

(iv) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal of or interest on this Note;

 

(v) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest on this Note if such payment can be made without withholding by any other paying agent;

 

(vi) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the failure to comply with certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the United States of America of the holder of this Note, if such compliance is required by statute or by regulation of the United States Treasury Department as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(vii) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on interest received by (A) a 10% shareholder (as defined in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations that may be promulgated thereunder) of the Company or (B) a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Code;

 

2


(viii) any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment to an individual and is required to be made pursuant to that European Union Directive relating to the taxation of savings adopted on June 3, 2003 by the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council, or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or

 

(ix) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) in this Section 4(a);

 

nor shall any Additional Amounts be paid to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner thereof, would not have been entitled to the payment of such Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder.

 

“Non-U.S. Person” means any corporation, partnership, individual or fiduciary that is, as to the United States of America, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual who has not made a valid election to be treated as a United States resident, a non-resident fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, as to the United States of America, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

(b) Redemption Upon a Tax Event . The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company in whole, but not in part, on a date (such date, the “Tax Redemption Date”) to be fixed by the Company on not more than 60 days’ and not less than 30 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (the “Redemption Price”) plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts thereon, if the Company determines that as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, treaties, regulations or rulings of the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, or any proposed change in such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application, enforcement or interpretation of such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings, including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America, or any other action, other than an action predicated on laws generally known on or before August 8, 2005 except for proposals before the U.S. Congress before such date, taken by any taxing authority or a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America, or the official proposal of any such action, whether or not such action or proposal was taken or made with respect to the Company, (A) the Company has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts or (B) there is a substantial possibility that the Company will be required to pay such Additional Amounts.

 

Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 15 hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (1) an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the rights of the Company to so redeem have occurred and (2) an Opinion of Counsel to such effect based on such statement of facts.

 

If the Company elects to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 4(b), then it shall give notice to the holders pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

 

3


The notice of redemption, shall specify the following:

 

(i) the Tax Redemption Date;

 

(ii) a brief statement to the effect that the Notes are being redeemed at the option of the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) and a brief statement of the facts permitting such redemption;

 

(iii) that on the Tax Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, plus accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, will become due and payable and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after such Tax Redemption Date;

 

(iv) the amount of the Redemption Price and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, that will be due and payable on the Notes on the Tax Redemption Date;

 

(v) the place or places where the Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and other amounts due under clause (iv) above;

 

(vi) that payment of the amounts due under clause (iv) above will be made upon presentation and surrender of the Notes; and

 

(vii) the CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers of the Notes.

 

The notice of redemption regarding the Notes shall be, at the election of the Company, given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

On or before the opening of business on any Tax Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 5.03 of the Indenture, an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and except if the Tax Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, accrued but unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed on the Tax Redemption Date.

 

The notice of redemption having been given as specified above, the Notes shall, on the Tax Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price, and from and after such date, unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, the Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of the Notes for redemption in accordance with such notice, the Notes shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to the Tax Redemption Date.

 

If the Notes, having been called for redemption, shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Tax Redemption Date at the interest rate borne by this Note.

 

5. Place and Method of Payment . The Company shall pay principal of and interest on the Notes at the office or agency of the Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New

 

4


York; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, the Company may pay interest by check mailed to the person entitled thereto at such person’s address as it appears on the Registry for the Notes.

 

6. Defeasance of the Notes . Sections 11.02, 11.03 and 11.04 of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

7. No Redemption or Sinking Fund . The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity, other than as set forth in Section 4(b) hereof, and are not subject to a sinking fund.

 

8. Amendment and Modification . Article Nine of the Indenture contains provisions for the amendment or modification of the Indenture and the Notes without the consent of the holders in certain circumstances and requiring the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and Securities of other series that would be affected in certain other circumstances. However, the Indenture requires the consent of each holder of the Notes and Securities of other series that would be affected for certain specified amendments or modifications of the Indenture and the Notes. These provisions of the Indenture, which provide for, among other things, the execution of supplemental indentures, are applicable to the Notes.

 

9. Event of Default; Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment . If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, then the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of this series may be declared by either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of this series then Outstanding to be, and, in certain cases, may automatically become, immediately due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that, in the event of such an acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all of the Notes of this series then Outstanding, voting as a separate class, in accordance with the provisions of, and in the circumstances provided by, the Indenture, may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences with respect to all of the Notes.

 

10. Absolute Obligation. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of the Notes or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the place, at the time and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

 

11. Form and Denominations; Global Notes; Definitive Notes. The Notes are being issued in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes are being issued in the form of global notes (each, a “Global Note”), evidencing all or any portion of the Notes and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee (including their respective successors) as Depositary under the Indenture. The Notes shall be issued in certificated form (each, a “Definitive Note”) only in the following limited circumstances: (1) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility; (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that this Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes; or (3) an Event of Default has

 

5


occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes, in each such case this Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes in an equal aggregate principal amount. Such Definitive Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.

 

12. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Notes and the transfer and exchange of the Notes, whether in global or definitive form. At the option of the holders, at any office or agency designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose (the “Transfer Agent”) pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, but without the payment of any service charge, except for any transfer tax or other governmental charges imposed in connection therewith subject to Section 4 hereof, the Notes may be transferred or exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of the Notes of like tenor and of other authorized denominations upon surrender and cancellation of the Notes upon any such transfer.

 

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may deem and treat the holder as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not the Notes shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payments hereon, or on account hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments made to or upon the order of such holder shall, to the extent of the amount or amounts paid, effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable on this Note.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 12, any registration of transfer or exchange of a Global Note shall be subject to the terms of the legend appearing on the initial page thereof.

 

13. No Recourse Against Others . No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company arising under or set forth in the Notes or under the Indenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

14. Appointment of Agents. J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association is hereby appointed the Registrar for the purpose of registering the Notes and transfers and exchanges of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and this Note, Paying Agent pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Indenture and Transfer Agent with respect to the Notes at its offices in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

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15. Notices . If the Company is required to give notice to the holders of the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, then it shall do so by the means and in the manner set forth in Section 1.06 of the Indenture.

 

16. Separability . In case any provision of the Indenture or the Notes shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof and hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

17. GOVERNING LAW . THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

For the value received, the undersigned hereby assigns and transfers the within Note, and all rights thereunder, to:

 

 


(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 


(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)

 

 


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

 

 


 

 


 

and irrevocably appoints

 


 

to transfer this Note on the books of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The agent may substitute another to act for it.

 

Your Signature:                                                                                               

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

 

Date:                                 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

The signature(s) should be Guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

*    *    *    *    *

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the within Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM –     as tenants in common

 

TEN ENT –     as tenants by the entireties

 

JT ENT –     as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common


    UNIF GIFT MIN ACT-       Custodian       under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act    
        (Cust)       (Minor)       (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used although not in the above list.

 

2

Exhibit 4(c)

 

Form of Global Note

 

This Note is a global security and is registered in the name of CEDE & CO., as nominee of the Depositary, The Depository Trust Company. Unless and until this Note is exchanged for Notes in definitive form, this Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of such successor depositary.

 

Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

 

W AL -M ART S TORES , I NC .

 

4.75% NOTES DUE 2010

 

Number A-

         

CUSIP No.: 931142 CA 9

$        ,000,000

         

ISIN No.: US931142CA92

           

Common Code: 022740725

 

WAL-MART STORES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and any successor corporation pursuant to the Indenture (herein referred to as the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of              MILLION DOLLARS on August 15, 2010 in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest, computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, such interest payment shall be made on the Business Day immediately preceding such day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on February 15, 2006, on said principal sum in like coin or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note from August 15, 2005 or from the most recent February 15 or August 15 to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered (the “holder”) at the close of business on the preceding February 1, in the case of an Interest Payment Date of February 15, and on the preceding August 1, in the case of an Interest Payment Date of August 15 (each, a “Record Date”).

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the succeeding sections hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.


This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to in Section 1 hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be signed by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman, its President or one of its Vice Presidents by manual or facsimile signature under its corporate seal, attested by its Secretary, one of its Assistant Secretaries, its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers by manual or facsimile signature.

 

    WAL-MART STORES, INC.
    By:  

 


    Name:    
    Title:    
[SEAL]   Attest:  

 


    Name:    
    Title:    

 

Dated: August 15, 2005

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 


    Authorized Signatory


WAL-MART STORES, INC.

 

4.75% NOTES DUE 2010

 

1. Indenture; Notes . This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the Company designated as the “4.75% Notes Due 2010” (the “Notes”), initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000 on August 15, 2005. Such series of Securities has been established pursuant to, and is one of an indefinite number of series of debt securities of the Company, issued or issuable under and pursuant to, the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company, as Issuer, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which this Note is, and is to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and those set forth in this Note. To the extent that the terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note modify, supplement or are inconsistent with those of the Indenture, then the terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note shall govern.

 

All capitalized terms which are used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

The Company may, without the consent of the holders, issue and sell additional Securities ranking equally with the Notes and otherwise identical in all respects (except for their date of issue, issue price and the date from which interest payments thereon shall accrue) so that such additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes; provided, however, that no additional Securities of any existing or new series may be issued under the Indenture if an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured thereunder.

 

2. Ranking . The Notes shall constitute the senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company and shall rank equally in right of payment among themselves and with all other existing and future senior, unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company.

 

3. Payment of Overdue Amounts . The Company shall pay interest, calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

 

4. Payment of Additional Amounts; Redemption Upon a Tax Event .

 

(a) Payment of Additional Amounts . The Company shall pay to the holder (including, for purposes of this Section 4, the beneficial owner) of this Note who is a Non-U.S. Person (as defined below) such additional amounts as may be necessary so that every net payment of principal of and interest on this Note to such holder, after deduction or withholding for or on account of any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed upon


such holder by the United States of America or any taxing authority thereof or therein, will not be less than the amount provided in this Note to be then due and payable (such amounts, the “Additional Amounts”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to make any payment of Additional Amounts for or on account of:

 

(i) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for (A) the existence of any present or former connection between such holder, or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary of, member or shareholder of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, and the United States including, without limitation, such holder, or such fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor, being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States of America or treated as a resident thereof or being or having been engaged in trade or business or present in the United States of America, or (B) the presentation of this Note for payment on a date more than 30 days after the later of (x) the date on which such payment becomes due and payable and (y) the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for;

 

(ii) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(iii) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by reason of such holder’s past or present status as a passive foreign investment company, a controlled foreign corporation, a personal holding company or foreign personal holding company with respect to the United States of America, or as a corporation which accumulates earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;

 

(iv) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal of or interest on this Note;

 

(v) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest on this Note if such payment can be made without withholding by any other paying agent;

 

(vi) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge which would not have been imposed but for the failure to comply with certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the United States of America of the holder of this Note, if such compliance is required by statute or by regulation of the United States Treasury Department as a precondition to relief or exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

(vii) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on interest received by (A) a 10% shareholder (as defined in Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations that may be promulgated thereunder) of the Company or (B) a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Code;

 

2


(viii) any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment to an individual and is required to be made pursuant to that European Union Directive relating to the taxation of savings adopted on June 3, 2003 by the European Union’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council, or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive; or

 

(ix) any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) in this Section 4(a);

 

nor shall any Additional Amounts be paid to any holder who is a fiduciary or partnership to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner thereof, would not have been entitled to the payment of such Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the holder.

 

“Non-U.S. Person” means any corporation, partnership, individual or fiduciary that is, as to the United States of America, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual who has not made a valid election to be treated as a United States resident, a non-resident fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, as to the United States of America, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

(b) Redemption Upon a Tax Event . The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company in whole, but not in part, on a date (such date, the “Tax Redemption Date”) to be fixed by the Company on not more than 60 days’ and not less than 30 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes (the “Redemption Price”) plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, and any Additional Amounts thereon, if the Company determines that as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws, treaties, regulations or rulings of the United States of America or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, or any proposed change in such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings, or any change in the official application, enforcement or interpretation of such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings, including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America, or any other action, other than an action predicated on laws generally known on or before August 8, 2005 except for proposals before the U.S. Congress before such date, taken by any taxing authority or a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America, or the official proposal of any such action, whether or not such action or proposal was taken or made with respect to the Company, (A) the Company has or will become obligated to pay Additional Amounts or (B) there is a substantial possibility that the Company will be required to pay such Additional Amounts.

 

Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to Section 15 hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (1) an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company is entitled to effect such redemption and setting forth a statement of facts showing that the conditions precedent to the rights of the Company to so redeem have occurred and (2) an Opinion of Counsel to such effect based on such statement of facts.

 

If the Company elects to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 4(b), then it shall give notice to the holders pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

 

3


The notice of redemption, shall specify the following:

 

(i) the Tax Redemption Date;

 

(ii) a brief statement to the effect that the Notes are being redeemed at the option of the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) and a brief statement of the facts permitting such redemption;

 

(iii) that on the Tax Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, plus accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, will become due and payable and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after such Tax Redemption Date;

 

(iv) the amount of the Redemption Price and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, that will be due and payable on the Notes on the Tax Redemption Date;

 

(v) the place or places where the Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and other amounts due under clause (iv) above;

 

(vi) that payment of the amounts due under clause (iv) above will be made upon presentation and surrender of the Notes; and

 

(vii) the CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers of the Notes.

 

The notice of redemption regarding the Notes shall be, at the election of the Company, given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

On or before the opening of business on any Tax Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent or, if the Company is acting as its own paying agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 5.03 of the Indenture, an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and except if the Tax Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, accrued but unpaid interest on, the Notes to be redeemed on the Tax Redemption Date.

 

The notice of redemption having been given as specified above, the Notes shall, on the Tax Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price, and from and after such date, unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued but unpaid interest, if any, the Notes shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of the Notes for redemption in accordance with such notice, the Notes shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to the Tax Redemption Date.

 

If the Notes, having been called for redemption, shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Tax Redemption Date at the interest rate borne by this Note.

 

5. Place and Method of Payment . The Company shall pay principal of and interest on the Notes at the office or agency of the Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New

 

4


York; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, the Company may pay interest by check mailed to the person entitled thereto at such person’s address as it appears on the Registry for the Notes.

 

6. Defeasance of the Notes . Sections 11.02, 11.03 and 11.04 of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

7. No Redemption or Sinking Fund . The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity, other than as set forth in Section 4(b) hereof, and are not subject to a sinking fund.

 

8. Amendment and Modification . Article Nine of the Indenture contains provisions for the amendment or modification of the Indenture and the Notes without the consent of the holders in certain circumstances and requiring the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and Securities of other series that would be affected in certain other circumstances. However, the Indenture requires the consent of each holder of the Notes and Securities of other series that would be affected for certain specified amendments or modifications of the Indenture and the Notes. These provisions of the Indenture, which provide for, among other things, the execution of supplemental indentures, are applicable to the Notes.

 

9. Event of Default; Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment . If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall occur and be continuing, then the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of this series may be declared by either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of this series then Outstanding to be, and, in certain cases, may automatically become, immediately due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture provides that, in the event of such an acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all of the Notes of this series then Outstanding, voting as a separate class, in accordance with the provisions of, and in the circumstances provided by, the Indenture, may rescind and annul such acceleration and its consequences with respect to all of the Notes.

 

10. Absolute Obligation. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of the Notes or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the place, at the time and in the coin or currency herein prescribed.

 

11. Form and Denominations; Global Notes; Definitive Notes. The Notes are being issued in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes are being issued in the form of global notes (each, a “Global Note”), evidencing all or any portion of the Notes and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee (including their respective successors) as Depositary under the Indenture. The Notes shall be issued in certificated form (each, a “Definitive Note”) only in the following limited circumstances: (1) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law, and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility; (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that this Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes; or (3) an Event of Default has

 

5


occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes, in each such case this Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes in an equal aggregate principal amount. Such Definitive Notes shall be registered in such name or names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.

 

12. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Notes and the transfer and exchange of the Notes, whether in global or definitive form. At the option of the holders, at any office or agency designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose (the “Transfer Agent”) pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, but without the payment of any service charge, except for any transfer tax or other governmental charges imposed in connection therewith subject to Section 4 hereof, the Notes may be transferred or exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of the Notes of like tenor and of other authorized denominations upon surrender and cancellation of the Notes upon any such transfer.

 

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may deem and treat the holder as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not the Notes shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payments hereon, or on account hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments made to or upon the order of such holder shall, to the extent of the amount or amounts paid, effectually satisfy and discharge liability for moneys payable on this Note.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 12, any registration of transfer or exchange of a Global Note shall be subject to the terms of the legend appearing on the initial page thereof.

 

13. No Recourse Against Others . No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company arising under or set forth in the Notes or under the Indenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

 

14. Appointment of Agents. J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association is hereby appointed the Registrar for the purpose of registering the Notes and transfers and exchanges of the Notes pursuant to the Indenture and this Note, Paying Agent pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Indenture and Transfer Agent with respect to the Notes at its offices in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

 

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15. Notices . If the Company is required to give notice to the holders of the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, then it shall do so by the means and in the manner set forth in Section 1.06 of the Indenture.

 

16. Separability . In case any provision of the Indenture or the Notes shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof and hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

17. GOVERNING LAW . THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

7


ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

For the value received, the undersigned hereby assigns and transfers the within Note, and all rights thereunder, to:

 

 
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
 
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
 
 
and irrevocably appoints
 
to transfer this Note on the books of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The agent may substitute another to act for it.

 

Your Signature:  

 


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

 

Date:                                 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

The signature(s) should be Guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of the within Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM -    as tenants in common     
TEN ENT -    as tenants by the entireties     
JT ENT -    as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common     

 

                     UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -              Custodian              under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act             
                  (Cust)  

   (Minor)

      (State)

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used although not in the above list.

Exhibit 5

 

August 15, 2005

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

702 S.W. 8th Street

Bentonville, Arkansas 72716

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

$800,000,000 4.75% Notes Due 2010

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Pricing Agreement between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc., Utendahl Capital Group, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., acting for themselves and as the representatives for the other underwriters named in Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement (the “Underwriters”), dated August 8, 2005 (the “Pricing Agreement”), and to the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2005 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and, as to the issuance and sale of the Notes (as defined below), the Underwriters, as parties which are signatories and deemed to be signatories to that Underwriting Agreement, as incorporated by reference into the Pricing Agreement (the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Agreement”).

 

Further reference is made to (i) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-126512) which was prepared pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 11, 2005, was amended prior to being declared effective by Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3, which amendment was filed with the Commission on July 19, 2005, and was declared effective by the Commission on July 19, 2005 (the “Registration Statement”), (ii) the Prospectus, dated July 19, 2005, as amended or supplemented (the “Base Prospectus”), and (iii) the Prospectus Supplement, dated August 8, 2005, supplementing the Base Prospectus (the “Prospectus Supplement”) and constituting a part of the Registration Statement. The Base Prospectus relates to the delayed public offering of up to $5,000,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the Company issuable under the Indenture, dated as of July 19, 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Prospectus Supplement relates to the public offering of $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.75% Notes Due 2010 (the “Notes”). As used herein, the term “Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement in the form in which it was declared effective on July 19, 2005, including the documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof in accordance with the provisions of Form S-3 and the rules promulgated under the 1933 Act (which documents are listed in Annex A hereto). As used herein, the term “Prospectus” means


Letter to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

August 15, 2005

Page 2

 

the Base Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement combined, constituting a part of the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof in accordance with the rules promulgated under the 1933 Act.

 

We have acted as special counsel to the Company in connection with its issue and sale of the Notes.

 

In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon, without independent investigation or verification, executed originals, counterparts or copies of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, each as amended and restated to date and in effect on the date hereof, the Registration Statement, Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, the Indenture, the two Global Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $800,000,000 payable to CEDE & Co. and being issued to represent the Notes, resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, the resolutions of the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and such other documents, records and certificates as we considered necessary or appropriate to enable us to express the opinions set forth herein. In all such examinations, we have assumed the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic and complete originals of all documents submitted to us as photostatic, conformed, notarized or certified copies.

 

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed, without investigation or independent verification, that (i) all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true and complete, (ii) each natural person signing any document reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so, (iii) each person signing in a representative capacity (other than on behalf of the Company) had the authority to sign in such capacity, (iv) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including any post-effective amendment thereto) have become effective and comply with all applicable laws, (v) the Prospectus has been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Notes offered thereby in accordance with all applicable laws, (vi) all of the Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (vii) the Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, and (viii) at or prior to the time of delivery of each Note, the authorization of the Notes and of the Series of the Notes of which that Note is a part will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of the Notes.

 

As to facts material to our opinion, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.


Letter to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

August 15, 2005

Page 3

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that, upon the execution and delivery of the Notes and their authentication in accordance with the terms of the Indenture against payment therefor in accordance with the Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

The foregoing opinion is qualified to the extent that the enforceability of the Indenture, the Notes or any related document or instrument may be limited by or subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, liquidation, rearrangement, probate, conservatorship, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws (including court decisions) now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally or providing for the relief of debtors, general principles of equity (regardless of whether such remedies are sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) or public policy and (ii) the refusal of a particular court to grant (a) equitable remedies, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, specific performance and injunctive relief, or (b) a particular remedy sought under the Indenture with respect to the Notes or under the Notes as opposed to another remedy provided for therein or another remedy available at law or in equity. We note that the enforceability of specific provisions of the Indenture and the Notes may be subject to (i) standards of reasonableness and “good faith” limitations and obligations such as those provided in the New York Uniform Commercial Code and similar applicable principles of common law and judicial decisions and (ii) the course of dealings between the parties, the usage of trade and similar provisions of common law and judicial decision.

 

We express no opinion concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of (a) severability clauses or (b) any provision contained in the Indenture or the Notes that purports to waive or not give effect to rights to notice, defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law, (ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based on negligence or any violation of any federal or state securities laws or (iii) the enforceability of any provision in the Indenture or the Notes that purports to waive liability for violation of securities laws. With respect to Section 8.07(i) of the Indenture, we express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of the parenthetical clause thereof relating to the limitations on the compensation of trustees.

 

The foregoing opinions are limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York. We do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.


Letter to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

August 15, 2005

Page 4

 

This opinion letter may be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Company and the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Andrews Kurth LLP


Annex A to the Opinion Letter, dated August 15, 2005,

of Andrews Kurth LLP to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

The Annual Report on Form 10-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for its fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for its fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2005.

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated March 8, 2005

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated March 25, 2005

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated June 8, 2005

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated June 9, 2005

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated June 10, 2005

 

The Current Report on Form 8-K of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. dated August 4, 2005