UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 26, 2012

 

LOGO

Aflac Incorporated

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Georgia   001-07434   58-1167100

 

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia   31999
    (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

706.323.3431

 

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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

 

¨ 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 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On September 19, 2012, Aflac Incorporated (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the underwriters named therein (together, the “Underwriters”), related to the offering, issuance and sale of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (the “Debentures”) (or $517,500,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full).

On September 26, 2012, the Company completed a public offering of $450 million aggregate principal amount of its Debentures. The Debentures were offered pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-181089), prospectus dated May 1, 2012, and related prospectus supplement dated September 19, 2012.

The Debentures were issued under an indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. The Indenture provides for events of default, including, failure to pay principal or any premium, failure to pay interest, and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization.

The Debentures are the Company’s unsecured obligations and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of its current and future senior indebtedness. The Debentures will mature on September 15, 2052. Interest on the Debentures will be payable on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2012. The interest rate on the Debentures is 5.50% per annum. The Company may defer interest payments during one or more deferral periods for up to five consecutive years each as described in the prospectus supplement.

The Debentures are redeemable, in whole but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of certain tax events, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. The Company may also redeem the Debentures, in whole but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of certain rating agency events, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) the aggregate principal amount or (b) a make-whole amount, in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. On or after September 26, 2017, the Company may redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided that if the debentures are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the debentures must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption.

The description of the Indenture set forth above is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of each of the Base Indenture, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and the First Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Debentures included therein), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.2, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

See the description regarding the Company’s issuance and sale of the Debentures contained in Item 1.01 above, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

1


ITEM 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

1.1    -   

Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the several underwriters included on Schedule 1 thereto. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Aflac Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 21, 2012.

4.1    -   

Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.

4.2
 
   -    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 5.50% Subordinated Debenture due 2052).
5.1    -    Opinion of Joey M. Loudermilk, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aflac Incorporated.
5.2    -    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel to Aflac Incorporated, with respect to the legality of the Debentures.
8.1    -    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special tax counsel to Aflac Incorporated, with respect to certain tax matters.
23.1    -    Consent of Joey M. Loudermilk (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2    -    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.2 hereto).
23.3    -    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included as part of Exhibit 8.1 hereto).

 

2


SIGNATURES

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

 

   

Aflac Incorporated

   October 1, 2012                            

   

   /s/ June P. Howard

   

      (June P. Howard)

   

Senior Vice President, Financial Services

   

Chief Accounting Officer

 

3


EXHIBIT INDEX:

 

1.1    -   

Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the several underwriters included on Schedule 1 thereto. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to Aflac Incorporated’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 21, 2012.

4.1    -   

Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.

4.2
 
   -    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012, between Aflac Incorporated and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (including the form of 5.50% Subordinated Debenture due 2052).
5.1    -    Opinion of Joey M. Loudermilk, Esq., Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Aflac Incorporated.
5.2    -    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel to Aflac Incorporated, with respect to the legality of the Debentures.
8.1    -    Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special tax counsel to Aflac Incorporated, with respect to certain tax matters.
23.1    -    Consent of Joey M. Loudermilk (included as part of Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2    -    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.2 hereto).
23.3    -    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included as part of Exhibit 8.1 hereto).

Aflac Incorporated Form 8-K

   Exhibit 4.1

 

AFLAC INCORPORATED,

AS ISSUER

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

AS TRUSTEE

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

Dated as of September 26, 2012


CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*

Provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture to be dated as of September 26, 2012 between Aflac Incorporated, as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee:

 

Section of the Act

  

Section of Indenture

310

   11.7

310(a)(1) and (2)

   6.9 and 6.10

310(a)(3) and (4)

   Inapplicable

310(b)

   6.10(2), 6.11 and 6.12

310(b)(1)

   6.8

310(c)

   Inapplicable

311

   11.7

311(a)

   6.13

311(b)

   6.13

311(c)

   Inapplicable

312

   4.1 and 11.7

312(a)

   Inapplicable

312(b)

   Inapplicable

312(c)

   Inapplicable

313

   11.7

313(a)

   4.3

313(b)(1)

   Inapplicable

313(b)(2)

   Inapplicable

313(c)

   4.3 and 5.11

313(c)(2)

   6.10, 6.11, 8.2(5) and 12.2

313(d)

   Inapplicable

314

   Inapplicable

314(a)

   Inapplicable

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)(1) and (2)

   Inapplicable

314(c)(3)

   Inapplicable

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   Inapplicable

314(f)

   Inapplicable

315

   6.1 and 11.7

315(a), (c) and (d)

   Inapplicable

315(e)

   6.10(2)

316

   11.7

316(a)(1)

   Inapplicable

316(a)(2)

   Inapplicable

316(a)(last sentence)

   Inapplicable

316(b)

   Inapplicable

317

   11.7

317(a)

   Inapplicable

317(b)

   Inapplicable

318

   11.7

318(a)

   Inapplicable

 

*

This Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

           Page  
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1   

Section 1.1

  Certain Terms Defined      1   
ARTICLE II SECURITIES      6   

Section 2.1

  Forms Generally      6   

Section 2.2

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      7   

Section 2.3

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      7   

Section 2.4

  Authentication and Delivery of Securities      9   

Section 2.5

  Execution of Securities      10   

Section 2.6

  Certificate of Authentication      11   

Section 2.7

  Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest      11   

Section 2.8

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange      11   

Section 2.9

  Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      14   

Section 2.10

  Cancellation of Securities; Destruction Thereof      15   

Section 2.11

  Temporary Securities      15   

Section 2.12

  Global Securities      16   

Section 2.13

  CUSIP Numbers      16   
ARTICLE III COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER      16   

Section 3.1

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      16   

Section 3.2

  Offices for Payments, Etc      16   

Section 3.3

  Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust; Unclaimed Money      17   

Section 3.4

  Statements of Officers of Issuer as to Default; Notice of Default      18   

Section 3.5

  Existence      18   

Section 3.6

  Maintenance of Properties      18   

Section 3.7

  Payment of Taxes and Other Claims      18   

Section 3.8

  Further Instruments and Acts      19   

Section 3.9

  Limitations on Dispositions of Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries      19   

Section 3.10

  Commission Reports      19   

Section 3.11

  Calculation of Original Issue Discount      20   
ARTICLE IV SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE      20   

Section 4.1

  Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Securityholders      20   

Section 4.2

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      20   

Section 4.3

  Reports by the Trustee      20   
ARTICLE V REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT      20   

Section 5.1

  Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of Maturity; Waiver of Default      20   

Section 5.2

  Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt      23   

Section 5.3

  Application of Proceeds      24   

Section 5.4

  Suits for Enforcement      25   

Section 5.5

  Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings      25   

 

i


         Page  

Section 5.6

  Limitations on Suits by Securityholders      25   

Section 5.7

  Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Institute Certain Suits      26   

Section 5.8

  Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default      26   

Section 5.9

  Control by Holders of Securities      26   

Section 5.10

  Waiver of Past Defaults      26   

Section 5.11

  Trustee to Give Notice of Default, but May Withhold in Certain Circumstances      27   

Section 5.12

  Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking to Pay Costs      27   
ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE      27   

Section 6.1

  Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default      27   

Section 6.2

  Certain Rights of the Trustee      28   

Section 6.3

  Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof      30   

Section 6.4

  Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities or Coupons; Collections, Etc      30   

Section 6.5

  Moneys Held by Trustee      30   

Section 6.6

  Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and its Prior Claim      30   

Section 6.7

  Right of Trustee to Rely on Officer’s Certificate, Etc      30   

Section 6.8

  Indentures Not Creating Potential Conflicting Interests for the Trustee      31   

Section 6.9

  Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee      31   

Section 6.10

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee      31   

Section 6.11

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee      32   

Section 6.12

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee      33   

Section 6.13

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer      33   

Section 6.14

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      33   
ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS      34   

Section 7.1

  Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders      34   

Section 7.2

  Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities      34   

Section 7.3

  Holders to Be Treated as Owners      35   

Section 7.4

  Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding      35   

Section 7.5

  Right of Revocation of Action Taken      36   
ARTICLE VIII SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      36   

Section 8.1

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders      36   

Section 8.2

  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders      37   

Section 8.3

  Effect of Supplemental Indenture      38   

Section 8.4

  Documents to Be Given to Trustee      38   

Section 8.5

  Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures      38   

Section 8.6

  Subordination Unimpaired      38   
ARTICLE IX CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE      39   

Section 9.1

  Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      39   

Section 9.2

  Successor Substituted for the Issuer      39   
ARTICLE X SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS      39   

Section 10.1

  Termination of Issuer’s Obligations Under the Indenture      39   

Section 10.2

  Application of Trust Funds      40   

 

ii


         Page  

Section 10.3

  Applicability of Legal Defeasance Provisions; Issuer's Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      40   

Section 10.4

  Legal Defeasance and Discharge      41   

Section 10.5

  Covenant Defeasance      41   

Section 10.6

  Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      41   

Section 10.7

  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust      42   

Section 10.8

  Repayment to Issuer      43   

Section 10.9

  Indemnity For U.S. Government Obligations      43   

Section 10.10

  Reimbursement      43   
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS      43   

Section 11.1

  Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual Liability      43   

Section 11.2

  Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities and Coupons      43   

Section 11.3

  Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture      43   

Section 11.4

  Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of Securities and Coupons      43   

Section 11.5

  Officer's Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein      44   

Section 11.6

  Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays      45   

Section 11.7

  Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act of 1939      45   

Section 11.8

  New York Law to Govern; Waiver of Jury Trial      45   

Section 11.9

  Counterparts      45   

Section 11.10

  Effect of Headings.      45   

Section 11.11

  Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU      45   

Section 11.12

  Judgment Currency      46   

Section 11.13

  Separability Clause      46   
ARTICLE XII REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS      46   

Section 12.1

  Applicability of Article      46   

Section 12.2

  Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions      46   

Section 12.3

  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption      47   

Section 12.4

  Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption      48   

Section 12.5

  Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds      48   
ARTICLE XIII SUBORDINATION      50   

Section 13.1

  Agreement to Subordinate      50   

Section 13.2

  Rights of Senior Indebtedness in the Event of Insolvency, Etc. of the Issuer      50   

Section 13.3

  Payment Over of Proceeds Received on Securities      51   

Section 13.4

  Payments to Holders      52   

Section 13.5

  Holders of Securities Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities      52   

Section 13.6

  Notice to Trustee      52   

Section 13.7

  Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness      52   

Section 13.8

  Applicability of Article XIII to Paying Agents      53   

 

iii


THIS INDENTURE, dated as of September 26, 2012, between AFLAC INCORPORATED, a holding company organized under the laws of the State of Georgia (the “Issuer”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a New York national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”),

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issue from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures or other evidences of its unsecured indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and

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

NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities and of the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Certain Terms Defined . The following terms (except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or the definitions of which in the Securities Act of 1933 are referred to in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, including terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act of 1933 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with GAAP. The words “HEREIN,” “HEREOF” and “HEREUNDER” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

“AUTHENTICATING AGENT” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.14.

“AUTHORIZED NEWSPAPER” means a newspaper of general circulation, in the 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. Whenever successive publications in an Authorized Newspaper are required hereunder they may be made (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) on the same or different days of the week and in the same or different Authorized Newspapers.

“BOARD OF DIRECTORS” means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any committee of such Board of Directors duly authorized to act on its behalf.

“BOARD RESOLUTION” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted or consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect, and delivered to the Trustee.


“BUSINESS DAY” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day in which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized and obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“COMMISSION” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, then the body performing such duties on such date.

“CONSOLIDATED TOTAL ASSETS” means, in respect of the Issuer as of any date of determination, the amount of total assets shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its consolidated subsidiaries contained in the most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the Commission, or if the Issuer is not then subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the most recent annual or quarterly report to shareholders and, in respect of any Subsidiary as of any date of determination, the amount of total assets of such Subsidiary and its consolidated subsidiaries from which such consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries was derived.

“CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 900 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 425, Atlanta, GA, 30338, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).

“COUPON” means any interest coupon appertaining to an Unregistered Security.

“COVENANT DEFEASANCE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.5.

“CUSIP” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.

“DEPOSITARY” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in global form, the Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “DEPOSITARY” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “DEPOSITARY” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Securities in global form of that series.

“DOLLAR” 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.

“ECU” means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time to time by the Council of European Communities.

“EVENT OF DEFAULT” means any event or condition specified as such in Section 5.1.

“FOREIGN CURRENCY” means a currency issued by the government of a country other than the United States.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States as in effect from time to time; provided, however if the Issuer is required by the Commission to adopt (or is permitted to adopt and so adopts) a different accounting framework, including but not limited to the International Financial Reporting Standards, “GAAP” shall mean such new accounting framework as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, in each case, those accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public

 

2


Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

“GOVERNMENTAL OBLIGATIONS” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“HOLDER,” “HOLDER OF SECURITIES,” “SECURITYHOLDER” or other similar terms mean (a) in the case of any Registered Security, the person in whose name such Security is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) in the case of any Unregistered Security, the bearer of such Security, or any Coupon appertaining thereto, as the case may be.

“INDEBTEDNESS” of any person means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due on indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a) indebtedness for money borrowed, and (b) any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness. For the purposes of this definition, “indebtedness for money borrowed” means (i) any obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, such Person for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments and (ii) any obligation of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar written instruments, including obligations assumed or incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses (provided, however, that the deferred purchase price of any other business or property or assets shall not be considered Indebtedness if the purchase price thereof is payable in full within 6 months from the date on which such indebtedness was created).

“INDENTURE” means this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

“ISSUER” means (except as otherwise provided in Article VI) Aflac Incorporated, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia and, subject to Article IX, its successors and assigns.

“JUDGMENT CURRENCY” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

“LEGAL DEFEASANCE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.4.

“MARKET EXCHANGE RATE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.10.

“NOTICE OF DEFAULT” shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 5.1(4) and 5.1(7).

“OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE” means a certificate signed by the chairman or vice chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or any executive, senior or other vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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“OPINION OF COUNSEL” means an opinion in writing, satisfactory to the Trustee, signed by the General Counsel of the Issuer or by such other legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer.

“ORDER” means a written order signed in the name of the Issuer: (1) by its Chairman, a Vice Chairman, its President, a Vice President, its Treasurer or a director (or equivalent officers), and (2) by its Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that such written request or order may be signed by two of the officers or directors listed in clause (1) above in lieu of being signed by one of such officers or directors listed in such clause (1) and one of the officers listed in clause (2) above.

“ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE” of any Security (or portion thereof) means the earlier of (1) the date of such Security or (2) the date of any Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

“ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

“OUTSTANDING” (except as otherwise provided in Sections 7.4, 10.4 and 10.5), when used with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Sections 7.4, 10.4 and 10.5 mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except

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

(2) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (as provided for in Sections 10.1 and 10.4) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent), provided that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

(3) Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer) or Securities not deemed outstanding pursuant to Section 12.2.

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

“PAYMENT DEFAULT” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1(7).

“PERIODIC OFFERING” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the stated maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities.

“PERSON” means a legal person, including any individual, company, limited liability company, corporation, estate, partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint shares

 

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company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity of whatever nature.

“PRINCIPAL” whenever used with reference to the Securities or any Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include “and premium, if any.”

“RECORD DATE” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

“REGISTERED SECURITY” means any Security registered on the Security register of the Issuer.

“REQUIRED CURRENCY” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

“RESPONSIBLE OFFICER” when used with respect to the Trustee means any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant treasurer, or any other officer associated with the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY” means (1) American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, an insurance company domiciled in Nebraska, so long as it is a Subsidiary of the Issuer; (2) any other present or future Subsidiary the Consolidated Total Assets of which constitute 20 percent or more of the Consolidated Total Assets of the Issuer; and (3) any Subsidiary which is a successor, by merger or otherwise, to substantially all of the business or properties of any Subsidiary referred to or described in the foregoing clauses (1) or (2).

“SECURITY” or “SECURITIES” (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture, or, as the case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS” means the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on (1) all indebtedness of the Issuer, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, which is (a) indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer, (b) indebtedness for money borrowed by, or obligations of, others and either assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer, (c) in respect of letters of credit and acceptances issued or made by banks, or (d) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Issuer, and (2) all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of, and amendments, modifications and supplements to, any such indebtedness. As used in the preceding sentence the term “indebtedness for money borrowed” means indebtedness evidenced by a note, debenture, bond or other instrument (whether or not secured by any lien or other security interest) issued or assumed as all or a part of the consideration for the acquisition of property, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, unless by its terms such indebtedness is subordinate to other indebtedness of the Issuer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Securities, Senior Indebtedness shall not include (a) any indebtedness of the Issuer which, by its terms or the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing it, is subordinate in right of payment to or pari passu with the Securities or (b) any indebtedness of the Issuer to a Subsidiary or (c) obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Issuer in the ordinary course of business.

“SUBSIDIARY” means any corporation, partnership or other entity of which at the time of determination the Issuer owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Shares.

“TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

“TRUSTEE” means the Person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article VI, shall also include any successor trustee. “Trustee” shall also mean or include each Person who is then a trustee hereunder and if at any time there is more than one such Person,

 

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“Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

“UNREGISTERED SECURITY” means any Security other than a Registered Security.

“U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS” means securities which are (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof or otherwise subject to prepayment, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a New York Clearing House bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment or interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt or from any amount held by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“VOTING SHARES” means shares of any class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation in question, provided that, for the purposes hereof, shares which carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered voting shares whether or not such event shall have happened.

“YIELD TO MATURITY” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

ARTICLE II

SECURITIES

Section 2.1 Forms Generally . The Securities of each series and the Coupons, if any, to be attached thereto shall be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate detailing such establishment) or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may be determined by the officers executing such Securities and Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and Coupons. If temporary Securities of any series are issued as permitted by Section 2.11, the form thereof also shall be established as provided in the preceding sentence. If the forms of Securities and Coupons, if any, of the series are established by, or by action taken pursuant to, a Board Resolution, a copy of the Board Resolution together with an appropriate record of any such action taken pursuant thereto, including a copy of the approved form of Securities or Coupons, if any, shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Order contemplated by Section 2.4 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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

 

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

“This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Subordinated Indenture.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.  
        ,
as Trustee  
By      
  Authorized Signatory  

Dated:

     

If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be borne by the Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

“This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Subordinated Indenture.

 

        ,

as Authenticating Agent

 
By      
  Authorized Signatory  

Dated:

     

Section 2.3 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series . The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series and each such series shall rank equally and pari passu with the Securities of each other series, but, except as otherwise provided with respect to any series of Securities in accordance with Section 2.1 and 2.3, all Securities issued hereunder and any Coupons and the payment of principal of and interest on any Securities and of any Coupons shall be subordinate and junior in right payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XIII, to all Senior Indebtedness. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officer’s Certificate detailing such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series,

(1) the designation of the Securities of the series, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other series;

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount 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 the series pursuant to Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or 12.3);

(3) if other than Dollars, the coin or currency in which the Securities of that series are denominated (including, but not limited to, any Foreign Currency or ECU);

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

(5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method of determining such rate or rates, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, on which such interest shall be payable and (in the case of Registered Securities) on which a record shall be taken for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable and/or the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;

 

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(6) the place or places where the principal of and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable (if other than as provided in Section 3.2);

(7) the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem Securities, in whole or in part, at its option and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

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

(9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof in the case of Registered Securities, or $1,000 and $5,000 in the case of Unregistered Securities, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

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

(11) if other than the coin or currency in which the Securities of that series are denominated, the coin or currency in which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable;

(12) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

(13) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(14) whether the Securities of the series will be issuable as Registered Securities or Unregistered Securities (with or without Coupons), and whether such Securities will be issuable in global form or any combination of the foregoing, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Unregistered Securities or the payment of interest thereon and, if other than as provided in Section 2.8, the terms upon and locations at which Unregistered Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series and vice versa;

(15) whether and under what circumstances the Issuer will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a person who is not a U.S. person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Issuer will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

(16) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(17) any Trustees, Depositaries, Authenticating Agents, paying or transfer Agents or Registrars or any other agents with respect to the Securities of such series;

(18) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

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(19) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

(20) the date as of which any Unregistered Securities of the series and any temporary Security in global form representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

(21) the applicability, if any, to the Securities of or within the series of Article X, or such other means of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as may be specified for the Securities and Coupons, if any, of such series;

(22) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in global form (a) the Depositary for such global Securities, (b) the form of any legend in addition to or in lieu of that in Section 2.4 which shall be borne by such global security, (c) whether beneficial owners of interests in any Securities of the series in global form may exchange such interests for certificated Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination, and (d) if other than as provided in Section 2.8, the circumstances under which any such exchange may occur;

(23) the right of the Issuer, if any, to defer any payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of the series, or any tranche thereof, and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

(24) any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series or the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

(25) the terms and conditions of any right or obligation on the part of the Issuer, or any option on the part of the Holders, to convert or exchange Securities of such series into cash or any other securities or property of the Issuer or any other Person, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

(26) whether and under what circumstances any or all of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of the Securities (including the provisions of Article XIII), or different subordination provisions, including a different definition of “Senior Indebtedness” will apply or cease to apply to Securities of the series; and

(27) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of this Indenture with respect to such series).

All Securities of any one series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, shall be substantially identical, except in the case of Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate referred to above or as set forth in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

Section 2.4 Authentication and Delivery of Securities . (1) The Issuer may deliver Securities of any series having attached thereto appropriate Coupons, if any, executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to below in this Section, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon the order of the Issuer (contained in the Order referred to below in this Section) or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Order. The maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the Securities of such series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be determined by or pursuant to such Order and procedures. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be given and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked with notice thereof having been given to the Trustee:

(a) an Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities and Coupons, if any, are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with respect to

 

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Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (i) such Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (ii) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, pursuant to an Order or pursuant to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by an Order and (iii) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Order or pursuant to such procedures;

(b) any Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, were established;

(c) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the form or forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, stating that the form or forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 and stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with; and

(d) an Opinion of Counsel stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with.

(2) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Issuer or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or board of trustees, executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or Responsible Officers shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.

(3) If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in global form, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Securities in global form that (a) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series issued and not yet canceled, (b) if such Securities are Registered Securities, shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Security or Securities in global form or the nominee of such Depositary, (c) if such Securities are Registered Securities, shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions and (d) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.” The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any action taken or not taken by the Depositary.

(4) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any other applicable statute or regulation.

Section 2.5 Execution of Securities . The Securities and, if applicable, each Coupon appertaining thereto shall be signed on behalf of the Issuer by the chairman or vice chairman of its Board of Directors or its president or any executive, senior or other vice president or its treasurer, which may, but need not, be attested. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such officers. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the Securities or Coupons, if any, shall cease to be such officer before the Security or Coupon so signed (or the Security to which the Coupon so signed appertains) shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuer, such

 

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Security or Coupon nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Security or Coupon had not ceased to be such officer of the Issuer; and any Security or Coupon may be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security or Coupon, shall be the proper officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

Section 2.6 Certificate of Authentication . Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. No Coupon shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or shall be valid and obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Security to which such Coupon appertains shall have been duly executed by the Trustee. The execution of such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 2.7 Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest . The Securities of each series shall be issuable as Registered Securities or Unregistered Securities in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to the Registered Securities of any series, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. If denominations of Unregistered Securities of any series are not so established, such Securities shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and $5,000. The Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Unregistered Security shall be dated as provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Issuer referred to in Section 2.3. The Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by Section 2.3.

The person in whose name any Registered Security of any series is registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Registered Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Registered Securities for such series are registered at the close of business on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of Registered Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date. The term “record date” as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date specified as such in the terms of the Registered Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so established, if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the fifteenth day of the next preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

Section 2.8 Registration, Transfer and Exchange . (1) The Issuer will keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it will provide for the registration of Registered Securities of such series and the registration of transfer of Registered Securities of such series. Such register shall be in written form in the English language. At all reasonable times such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.

 

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(2) Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

Unregistered Securities (except for any temporary Unregistered Securities in global form) and Coupons (except for Coupons attached to any temporary Unregistered Securities in global form) shall be transferable by delivery.

(3) (a) At the option of the Holder thereof, Registered Securities of any series (other than a Registered Security in global form, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Registered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2 and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

      (b) Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3, at the option of the Holder, Unregistered Securities of such series may be exchanged for Registered Securities (if the Securities of such series are issuable in registered form) or Unregistered Securities (if Unregistered Securities of such series are issuable in more than one denomination and such exchanges are permitted by such series) of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2, with all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of an Unregistered Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons or matured Coupon or Coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Unregistered Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing Coupon or Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Issuer and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any paying agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any paying agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment as provided in Section 3.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case any Unregistered Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange for a Registered Security of the same series after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any record date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant interest payment date, or (ii) any special record date for payment of defaulted interest and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related date for payment of defaulted interest, such Unregistered Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such interest or defaulted interest payment date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such Coupon is so surrendered with such Unregistered Security, such Coupon shall be returned to the person so surrendering the Unregistered Security), and interest or defaulted interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Unregistered Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon, when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

      (c) Registered Securities of any series may not be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such series unless (i) otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 and (ii) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that (A) the Issuer has received from the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that the inclusion of terms permitting Registered Securities to be exchanged for Unregistered Securities would result in no adverse Federal income tax effect to the Issuer or to any Holder. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. All Securities and Coupons surrendered upon any exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall

 

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be canceled promptly and disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of cancelled securities in effect as of the date of such cancellation.

(4) All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing.

The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities. No service charge shall be made for any such transaction.

The Issuer shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days next preceding the first mailing of notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be redeemed or (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.

(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Registered Security in global form 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.

If at any time the Depositary for any Registered Securities of a series represented by one or more Registered Securities in global form notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Registered Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Registered Securities shall no longer be eligible under Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 with respect to such Registered Securities. If a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 for such Registered Securities is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer’s election pursuant to Section 2.3 that such Registered Securities be represented by one or more Registered Securities in global form shall no longer be effective and the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without Coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Security or Securities in global form representing such Registered Securities in exchange for such Registered Security or Securities in global form.

The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Registered Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Registered Securities in global form shall no longer be represented by a Registered Security or Securities in global form. In such event the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without Coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Security or Securities in global form representing such Registered Securities, in exchange for such Registered Security or Securities in global form.

If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to Securities represented by a Registered Security in global form, the Depositary for such Registered Security in global form may surrender such Registered Security in global form in exchange in whole or in part for Registered Securities of the same series in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

 

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(a) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Registered Security in global form; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Registered Security in global form in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Security in global form and the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (a) above.

Upon the exchange of a Registered Security in global form for Registered Securities in definitive form without Coupons, in authorized denominations, such Registered Security in global form shall be canceled by the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. Registered Securities in definitive form issued in exchange for a Registered Security in global form pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Registered Security in global form, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

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

(7) Notwithstanding anything herein or in the terms of any series of Securities to the contrary, none of the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee (any of which, other than the Issuer, shall conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel) shall be required to exchange any Unregistered Security for a Registered Security if such exchange would result in adverse income tax consequences to the Issuer.

(8) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

Section 2.9 Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities . In case any Security or any Coupon appertaining to any Security shall become mutilated, defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its discretion may execute, and upon the written request of any officer of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Security of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date, bearing a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen with Coupons corresponding to the Coupons appertaining to the Securities so mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, or in exchange or substitution for the Security to which such mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertained, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons so mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substitute Security or Coupon shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of them harmless and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupon and of the ownership thereof and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall surrender the Security and related Coupons to the Trustee or such agent.

 

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Upon the issuance of any substitute Security or Coupon, the Issuer 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) or its agent connected therewith. In case any Security or Coupon which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same or the relevant Coupon (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated or defaced Security or Coupon), if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupon and of the ownership thereof.

Every substitute Security or Coupon of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security or Coupon is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities or Coupons of such series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Securities and Coupons shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, defaced or destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and Coupons and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.10 Cancellation of Securities; Destruction Thereof . All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or analogous fund, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it; and no Securities or Coupons shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee or its agent shall dispose of canceled Securities and Coupons held by it in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of cancelled securities in effect as of the date of such cancellation. If the Issuer or its agent shall acquire any of the Securities or Coupons, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities or Coupons unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Temporary Securities . Pending the preparation of definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed, lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form satisfactory to the Trustee). Temporary Securities of any series shall be issuable as Registered Securities without Coupons, or as Unregistered Securities with or without Coupons attached thereto, of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Temporary Securities may contain such references to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon temporary Registered Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and, in the case of Unregistered Securities, at any agency maintained by the Issuer for such purpose as specified pursuant to Section 3.2, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series having authorized denominations and, in the case of Unregistered Securities, having attached thereto any appropriate Coupons. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be entitled to the

 

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same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.3. The provisions of this Section are subject to any restrictions or limitations on the issue and delivery of temporary Unregistered Securities of any series that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3 (including any provision that Unregistered Securities of such series initially be issued in the form of a single Unregistered Security in global form to be delivered to a Depositary or agency located outside the United States and the procedures pursuant to which Unregistered Securities in definitive or global form of such series would be issued in exchange for such temporary Unregistered Security in global form).

Section 2.12 Global Securities . Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers . The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so used by the Issuer, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice 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 a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTIClE III

COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

Section 3.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and in this Indenture. The interest on Securities with Coupons attached (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several Coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. If any temporary Unregistered Security provides that interest thereon may be paid while such Security is in temporary form, the interest on any such temporary Unregistered Security (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Security) shall be paid, as to the installments of interest evidenced by Coupons attached thereto, if any, only upon presentation and surrender thereof, and, as to the other installments of interest, if any, only upon presentation of such Securities for notation thereon of the payment of such interest, in each case subject to any restrictions that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3.

Section 3.2 Offices for Payments, Etc. So long as any Securities are issued as Registered Securities, the Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of each series may be presented for exchange as is provided in this Indenture and, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided.

So long as any Securities are issued as Unregistered Securities, the Issuer will maintain one or more offices or agencies in a city or cities located outside the United States (including any city in which such an agency is required to be maintained under the rules of any shares exchange on which the Securities of such series are listed) where the Unregistered Securities, if any, of each series and Coupons, if any,

 

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appertaining thereto may be presented for payment. No payment on any Unregistered Security or Coupon will be made upon presentation of such Unregistered Security or Coupon at an agency of the Issuer within the United States nor will any payment be made by transfer to an account in, or by mail to an address in, the United States unless pursuant to applicable United States laws and regulations then in effect such payment can be made without adverse tax consequences to the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments in Dollars of Unregistered Securities of any series and Coupons appertaining thereto which are payable in Dollars may be made at an agency of the Issuer maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if such payment in Dollars at each agency maintained by the Issuer outside the United States for payment on such Unregistered Securities is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

The Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Securities of any series, the Coupons appertaining thereto or this Indenture may be served.

The Issuer will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Issuer shall fail to maintain any agency required by this Section, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location of any of the above agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

The Issuer may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies where the Securities of a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that series may be presented for exchange as provided in this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Issuer may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Issuer may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain the agencies provided for in this Section. The Issuer will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

Section 3.3 Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust; Unclaimed Money . If the Issuer shall at any time act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

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

The Issuer will cause each paying agent other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such paying agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such paying agent will:

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on Securities in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest; and

 

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(3) 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 Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Order direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Issuer 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 Issuer or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by any paying agent to the Trustee, such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent, or then held by the Issuer in trust for the payment of the principal of and 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 Issuer on Order, or, if then held by the Issuer, shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Issuer cause to be published at least once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, in the case of Unregistered Securities, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

Section 3.4 Statements of Officers of Issuer as to Default; Notice of Default . (1) The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Issuer ending after the date hereof, a certificate, signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Issuer is in default (without regard to periods of grace or requirements of notice) in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof, and if the Issuer shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

(2) The Issuer shall file with the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of any default or Event of Default within five Business Days of its becoming aware of any such default or Event of Default and set forth, in an Officer’s Certificate, the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 3.5 Existence . Subject to Article IX, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises and those of each of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer or the business of any Subsidiary and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 3.6 Maintenance of Properties . The Issuer will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Issuer may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Issuer from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Issuer, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 3.7 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims . The Issuer shall pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges (including withholding taxes and any penalties, interest and additions to taxes) levied or imposed upon the Issuer or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Issuer or any

 

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Subsidiary, and (2) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Issuer or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which disputed amounts adequate reserves have been made.

Section 3.8 Further Instruments and Acts . Upon request of the Trustee, or as otherwise necessary, the Issuer will execute and deliver such further instruments and perform such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

Section 3.9 Limitations on Dispositions of Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries . As long as any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Voting Shares of any Restricted Subsidiary, unless:

(1) the issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition is required to comply with the order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued at the request of the Issuer or of one of its Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) all of the Voting Shares of a Restricted Subsidiary then owned by the Issuer or by its Restricted Subsidiary is disposed of in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, for a consideration consisting of cash or other property the fair market value of which is at least equal to the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) of such Voting Shares;

(3) the issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition is made to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary; or

(4) after giving effect to the issuance sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiary would own directly or indirectly at least 80% of the issued and outstanding Voting Shares of such Restricted Subsidiary and such issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition is made for a consideration consisting of cash or other property which is at least equal to the fair market value of such Voting Shares (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer may merge or consolidate any of its other Subsidiaries into or with another Person and it may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of its business in accordance with the provisions of Article IX. Furthermore, the foregoing covenant will not prohibit any issuance or disposition of securities by any other Subsidiary.

Section 3.10 Commission Reports . The Issuer shall file with the Trustee, within 30 days after it files such annual and quarterly reports, information, documents and other reports with the Commission, copies of its annual report and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Issuer is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall be under no obligation to analyze or make any credit decisions with respect to reports or other information received by it pursuant to this section, but shall hold such reports and other information solely for the benefit of, and review by, the security holders.

 

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Section 3.11 Calculation of Original Issue Discount . The Issuer shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE IV

SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 4.1 Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Securityholders . If and so long as the Trustee shall not be the Security registrar for the Securities of any series, the Issuer and any other obligor on the Securities will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Registered Securities of such series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (1) semi-annually not more than 5 days after each record date for the payment of interest on such Registered Securities, as hereinabove specified, as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.3 for non-interest bearing Registered Securities in each year, and (2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished.

Section 4.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders . (1) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 4.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar or paying agent. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(2) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

(3) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2(2), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 4.2(2).

Section 4.3 Reports by the Trustee . Any Trustee’s report required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 shall be transmitted within 60 days after April 15 each year beginning with the first April 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, as provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, so long as any Securities are Outstanding hereunder, and shall be dated as of April 15, if required by and in compliance with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

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

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 5.1 Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of Maturity; Waiver of Default . “Event of Default” with respect to Securities of any series wherever used herein, means each one of the following

 

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events which shall have occurred and be continuing (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 an indenture supplemental hereto, if any, under which such series of Securities is issued:

(1) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise; provided, however, that if the Issuer is permitted by the terms of the Securities of the applicable series to defer the payment in question, the date on which such payment is due and payable shall be the date on which the Issuer is required to make payment following such deferral, if such deferral has been elected pursuant to the terms of the Securities of that series (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period); or

(2) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days and the interest payment date has not been properly extended or deferred; provided, however, that if the Issuer is permitted by the terms of the Securities of the applicable series to defer the payment in question, the date on which such payment is due and payable shall be the date on which the Issuer is required to make payment following such deferral, if such deferral has been elected pursuant to the terms of the Securities of that series (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period); or

(3) default in the payment of any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such series; or

(4) failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or agreement in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance or breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with) or contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder and demanding that the Issuer remedy the same, shall have been given via overnight delivery to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected thereby; or

(5) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudging the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 120 days; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or of its or their property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its or their affairs, shall have been entered, and such decree or order shall have remained in force and unstayed for a period of 120 days; or

(6) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its or their property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its or their respective debts generally as they become due; or

 

 

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(7) a default, as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness of the Issuer (other than a default under this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series or a default with respect to any non-recourse Indebtedness), whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall happen and , which default (a) is caused by failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Debt after giving effect to any grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (“Payment Default”) or (b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, totals U.S. $100,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof at the time of determination) or more in the aggregate, and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled, or such Indebtedness shall not have been discharged, within a period of 15 days after there has been given, via overnight delivery to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such event of default and requiring the Issuer to cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled or to cause such Indebtedness to be discharged and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(8) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series; provided that if any such default or acceleration referred to in clause (7) above shall cease or be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, then the Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed likewise to have been thereupon cured.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Article II, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(5) or 5.1(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(5) or 5.1(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any holder, become immediately due and payable.

At any time after the principal of the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of , and premium, if any, on any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) expressed in the Securities of that series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 6.6, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 5.10.

For all purposes under this Indenture, unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue

 

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Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

Section 5.2 Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt . (1) The Issuer covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any series when such interest shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the Securities of any series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of such series or upon any redemption or by declaration or otherwise, then upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Securities of such series, and such Coupons, for principal or interest, as the case may be (with interest to the date of such payment upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series); and in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct.

Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay the principal of and interest on the Securities of any series to the registered holders, whether or not the Securities of such series be overdue.

(2) In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

(3) In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest (or, if the Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series, 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 compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, except as caused by his own negligence or willful misconduct) and of the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor,

 

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(b) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Securities of any series in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and

(c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Securityholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, or liquidator, custodian or other similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar person.

(4) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities or Coupons or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which such action was taken.

(5) In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities parties to any such proceedings.

Section 5.3 Application of Proceeds . Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall, subject to the subordination provisions hereof, be applied in the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the several Securities and Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which monies have been collected and stamping (or otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses applicable to such series in respect of which monies have been collected, including compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents and attorneys and of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct;

SECOND: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and be then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount

 

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Securities) specified in such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

THIRD: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority of principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and

FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in writing.

Section 5.4 Suits for Enforcement . In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee may deem necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 5.5 Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings . In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

Section 5.6 Limitations on Suits by Securityholders . No Holder of any Security of any series or of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in its own name as trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.9; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security or Coupon with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holder of Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of the applicable series and Coupons appertaining to such Securities. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

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Section 5.7 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Institute Certain Suits . Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and any provision of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security or Coupon to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Security or Coupon on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or Coupon, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.8 Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default . Except as provided in Section 5.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons 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.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Securities or Coupons to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to Section 5.6, every power and remedy given by this Indenture or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or Coupons.

Section 5.9 Control by Holders of Securities . The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series affected at the time Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by this Indenture; provided that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture and that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.

Section 5.10 Waiver of Past Defaults . Prior to the acceleration of the maturity of any Securities as provided in Section 5.1, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding with respect to which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing may on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series waive any past default or Event of Default described in Section 5.1 and its consequences, except (i) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected or (ii) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of such series. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all such Securities shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, and not to have occurred for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 5.11 Trustee to Give Notice of Default, but May Withhold in Certain Circumstances . The Trustee shall, within ninety days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, give notice of all defaults with respect to that series actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee (1) if any Unregistered Securities of that series are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by publication at least once an Authorized Newspaper in London and (2) to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, unless in each case such defaults shall have been cured before the mailing or publication of such notice (the term “defaults” for the purpose of this Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default); provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series.

Section 5.12 Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking to Pay Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security or Coupon by his or her 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 and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder or group of Securityholders of any series holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series, or, in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (4) or (8) of Section 5.1 (if the suit relates to Securities of more than one but less than all series), 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities then Outstanding and affected thereby, or in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (4) or (8) (if the suit under clause (4) or (8) relates to all the Securities then Outstanding), (5), (6) or (7) of Section 5.1, 10% in aggregate principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the due date expressed in such Security or any date fixed for redemption.

ARTICLE VI

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.1 Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default . (1) With respect to the Holders of any series of Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

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

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

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall

 

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not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

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

(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.9 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

(d) the Trustee shall not be required to take notice, and shall not be deemed to have notice, of any default or Event of Default hereunder, except Events of Default described in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of Section 5.1 hereof, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall be notified specifically of the default or Event of Default on a written instrument or document delivered to it at its Corporate Trust Office, which such notice references the Securities and this Indenture, by the Issuer or by the Holders of at least 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities then Outstanding. In the absence of delivery of notice satisfying those requirements, the Trustee may assume conclusively that there is no default or Event of Default, except as noted.

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

The provisions of this Section 6.1 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

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

Section 6.2 Certain Rights of the Trustee . In furtherance of and subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and subject to Section 6.1:

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, Officer’s Certificate or any other certificate, resolutions, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, 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;

(2) any request, direction, order or demand of the Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer;

(3) the Trustee may consult with legal counsel of its choice or other experts, and the advice of such experts within the scope of such expert’s area of expertise or advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion;

 

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

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

(6) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security, or other paper or document unless requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series affected by such Event of Default and then Outstanding; provided that, if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee, shall be repaid by the Issuer upon demand;

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

(8) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders pursuant to Section 5.9 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 it by this Indenture;

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

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

(11) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, at a time reasonably determined by the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(12) 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 security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; and

 

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(13) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

Section 6.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof . The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of any Securities or Coupons. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.4 Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities or Coupons; Collections, Etc . The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities or Coupons with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive, collect, hold and retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

Section 6.5 Moneys Held by Trustee . Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law. Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.

Section 6.6 Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and its Prior Claim . The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee from time to time (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct. The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective directors, officers, employees, and agents (the “indemnitees”) for, and to hold the indemnitees harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim, damage, penalty, fine or expense, including taxes and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, reasonable incidental expenses and legal fees and expenses incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the indemnitees’ part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the trusts hereunder and the indemnitees’ duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against or investigating any claim, whether asserted by the Issuer or any Holder or any other Person, or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of the indemnitees’ duties or obligations hereunder. The obligations of the Issuer under this Section to compensate and indemnify the indemnitees and to pay or reimburse the indemnitees for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.10 herein. Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities or Coupons, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities as to all property and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.6, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or Section 5.1(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

Section 6.7 Right of Trustee to Rely on Officer’s Certificate, Etc . Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or

 

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desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 6.8 Indentures Not Creating Potential Conflicting Interests for the Trustee . The following indentures are hereby specifically described for the purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939: this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series.

Section 6.9 Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee . The Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State or District of Columbia authority. Such corporation or banking association shall have a place of business or an affiliate with a place of business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York if there be such a corporation or association in such location willing to act upon reasonable and customary terms and conditions. If such corporation or association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.

The provisions of this Section 6.9 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee . (1) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer and (a) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by giving notice of such resignation to the Holders thereof, by publication, at the Issuer’s expense, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and (b) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and (c) by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities of each series affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee or Trustees. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the Issuer’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

(2) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the

 

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Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months; or

(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.9 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder; or

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

then, in any such case, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor Trustee for such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months may on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(3) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor Trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken by such Securityholders.

(4) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and any appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.11.

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee . Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall execute and deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Issuer or of the successor Trustee, upon payment of its charges then unpaid, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section 3.3, pay over to the successor Trustee all moneys at the time held by it hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.

If a successor Trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental

 

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indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts under separate indentures.

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.9.

Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.11, the Issuer shall give notice thereof (1) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by publication of such notice at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and (2) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, by mailing such notice to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee (and the Trustee shall make such information available to the Issuer for such purpose) and (3) if any Registered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by mailing such notice to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. If the acceptance of appointment is substantially contemporaneous with the resignation, then the notice called for by the preceding sentence may be combined with the notice called for by Section 6.10. If the Issuer fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Issuer.

Section 6.12 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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.9, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

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

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 to the extent indicated therein.

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent . As long as any Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9. Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of any series by the Trustee or to the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent for such series and a Certificate of Authentication executed on behalf

 

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of the Trustee by such Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (determined as provided in Section 6.9 with respect to the Trustee) and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority.

Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted, or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating Agent with respect to all series of Securities for which it served as Authenticating Agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall cease to be eligible shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Issuer.

Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.14 with respect to one or more series of Securities, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Order appoint a successor Authenticating Agent and the Issuer shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.4. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent. The Issuer agrees to pay to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time to time reasonable compensation. The Authenticating Agent for the Securities of any series shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such at the direction of the Trustee.

Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any Authenticating Agent.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 7.1 Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders . Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

Section 7.2 Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities . Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his or her agent or proxy may be proved in the following manner:

(1) The fact and date of the execution by any Holder of any instrument may be proved by the certificate of any notary public or other officer of any jurisdiction authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds or administer oaths that the person executing such instruments acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness to such execution sworn to before any such notary or other such officer. Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the authority of the person executing the same.

(2) The fact of the holding by any Holder of an Unregistered Security of any series, and the identifying number of such Security and the date of his or her holding the same, may be proved by the

 

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production of such Security or by a certificate executed by any trust company, bank, banker or recognized securities dealer wherever situated satisfactory to the Trustee, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. Each such certificate shall be dated and shall state that on the date thereof a Security of such series bearing a specified identifying number was deposited with or exhibited to such trust company, bank, banker or recognized securities dealer by the person named in such certificate. Any such certificate may be issued in respect of one or more Unregistered Securities of one or more series specified therein. The holding by the person named in any such certificate of any Unregistered Securities of any series specified therein shall be presumed to continue for a period of one year from the date of such certificate unless at the time of any determination of such holding (a) another certificate bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Securities shall be produced, or (b) the Securities of such series specified in such certificate shall be produced by some other person, or (c) the Securities of such series specified in such certificate shall have ceased to be Outstanding. Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the fact and date of the execution of any such instrument and the amount and numbers of Securities of any series held by the person so executing such instrument and the amount and numbers of any Security or Securities for such series may also be proven in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee for such series or in any other manner which the Trustee for such series may deem sufficient.

(3) In the case of Registered Securities, the ownership of such Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a certificate of the Security registrar.

The Issuer may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Registered Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action referred to in Section 7.1, which record date may be set at any time or from time to time by notice to the Trustee, for any date or dates (in the case of any adjournment or reconsideration) not more than 60 days nor less than five days prior to the proposed date of such vote or consent, and thereafter, notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, with respect to Registered Securities of any series, only Holders of Registered Securities of such series of record on such record date shall be entitled to so vote or give such consent or revoke such vote or consent.

Section 7.3 Holders to Be Treated as Owners . The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Holder of any Unregistered Security and the Holder of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Unregistered Security or Coupon (whether or not such Unregistered Security or Coupon shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes and neither the Issuer, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any such person, or upon his or her order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Unregistered Security or Coupon.

Section 7.4 Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding . In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the

 

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Securities or any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Issuer to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above-described Persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

Section 7.5 Right of Revocation of Action Taken . At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such action.

ARTICLE VIII

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 8.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders . (1) In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Order), and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, which comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as then in effect, without the consent of the Holders, for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;

(b) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant to Article IX;

(c) to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Issuer shall consider to be for the benefit of the Holders of Securities or Coupons, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;

 

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(d) to cure any ambiguity, inconsistency, omission or defect to any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture;

(e) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3;

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11; and

(g) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of affected Securities in any material respect.

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

(3) Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.2.

Section 8.2 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders . (1) With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Issuer and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, which comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall (a) extend the final maturity of any then issued Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof, or make the principal thereof (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), or interest thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in such Securities and any Coupons thereon or in accordance with the terms thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a then issued Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof or, if such Securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the Securityholder, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of then issued Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Security so affected.

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

(3) Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.1, the Trustee shall join with the

 

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Issuer in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

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

(5) Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Issuer shall give notice thereof (a) if any Registered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, (b) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313 (c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and (c) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to all Holders thereof, by publication of a notice thereof at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London, and such notice shall set forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Issuer to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

Section 8.3 Effect of Supplemental Indenture . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 8.4 Documents to Be Given to Trustee . The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall be given, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article VIII complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

Section 8.5 Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures . Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such series as to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to any action taken by Securityholders. If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding.

Section 8.6 Subordination Unimpaired . This Indenture may not be amended to alter the subordination of any of the Outstanding Securities without the written consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that would be adversely affected thereby.

 

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ARTICLE IX

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 9.1 Issuer May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

(1) The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Issuer shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge with or into the Issuer, unless:

(a) the Issuer is the surviving corporation in a merger or consolidation; or

(b) in the case the Issuer shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey or transfer its assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto and entered into pursuant to Article VIII hereof, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant to the Indenture on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed; and

(c) immediately after giving effect to the consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

(d) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the supplemental indenture, entered into pursuant to Article VIII hereof, complies with the Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

(2) The provisions of 9.1(1) shall not be applicable to the direct or indirect conveyance, transfer or lease of all or any portion of the stock, assets or liabilities of any of the Issuer’s wholly-owned Subsidiaries to the Issuer or other wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Issuer.

Section 9.2 Successor Substituted for the Issuer . Upon any consolidation of the Issuer with, or merger of the Issuer into, any other Person or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 9.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer 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 Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein, and thereafter, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE X

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

Section 10.1 Termination of Issuer’s Obligations Under the Indenture . (1) This Indenture shall upon an Order cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of or within any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities and replacement of such Securities which may have been lost, stolen or mutilated as herein expressly provided for) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto when

    (a) either

        (i) all such Securities previously authenticated and delivered and all Coupons appertaining thereto (other than (A) such Coupons appertaining to Unregistered Securities surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such

 

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exchange, surrender of which is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 2.8, (B) such Securities and Coupons which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9, (C) such Coupons appertaining to Unregistered Securities called for redemption and maturing after the date fixed for redemption thereof, surrender of which has been waived as provided in Section 12.3 and (D) such Securities and Coupons for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust as provided in Section 3.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

    (ii) all Securities of such series and, in the case of (X) or (Y) below, all Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (X) have become due and payable, or (Y) will become due and payable within one year, or (Z) if redeemable at the option of the Issuer, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer, in the case of (X), (Y) or (Z) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the currency or currencies or currency unit or units in which the Securities of such series are payable, the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and such Coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest, with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or maturity date or redemption date, as the case may be;

(b) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer; and

(c) the Issuer 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 as to such series have been complied with.

(2) Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligation of the Issuer to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.6, the obligations of the Issuer to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to (1)(a)(ii) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 10.2 and the last paragraph of Section 3.3 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 10.2 Application of Trust Funds . Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 3.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the Coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Issuer acting as its own paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto of the principal, premium, if any and any interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 10.3 Applicability of Legal Defeasance Provisions; Issuer’s Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . If pursuant to Section 2.3 provision is made for either or both of (1) Legal Defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 10.4 or (2) Covenant Defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 10.5, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the provisions of Sections 10.6 through 10.9 inclusive, with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to any Securities, shall be applicable to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Issuer may at its option by or pursuant to Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 10.4 (if applicable) or Section 10.5 (if applicable) be applied to such

 

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Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

Section 10.4 Legal Defeasance and Discharge . Upon the Issuer’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Issuer shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 10.6 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 10.7 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clause (2) of this Section and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 10.6(a) and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 3.2 and 3.3, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the Issuer may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 10.5 applied to such Securities. Following a Legal Defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

Section 10.5 Covenant Defeasance . Upon the Issuer’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1) the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Article IX, Sections 3.7 and 3.9, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.3(18), 8.1(c) or 8.1(e) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 5.1(4) (with respect to any of Article IX, Sections 3.7 and 3.9, inclusive, and any such covenants provided pursuant to Sections 2.3(18), 8.1(c) or 8.1(e)) and 5.1(8) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 10.6 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.1(4)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 10.6 Conditions to Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 10.4 or Section 10.5 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, and any Coupons appertaining thereto:

(a) The Issuer shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (X) the

 

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principal of and any premium and interest and (Y) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to such Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto. Before such a deposit the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XII which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

(b) In the event of an election to have Section 10.4 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Issuer 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 (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of such Securities, and any Coupons appertaining thereto, will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Legal Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Legal Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

(c) In the event of an election to have Section 10.5 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(d) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that it has been informed by the relevant securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

(e) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.1(5) and 5.1(6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

(f) Such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound.

(g) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Issuer in connection therewith as contemplated by Section 2.3.

Section 10.7 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust . Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 3.3, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 2.3) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.6 in respect of any Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Issuer acting as its own paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to

 

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become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 10.8 Repayment to Issuer . The Trustee (any paying agent) shall promptly pay to the Issuer upon Order any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Section 10.9 Indemnity For U.S. Government Obligations . The Issuer shall pay, and shall indemnify the Trustee against, any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Article or the principal and interest and any other amount received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

Section 10.10 Reimbursement . If the Trustee or the paying agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or government authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Issuer has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 10.4 or 10.5 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or paying agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 10.7 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 11.1 Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual Liability . No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities and the Coupons appertaining thereto by the Holders thereof and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities and the Coupons appertaining thereto.

Section 11.2 Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities and Coupons . Nothing in this Indenture, in the Securities or in the Coupons appertaining thereto, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their successors, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any.

Section 11.3 Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture . All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 11.4 Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of Securities and Coupons . Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or Coupons to or on the Issuer shall be in writing (which may be by facsimile) and may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to Aflac Incorporated, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Georgia

 

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31999, Attn: General Counsel. Any notice, direction, request or demand by the Issuer or any Holder of Securities or Coupons to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer) to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 900 Ashwood Parkway, Suite 425, Atlanta, GA, 30338, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration.

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

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

Section 11.5 Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein . Upon any application or demand by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

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

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or

 

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her certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

Section 11.6 Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays . If the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any such Security or Coupon shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

Section 11.7 Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . 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 Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

Section 11.8 New York Law to Govern; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Indenture and each Security and Coupon shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.

EACH OF THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE 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 INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 11.9 Counterparts . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 11.10 Effect of Headings . The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU . Unless otherwise specified in an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 11.11, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Communities (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of the ECU shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such other quotations or, in the case of ECU, rates of exchange as the Trustee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by

 

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Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture including without limitation any determination contemplated in Section 5.1(7).

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Issuer and all Holders.

Section 11.12 Judgment Currency . The Issuer agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (1) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a Business Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the Business Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (2) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (a) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (1)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (b) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (c) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

Section 11.13 Separability Clause . If any provision of this Indenture or of the Securities, or the application of any such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remainder of this Indenture or of the Securities, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to whom or which it is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 11.14 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

ARTICLE XII

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.1 Applicability of Article . The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Securities of such series.

Section 12.2 Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions . Notice of redemption to the Holders of Registered Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by mailing notice of such redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders of Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the registry books. Notice of redemption to the Holders of Unregistered Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part shall be given

 

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by electronic means. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice. Failure to give notice by mail, or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security of such series.

The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall identify the securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers), shall specify, the principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Holder to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities and, in the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, of all Coupons appertaining thereto maturing after the date fixed for redemption, that such redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s request and provision of the notice information, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.3) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. In case of a redemption at the election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officer’s Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.

If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair, Securities of such Series to be redeemed in whole or in part. Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series or any multiple thereof. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such series 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 of any series shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 12.3 Payment of Securities Called for Redemption . If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and the unmatured Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be void, and, except as provided in Sections 3.3 and 6.5, such Securities shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, together

 

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with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the date fixed for redemption, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided that payment of interest becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall be payable in the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, to the Holders of the Coupons for such interest upon surrender thereof, and in the case of Registered Securities, to the Holders of such Registered Securities registered as such on the relevant record date subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 2.3 and 2.7 hereof.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security) borne by such Security.

If any Security with Coupons attached thereto is surrendered for redemption and is not accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the date fixed for redemption, such Security may be redeemed after deducting from the redemption price any amount equal to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Issuer and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any paying agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any paying agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the redemption price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by Coupons shall be payable as provided in Section 2.9 and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3, only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons.

Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

Section 12.4 Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption . Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 10 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer.

Section 12.5 Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds . (1) The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the 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 the Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein referred to as the “sinking fund payment date.”

(2) In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section, or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision contained in the terms of such series. Securities so delivered or credited shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption price specified in such Securities.

 

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(3) On or before the 30th day next preceding each sinking fund payment date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate (which need not contain the statements required by Section 11.5) (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none of the Securities of such series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are continuing and (d) stating whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Any Securities of such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order for the Issuer to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officer’s Certificate (or reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee). Such Officer’s Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee the Issuer shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 30th day, to deliver such Officer’s Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Issuer will make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section.

(4) If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU) or a lesser sum in Dollars (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU) if the Issuer shall so request with respect to the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU) or less and the Issuer makes no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU) is available. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 12.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions thereof) so selected. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for redemption under this Section if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 30 days prior to the sinking fund payment date as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such Officer’s Certificate as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 12.2 (and with the effect provided in Section 12.3) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the option of the Issuer. The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

(5) On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the next following sinking fund payment date.

 

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(6) The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any Event of Default except that, where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Issuer a sum sufficient for such redemption. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default, be deemed to have been collected under Article V and held for the payment of all such Securities. In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.10 or the default cured on or before the 30th day preceding the sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of such Securities.

ARTICLE XIII

SUBORDINATION

Section 13.1 Agreement to Subordinate . The Issuer, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security or Coupon, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of and interest on, each and all of the Securities and any Coupons is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter in this Article XIII set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

Section 13.2 Rights of Senior Indebtedness in the Event of Insolvency, Etc. of the Issuer .

(1) In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Issuer or to its creditors, as such, or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Issuer, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, and in the event of any execution sale, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of principal thereof and interest due thereon (including, without limitation, except to the extent, if any, prohibited by mandatory provisions of law, post-petition interest in any such proceedings) in money or money’s worth of all Senior Indebtedness before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities or of the Coupons, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive for application in payment thereof any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash or property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in connection with any such proceedings or sale in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities or Coupons other than securities of the Issuer as reorganized or readjusted or securities of the Issuer or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article XIII with respect to the Securities or Coupons, to the payment of all indebtedness of the nature of Senior Indebtedness, provided that the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not altered by such reorganization or readjustment;

(2) In the event and during the continuation of any default in payment of any Senior Indebtedness or if any event of default, as therein defined, shall exist under any Senior Indebtedness or any agreement pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness is issued, no payment of the principle of or interest on the Securities or Coupons shall be made and the Issuer covenants that it will, upon ascertaining any such default or event of default, provide written notice to the Trustee of such default or event of default;

(3) In the event that the Securities of any series are declared due and payable before their expressed maturity because of the occurrence of an Event of Default (under circumstances when the provisions of Subsection (1) of this Section 13.2 shall not be applicable), the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full in money or money’s worth of such Senior

 

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Indebtedness before such Holders are entitled to receive any payment on account of the principal of or interest on the Securities or Coupons; and

(4) No holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be prejudiced in his or her right to enforce subordination of the Securities or Coupons by any act or failure to act on the part of the Issuer.

Section 13.3 Payment Over of Proceeds Received on Securities . In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13.2, any payment or distribution of assets of the Issuer of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than securities of the Issuer as reorganized or readjusted or securities of the Issuer or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article XIII with respect to the Securities or Coupons, to the payment of all indebtedness of the nature of Senior Indebtedness, provided that the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not altered by such reorganization or readjustment) shall be received by the Holders or by the Trustee for their benefit in connection with any proceedings or sale referred to in Subsection (1) of Section 13.2 before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in money or money’s worth, such payment or distribution shall be paid over to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

From and after the payment in full in money or money’s worth of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders (together with the holders of any other indebtedness of the Issuer which is subordinate in right of payment to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, which is not subordinate in right of payment to the Securities or Coupons and which by its terms grants such right of subrogation to the holder thereof) shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets or securities of the Issuer applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the Securities and any Coupons shall be paid in full, and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no such payments or distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of assets or securities, which otherwise would have been payable or distributable to Holders, shall, as between the Issuer, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment by the Issuer to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article XIII are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand, and nothing contained in this Article XIII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities or Coupons is intended to or shall impair as between the Issuer, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders, the obligation of the Issuer, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders the principal of and interest on the Securities or Coupons as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders and creditors of the Issuer other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security or Coupon from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture subject to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, under Section 13.2, to receive cash, property or securities of the Issuer otherwise payable or deliverable to the holders of the Securities or Coupons.

Upon any distribution or payment in connection with any proceedings or sale referred to in Subsection (1) of Section 13.2, the Trustee, subject as between the Trustee and the Holders to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution or payment to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the holders of Senior Indebtedness entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the amount of such Senior Indebtedness or the amount payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XIII. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Section 13.3,

 

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the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Section 13.3, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith, mistakenly or otherwise, pay over or distribute to Holders or the Issuer or any other Person moneys or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of Article XIII of this Indenture or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

Section 13.4 Payments to Holders . Nothing contained in this Article XIII or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities or in any Coupon, shall prevent at any time, (1) the Issuer from making payments at any time of principal of or interest on the Securities or Coupons, except under the conditions described in Section 13.2 or during the pendency of any proceedings or sale therein referred to, provided, however, that payments of principal of or interest on the Securities or Coupons shall only be made by the Issuer within three Business Days of the due dates for such payments or (2) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of or interest on the Securities or Coupons, if at the time of such deposit the Trustee did not have written notice in accordance with Section 13.6 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit by the Issuer or if in the event of redemption, the Trustee did not have such written notice prior to the time that the notice of redemption pursuant to Section 12.2 was given (which notice of redemption shall in no event be given more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption).

Section 13.5 Holders of Securities Authorize Trustee to Effectuate Subordination of Securities . Each Holder by his or her acceptance of a Security or Coupon authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XIII and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Issuer (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or otherwise) tending towards liquidation of the business and assets of the Issuer, the immediate filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of such Holder’s Securities or Coupons in the form required in said proceedings and cause said claim to be approved.

Section 13.6 Notice to Trustee . Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIII or any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with the knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to the Trustee, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Issuer or from the holder or the representative of any class of Senior Indebtedness; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the cash amount payable at maturity or interest on any Security or Coupon), the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such monies the notice provided for in this Section 13.6, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it on or after such two Business Days prior to such date.

Section 13.7 Trustee May Hold Senior Indebtedness . Subject to the provisions of Section 6.13, the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIII with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent of its right as such holder.

 

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

Section 13.8 Applicability of Article XIII to Paying Agents . In case at any time any paying agent other than the Trustee shall be appointed by the Issuer and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article XIII in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such paying agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such paying agent were named in this Article XIII in place of the Trustee.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of September 26, 2012.

 

AFLAC INCORPORATED

By:

 

/s/ Kris Cloninger III

Name:  

Kris Cloninger III

Title:  

President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos

Name:  

Julie Hoffman-Ramos

Title:  

Vice President

 

Aflac Incorporated Form 8-K

  Exhibit 4.2

AFLAC INCORPORATED,

AS ISSUER

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

AS TRUSTEE

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of September 26, 2012

 

 

$450,000,000

5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
  

ARTICLE I

 

5.50% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2052

  

Section 1.01

   Establishment      1   

Section 1.02

   Definitions      2   

Section 1.03

   Payment of Principal and Interest      3   

Section 1.04

   Option to Defer Interest Payments      3   

Section 1.05

   Denominations      6   

Section 1.06

   Global Securities      6   

Section 1.07

   Transfer      6   

Section 1.08

   Defeasance      6   

Section 1.09

   Redemption at the Option of the Company      6   

Section 1.10

   Notice to Trustee      9   

Section 1.11

   Selection of Subordinated Debentures to be Redeemed; Notice of Redemption      9   

Section 1.12

   Events of Default      10   
   ARTICLE II   
   MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS   

Section 2.01

   Recitals by the Company      12   

Section 2.02

   Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture      12   

Section 2.03

   Executed in Counterparts      12   

Section 2.04

   New York Law to Govern      12   

Section 2.05

   Agreement by Holders to Treat Debentures as Indebtedness for Tax Purposes      12   

EXHIBITA

   Form of Global Debenture      A-1   

EXHIBITB

   Form of Certificate of Authentication      B-1   


THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”) is made as of the 26th day of September, 2012, by and between AFLAC INCORPORATED, a Georgia corporation, as issuer (the “Company”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore entered into a Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “Original Indenture”), with the Trustee;

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by reference, and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the “Indenture”;

WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of subordinated debentures may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture and the terms of such series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by the Company and the Trustee;

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of subordinated debentures;

WHEREAS, additional subordinated debentures of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, and all subordinated debentures issued by the Company of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided, may be reopened for issuances of additional subordinated debentures of such series; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture and make it a valid and binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

5.50% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2052

Section 1.01 Establishment . There is hereby established a new series of subordinated debentures to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as the Company’s 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (the “Subordinated Debentures”).

There are to be authenticated and delivered Subordinated Debentures, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $450,000,000 (or up to $517,500,000 if the


underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined in Section 1.02 herein)) and no further Subordinated Debentures shall be authenticated and delivered except as provided by Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or 12.3 of the Original Indenture and the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture; provided, however, that the Company may re-open this series of Subordinated Debentures and the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures may be increased in the future, without the consent of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures, with the same ranking, interest rate, maturity date and other terms and with the same CUSIP and ISIN numbers as the Subordinated Debentures other than with respect to: (i) the date of issuance, (ii) the issue price and (iii) the date from which interest shall accrue and the amount of interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date following the issuance of any such additional Subordinated Debentures (which terms shall be set forth in a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture accompanying the Order pursuant to which any such additional Subordinated Debentures are authenticated). Any such additional Subordinated Debentures and the Subordinated Debentures established pursuant hereto shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture. The Subordinated Debentures shall be issued in fully registered form.

The Subordinated Debentures shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities (as defined below) in substantially the form set out in Exhibit A hereto.

The form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for the Subordinated Debentures shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

Each Subordinated Debentures shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

Section 1.02 Definitions . The following defined terms used herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of securities, a security authenticated and delivered under the Original Indenture executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Original Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

“Interest Payment Date” means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2012.

“Regular Record Date” means, with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

“Stated Maturity” means September 15, 2052.

 

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“Underwriting Agreement” means that certain Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2012, between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the underwriters named in Schedule I thereto.

Section 1.03 Payment of Principal and Interest . The principal of the Subordinated Debentures shall be due at Stated Maturity. The unpaid and outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and any overdue installment of interest thereon to the extent permitted by law, shall bear interest at the rate of 5.50% per year until paid or made available for payment, such interest to accrue from the most recent Interest Payment Date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from September 26, 2012. Subject to Section 1.04 below, Interest shall be paid quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, commencing on December 15, 2012, to the Person in whose name the Subordinated Debentures are registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity or on a date of redemption as provided herein, will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Any such interest that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders on such Regular Record Date and may be paid as provided in Section 2.7 of the Original Indenture.

Payments of interest on the Subordinated Debentures will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for the Subordinated Debentures shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such next succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.

Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Stated Maturity of, or on a date of redemption for, the Subordinated Debentures shall be made upon surrender of the Subordinated Debentures at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The principal of and interest on the Subordinated Debentures shall be paid in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of interest (including interest on any Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security register or (ii) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

Section 1.04 Option to Defer Interest Payments . So long as no Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debentures has occurred or is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on the

 

3


Subordinated Debentures for one or more Optional Deferral Period (as defined below) of up to five consecutive years, provided, however, that no Optional Deferral Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date, any earlier accelerated maturity date arising from an Event of Default or any other earlier redemption of the Subordinated Debentures. If the Company has paid all deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) on the Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall have the right to elect to begin a new Optional Deferral Period pursuant to this Section 1.04.

During any Optional Deferral Period, interest shall continue to accrue on the Subordinated Debentures, and deferred interest payments shall accrue additional interest at the then applicable interest rate on the Subordinated Debentures, compounded quarterly as of each Interest Payment Date to the extent permitted by applicable law. No interest otherwise due during an Optional Deferral Period shall be due and payable on the Subordinated Debentures until the end of such Optional Deferral Period except upon an acceleration or redemption of the debentures during such deferral period.

At the end of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall pay all deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) on the Subordinated Debentures to the Persons in whose names the Subordinated Debentures are registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date with respect to the Interest Payment Date at the end of such Optional Deferral Period.

At the end of five years following the commencement of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall pay all accrued and unpaid deferred interest, including compounded interest thereon, and the Company’s failure to pay all such accrued and unpaid deferred interest, including compounded interest thereon, for a period of 30 days after the conclusion of such five-year period shall result in an Event of Default giving rise to a right of acceleration. If, at the end of any Optional Deferral Period, the Company shall have paid all deferred interest due on the Subordinated Debentures, including compounded interest, the Company may again defer interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures as described above.

“Optional Deferral Period” means the period commencing on an Interest Payment Date with respect to which the Company defers interest pursuant to this Section 1.04 and ending on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of that Interest Payment Date and (ii) the next Interest Payment Date on which the Company has paid all deferred and unpaid amounts (including compounded interest on such deferred amounts) and all other accrued interest on the Subordinated Debentures.

The Company shall give written notice of its election to commence or continue any Optional Deferral Period to the Trustee and the Holders of the Subordinated Debentures at least one Business Day and not more than 60 Business Days before the next Interest Payment Date. Such notice shall be given to the Trustee and each Holder of Subordinated Debentures at such Holder’s address by first-class mail, postage prepaid. In addition, the Company’s failure to pay interest on the Subordinated Debentures on any Interest Payment Date will itself constitute the commencement of an Optional Deferral Period unless the Company pays such interest within five Business Days after any such Interest Payment Date, whether or not the Company provides a notice of deferral.

 

4


After the commencement of an Optional Deferral Period and until the Company has paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of the Company’s capital stock other than:

(a) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the Company’s capital stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors, consultants or agents or the Company’s satisfaction of its obligations under any dividend reinvestment plan;

(b) purchases or acquisitions of shares of the Company’s capital stock in connection with the Company’s satisfaction of its obligations under any contract or security entered into before commencement of the Optional Deferral Period;

(c) as a result of a reclassification of any series or class of the Company’s capital stock, or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company’s capital stock for or into another class or series of the Company’s capital stock;

(d) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to an acquisition or the conversion or exchange provisions of that capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged;

(e) dividends or distributions of the Company’s capital stock, or rights to acquire capital stock, or repurchases or redemptions of capital stock, in each case solely from the issuance or exchange of capital stock;

(f) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholder rights plan, or issuances of capital stock under any such plan in the future, or redemptions or repurchases of any rights outstanding under a shareholder rights plan; or

(g) acquisitions of the Company’s capital stock in connection with acquisitions of businesses made by the Company (which acquisitions are made by the Company in connection with the satisfaction of indemnification obligations of the sellers of such businesses).

In addition, after the commencement of an Optional Deferral Period until the Company has paid all accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any of the Company’s debt securities or guarantees that rank equally with the Subordinated

 

5


Debentures (“Parity Securities”) or junior to the Subordinated Debentures other than (i) any payment of current or deferred interest on Parity Securities made pro rata to the amounts due on such Parity Securities (including the Subordinated Debentures) and any payments of deferred interest on Parity Securities that, if not made, would cause the Company to breach the terms of the instrument governing such Parity Securities or (ii) any payment of principal on Parity Securities necessary to avoid a breach of the instrument governing such Parity Securities.

Section 1.05 Denominations . The Subordinated Debentures will be issued only in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

Section 1.06 Global Securities . The Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary (which initially shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee. Except under the limited circumstances described below, Subordinated Debentures represented by Global Securities will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Subordinated Debentures in definitive form. The Global Securities described above may not be transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.

Owners of beneficial interests in such Global Securities will not be considered the holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no Global Security representing a Subordinated Debentures shall be exchangeable, except for another Global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee or to a successor Depositary or its nominee. The rights of holders of such Global Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary.

A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Subordinated Debentures registered in the names of Persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only as provided by Section 2.8(5) of the Original Indenture. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Subordinated Debentures registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.

Section 1.07 Transfer . No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Subordinated Debentures, but payment will be required of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

Section 1.08 Defeasance . The provisions of Sections 10.4 and 10.5 of the Original Indenture will apply to the Subordinated Debentures.

Section 1.09 Redemption at the Option of the Company . The Company may redeem the Subordinated Debentures in $25 increments:

 

   

in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after September 26, 2017, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid

 

6


 

interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided that if the Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures must remain Outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;

 

   

in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined below), at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption; or

 

   

in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event (as defined below), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures being redeemed or (b) the present value of a principal payment on September 26, 2017 and scheduled payments of interest that would have accrued from the date of redemption to September 26, 2017 on the Subordinated Debentures being redeemed, discounted to the date of redemption on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points, in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

“Tax Event” means that the Company will have received an opinion of counsel, rendered by a law firm of nationally recognized standing that is experienced in such matters, stating that, as a result of any:

 

   

amendment to, or change in (including any promulgation, enactment, execution or modification of) the laws (or any regulations under those laws) of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein affecting taxation;

 

   

official administrative pronouncement (including a private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or similar pronouncement) or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying the laws or regulations enumerated in the preceding bullet point, by any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority; or

 

   

threatened challenge asserted in connection with an audit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or a threatened challenge asserted in writing against any taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Subordinated Debentures,

which amendment or change is enacted or effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced or which challenge is asserted against the Company or becomes publicly known on or after the original issue date of the Subordinated Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial increase in the risk that interest accruable or payable by the Company on the Subordinated Debentures is not, or will not be, deductible by the Company in whole or in part, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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“Rating Agency Event” means that any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that then publishes a rating for the Company (a “rating agency”) amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Subordinated Debentures, which amendment, clarification or change results in (a) the shortening of the length of time the Subordinated Debentures are assigned a particular level of equity credit by that rating agency as compared to the length of time they would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Subordinated Debentures; or (b) the lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Subordinated Debentures by that rating agency compared to the equity credit assigned by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Subordinated Debentures.

“Treasury Rate” means (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities”, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the quarterly equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such date of redemption. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third business day preceding the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Subordinated Debentures to September 26, 2017, to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Subordinated Debentures to September 26, 2017.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their successors, appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means with respect to any date of redemption for the Subordinated Debentures (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer

 

8


Quotations for such date of redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their respective successors and one other primary U.S. government securities dealer (each a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), as specified by the Company; provided that (1) if any of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., or their respective successors or any Primary Treasury Dealer as specified by the Company shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) if the Company fails to select a substitute within a reasonable period of time, then the substitute will be a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

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

On and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Subordinated Debentures or any portion of the Subordinated Debentures called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption amount.

Notwithstanding Section 12.2 of the Original Indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof.

Section 1.10 Notice to Trustee . The Company shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price.

Section 1.11 Selection of Subordinated Debentures to be Redeemed; Notice of Redemption . If less than all of the Subordinated Debentures are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair, the principal amount of such Subordinated Debentures held by each beneficial owner of such Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed. The Trustee may select Subordinated Debentures and portions of Subordinated Debentures in amounts of $25 and whole multiples of $25 in excess of $25. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Subordinated Debentures selected for redemption and, in the case of any Subordinated Debentures selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

9


Section 1.12 Events of Default . With respect to the Subordinated Debentures, this Section 1.12 supersedes Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture, which is hereby replaced in its entirety and shall be read as:

“Event of Default” with respect to the Subordinated Debentures, means each one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any of the Subordinated Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise; provided, however, that if the Company defers the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures pursuant to Section 1.04 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the date on which such payment is due and payable shall be the date on which the Company is required to make payment following such Optional Deferral Period (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period); or

(2) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Subordinated Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days and the interest payment date has not been properly extended or deferred; provided, however, that if the Company defers the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures pursuant to Section 1.04 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the date on which such payment is due and payable shall be the date on which the Company is required to make payment following such Optional Deferral Period (subject to any deferral of any due date in the case of an extension period); or

(3) [Intentionally Reserved]

(4) [Intentionally Reserved]

(5) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudging the Company as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 120 days; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of its property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered, and such decree or order shall have remained in force and unstayed for a period of 120 days; or

(6) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the

 

10


entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its or their property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

(7) [Intentionally Reserved]

(8) [Intentionally Reserved]

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(5) or 5.1(6) herein) with respect to the Subordinated Debentures at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders of the Subordinated Debentures), may declare the principal of all the Subordinated Debentures to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Sections 5.1(5) or 5.1(6) herein, with respect to Subordinated Debentures at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Subordinated Debentures shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any holder, become immediately due and payable.

At any time after the principal of the Subordinated Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Subordinated Debentures and the principal of , and premium, if any, on any and all Subordinated Debentures that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 6.6 of the Original Indenture, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on the Subordinated Debentures that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 5.10 of the Original Indenture.

 

11


ARTICLE II

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 2.01 Recitals by the Company . The recitals in this First Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Subordinated Debentures. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Subordinated Debentures or the proceeds thereof. All of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the Subordinated Debentures and of this First Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

Section 2.02 Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture . As supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.

Section 2.03 Executed in Counterparts . This First Supplemental Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 2.04 New York Law to Govern . This First Supplemental Indenture and each Subordinated Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the state of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, except as may be required by mandatory provisions of law.

Section 2.05 Agreement by Holders to Treat Debentures as Indebtedness for Tax Purposes . Each holder of the debentures will, by accepting the debentures or a beneficial interest therein, be deemed to have agreed that the holder intends that the debentures constitute indebtedness and will treat the debentures as indebtedness for all U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes.

[The next page is the signature page]

 

12


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

AFLAC INCORPORATED,
as Issuer
By:    

/s/ Kris Cloninger III

Name:     Kris Cloninger III
Title:     President, Chief Financial Officer and
    Treasurer

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:    

/s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos

Name:     Julie Hoffman-Ramos
Title:     Vice President

[ Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture ]


EXHIBIT A

5.50% Subordinated Debenture due 2052

THIS DEBENTURE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”), A NEW YORK CORPORATION, TO AFLAC INCORPORATED 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.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 

A-1


No. 1    CUSIP No. 001055 300   
   ISIN No. US0010553008   

AFLAC INCORPORATED

5.50% Subordinated Debenture due 2052

 

Principal Amount:    $450,000,000
Regular Record Date:    with respect to each Interest Payment Date, the close of business on March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date
Original Issue Date:    September 26, 2012
Stated Maturity:    September 15, 2052
Interest Payment Dates:    March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2012
Interest Rate:    5.50% per year
Authorized Denomination:    $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof

Aflac Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($450,000,000) on the Stated Maturity shown above, and to pay interest thereon, and on any overdue installment of interest thereon to the extent permitted by law, from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from the Original Issue Date shown above, semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on December 15, 2012, and on the Stated Maturity at the rate per year shown above until the principal hereof or such overdue installment is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity) will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (as defined on the reverse hereof) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or a date of redemption will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the holders on such Regular Record Date and may be paid as provided in Section 2.7 of the Original Indenture.

Payments of interest on this Debenture (as defined on the reverse hereof) will include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Debenture shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a

 

A-2


Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such next succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable.

Payment of the principal of and interest due at the Stated Maturity of, or on a date of redemption for, this Debenture shall be made upon surrender of this Debenture at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be paid in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payment of interest (including interest on an Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security register or (ii) by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.

The Subordinated Debentures (as defined on the reverse hereof) will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will be subordinated to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS DEBENTURE SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

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

 

A-3


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

 

AFLAC INCORPORATED,

as Issuer

By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

Attest:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

    THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
    TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
    as Trustee
Dated: September 26, 2012     By:  

 

    Authorized Signatory

 

A-4


(Reverse Side of Debenture)

This debenture (the “Debenture”) represents one of a duly authorized issue of Subordinated Debentures of the Company issued and issuable in one or more series under a Subordinated Indenture dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “Original Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Original Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures incidental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Subordinated Debentures (as defined below) issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Subordinated Debentures are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The Securities represented by this Debenture are one of the series designated on the face hereof as 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (the “Subordinated Debentures”), initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $450,000,000 (or to $517,500,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined in Section 1.02 of the First Supplemental Indenture)); provided, however, that the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures may be increased in the future, without the consent of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures, as provided in the First Supplemental Indenture. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

So long as no Event of Default (as defined in Section 1.12 of the First Supplemental Indenture) with respect to the Subordinated Debentures has occurred or is continuing, the Company shall have the right, pursuant to Section 1.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture, at any time and from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods that do not exceed five years for any single Optional Deferral Period, subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

This Debenture is exchangeable in whole or from time to time in part for Subordinated Debentures of this series in definitive registered form only as provided in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Subordinated Debentures shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Subordinated Debentures may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, Event of Default is defined in Section 1.12 of the First Supplemental Indenture, which amends and restates in its entirety Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the holders of the Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the holders of all Subordinated Debentures, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past

 

A-5


defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Debenture and of any Subordinated Debentures issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (i) the entire indebtedness of the Company pursuant to this Debenture and (ii) restrictive covenants upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Debenture.

The Subordinated Debentures will be redeemable, at the sole option of the Company, in $25 increments:

 

   

in whole at any time or in part from time to time on or after September 26, 2017, at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption; provided that if the Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in whole, at least $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures must remain Outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;

 

   

in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined below), at a redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded interest, if any) to, but excluding, the date of redemption; or

 

   

in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to September 26, 2017, within 90 days of the occurrence of a Rating Agency Event (as defined below), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures being redeemed or (b) the present value of a principal payment on September 26, 2017 and scheduled payments of interest that would have accrued from the date of redemption to September 26, 2017 on the Subordinated Debentures being redeemed, discounted to the date of redemption on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points, in each case, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of redemption.

“Tax Event” means that the Company will have received an opinion of counsel, rendered by a law firm of nationally recognized standing that is experienced in such matters, stating that, as a result of any:

 

   

amendment to, or change in (including any promulgation, enactment, execution or modification of) the laws (or any regulations under those laws) of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein affecting taxation;

 

   

official administrative pronouncement (including a private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or similar pronouncement) or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying the laws or regulations enumerated in the preceding bullet point, by any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority; or

 

   

threatened challenge asserted in connection with an audit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or a threatened challenge asserted in writing against any taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Subordinated Debentures,

 

A-6


which amendment or change is enacted or effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced or which challenge is asserted against the Company or becomes publicly known on or after the original issue date of the Subordinated Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial increase in the risk that interest accruable or payable by the Company on the Subordinated Debentures is not, or will not be, deductible by the Company in whole or in part, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

“Rating Agency Event” means that any nationally recognized statistical rating organization within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that then publishes a rating for the Company (a “rating agency”) amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities such as the Subordinated Debentures, which amendment, clarification or change results in (a) the shortening of the length of time the Subordinated Debentures are assigned a particular level of equity credit by that rating agency as compared to the length of time they would have been assigned that level of equity credit by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Subordinated Debentures; or (b) the lowering of the equity credit (including up to a lesser amount) assigned to the Subordinated Debentures by that rating agency compared to the equity credit assigned by that rating agency or its predecessor on the initial issuance of the Subordinated Debentures.

“Treasury Rate” means (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities”, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after the remaining life, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month), or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the quarterly equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such date of redemption. The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third business day preceding the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Subordinated Debentures to September 26, 2017, to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Subordinated Debentures to September 26, 2017.

 

A-7


“Independent Investment Banker” means one of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their successors, appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means with respect to any date of redemption for the Subordinated Debentures (1) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such date of redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their respective successors and one other primary U.S. government securities dealer (each a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), as specified by the Company; provided that (1) if any of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., or their respective successors or any Primary Treasury Dealer as specified by the Company shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer and (2) if the Company fails to select a substitute within a reasonable period of time, then the substitute will be a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

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

On and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Subordinated Debentures or any portion of the Subordinated Debentures called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption amount.

Notwithstanding Section 12.2 of the Original Indenture, the notice of redemption with respect to the foregoing redemption need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof.

The Company shall notify the Trustee of the redemption price with respect to the foregoing redemption promptly after the calculation thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for calculating said redemption price. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Subordinated Debentures or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

A-8


If less than all of the Subordinated Debentures are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall determine, in such manner as it deems appropriate and fair, the principal amount of such Subordinated Debentures held by each beneficial owner of such Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed. The Trustee may select Subordinated Debentures and portions of Subordinated Debentures in amounts of $25 and whole multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest, other than as described in Section 1.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture, on this Debenture at the time, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

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

Prior to due presentment of this Debenture for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Subordinated Debenture on behalf of the Company (“Paying Agent”) and the Security registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Debenture is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Debenture be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security registrar, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor the Security registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Subordinated Debentures are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Subordinated Debentures are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Debentures of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Subordinated Debenture or Subordinated Debentures to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Company.

No recourse shall be had for payment of the principal of or interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, as such or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule, law statute or constitutional provision, or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof.

 

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

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

 

A-10


ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM – as tenants in common    

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT – Custodian under

Uniform Gift to Minors Act

   

 

    (State)
TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties    
JT TEN – as joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common     CUST – Custodian

Additional abbreviations may also be used

though not on the above list.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

(please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)

the within Debenture and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing

 

 

 

 

 

 

agent to transfer said Debenture on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:    

 

   

 

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

 

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EXHIBIT B

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:  

 

Authorized Signatory

 

B-1

Aflac Incorporated Form 8-K    Exhibit 5.1

 

September 26, 2012

Aflac Incorporated

1932 Wynnton Road

Columbus, Georgia 31999

 

  Re: Aflac Incorporated 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to Aflac Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and as such have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2012 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) and the Company relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (the “Debentures”) (or $517,500,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement) to be issued under the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Debenture Certificate (as defined below) are referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction Documents.”

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 2

 

In connection with this opinion, I, or attorneys under my supervision, have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as I have deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with this opinion, including:

(a) the registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-181089) of the Company relating to the Debentures and other securities of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 1, 2012 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement, as so amended, being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

(b) the prospectus supplement, dated September 19, 2012, relating to the offering of the Debentures, in the form filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

(c) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;

(d) an executed copy of the Indenture;

(e) the global certificate evidencing the Debentures in the form executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery (the “Debenture Certificate”)

(f) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia (the “Articles of Incorporation”);

(g) the Bylaws of the Company, as certified by me, Secretary of the Company (the “Bylaws”); and

(h) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on November 8, 2011, resolutions of the executive committee of the Board of Directors adopted on September 19, 2012, as certified by me, Secretary of the Company.

I, or the attorneys under my supervision, have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records of the Company, and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

In our examination, I, or the attorneys under my supervision, have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies and the authenticity of the originals of such documents. I, or the attorneys under my supervision, have further assumed that the Company has complied and will comply with all aspects of applicable laws of


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 3

 

jurisdictions other than the State of Georgia in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of each Transaction Document and the performance by the Company thereunder. In making our examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and that such documents constitute, or will constitute, valid and binding obligations of such parties.

I am admitted to the Bar in the State of Georgia and I do not express any opinion as to any laws other than (i) the laws of the State of Georgia and (ii) the federal laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein. The opinions expressed herein are based on laws in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that (i) the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and (ii) when the Debentures have been duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Debentures will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

[Signature Page Follows]


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 4

 

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. I also hereby consent to the reference to me under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and I disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Joey M. Loudermilk

Aflac Incorporated Form 8-K

     Exhibit 5.2   

[LETTERHEAD OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP]

 

September 26, 2012

Aflac Incorporated

1932 Wynnton Road

Columbus, Georgia 31999

 

  Re:

Aflac Incorporated 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Aflac Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Underwriting Agreement, dated September 19, 2012 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representatives of the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) and the Company relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (the “Debentures”) (or $517,500,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement) to be issued under the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of September 26, 2012 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Debenture Certificate (as defined below) are referred to herein collectively as the “Transaction Documents.”

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 2

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

(a) the registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-181089) of the Company relating to the Debentures and other securities of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 1, 2012 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement, as so amended, being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

(b) the prospectus supplement, dated September 19, 2012, relating to the offering of the Debentures, in the form filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

(c) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement;

(d) an executed copy of the Indenture; and

(e) the global certificate evidencing the Debentures in the form executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery (the “Debenture Certificate”).

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company, and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below.

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed that the parties thereto (including the Company) had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and we have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and, except to the extent expressly set forth in our opinion set forth


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 3

below, the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties. We have also assumed that the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing, and has requisite legal status and legal capacity, under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and that the Company has complied and will comply with all aspects of the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (including the laws of the State of Georgia) in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of its obligations under, the Transaction Documents, other than the laws of the State of New York insofar as we express our opinion herein. We have also assumed that the terms of the Debentures have been established so as not to, and that the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, do not and will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its properties are subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (i) with respect to those agreements and instruments which are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement or the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), (ii) any law, rule, or regulation to which the Company or any of its properties are subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (ii) with respect to the Opined on Law (as defined below)), (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers, trustees and other representatives of the Company, and others.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to those laws of the State of New York, in each case, that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such Opined on Law on the opinions herein stated.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, assuming the Debentures have been duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Debentures will constitute valid and


Aflac Incorporated

September 26, 2012

Page 4

binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinion set forth above is subject to the following further qualifications, assumptions and limitations:

(i) the opinion stated herein is limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law); and

(ii) to the extent the opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, our opinion stated herein is rendered solely in reliance upon New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and Rule 327(b) of New York Civil Practice Law and Rules and are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by, in each case, the terms of such sections 5-1401 and 5-1402, as well as by principles of public policy, comity or constitutionality.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated the date hereof. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

 
 

 

Aflac Incorporated Form 8-K

  Exhibit 8.1

[LETTERHEAD OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP]

September 26, 2012

Aflac Incorporated

1932 Wynnton Road

Columbus, Georgia 31999

 

  RE: Aflac Incorporated 5.50% Subordinated Debentures due 2052

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion with respect to the U.S. federal income tax classification of the 5.50% Subordinated Debentures (“ Debentures ”) issued by Aflac Incorporated, a Georgia corporation (the “ Company ”), on September 26, 2012, as more fully described in the prospectus supplement dated September 21, 2012 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”), to the base prospectus contained in the registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-181089) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2012.

 

I. Facts

 

  A. The Debentures

The Debentures incorporate the following key terms.

 

  1. Maturity

The Debentures have a maturity of 40 years.


  2. Subordination

The Debentures are subordinated to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness on the terms set forth in the subordinated indenture pursuant to which the debentures will be issued (the “ Subordinated Indenture ”), and the Debentures rank pari passu with trade creditors and other subordinated indebtedness expressly stated to rank pari passu with the Debentures.

 

  3. Interest Rate and Optional Deferral

The Debentures will bear interest at an annual rate equal to 5.50%, payable quarterly in arrears. The Company may, so long as there is no event of default under the Subordinated Indenture, elect to defer interest payments on the Debentures for one or more consecutive interest periods at any time for up to 5 years (“ Optional Deferral ”). Interest may not, however, be deferred beyond the maturity date or the redemption date of the Debentures.

During any Optional Deferral, interest will compound quarterly on any interest deferred pursuant to the Optional Deferral right and the Company will generally be prohibited from (i) paying dividends on any class of its equity, or redeem, purchase or acquire any shares of Company capital stock, (ii) paying principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, or repaying, repurchasing or redeeming any other classes of Company debt securities that rank equally with or junior to the Debentures (other than payments that if not made would cause a breach of the terms of such instruments) or (iii) making any guarantee payments with respect to the securities described in (ii).

 

  4. Optional Redemption

The Debentures are redeemable or otherwise repayable by the Company, in whole or in part, after September 26, 2017, for cash at the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures to be redeemed plus accumulated and unpaid interest on a compounded basis, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company.

 

  5. Redemption Upon a Tax Event

The Company may redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, from the date of issuance until September 26, 2017 at any time within 90 days after there is a Tax Event (as defined below), in cash at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount redeemed plus accumulated and unpaid interest on a compounded basis. A Tax Event occurs if, as a result of (a) a change in the tax law or any interpretation thereof, (b) a threatened challenge asserted in connection with an audit of the Company or (c) a threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest paid or accrued on the Debentures is not deductible, in whole or in part, by the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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  6. Redemption Upon a Rating Agency Event

The Company may redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, from the date of issuance until September 26, 2017 at any time within 90 days after a Rating Agency Event (as defined below), in cash at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the debentures being redeemed, and (b) the present value of the scheduled remaining payments through September 26, 2017, discounted at a rate equal to a applicable treasury rate, plus 40 basis points. A Rating Agency Event means a change to the methodology or criteria that were employed by an applicable rating agency for purposes of assigning equity credit to securities such as the Debentures on the date of initial issuance of the Debentures, which change either (i) shortens the period of time during which equity credit pertaining to the Debentures would have been in effect or (ii) reduces the amount of equity credit assigned to the Debentures by the applicable rating agency.

 

  7. Voting Rights

The Debentures will have no voting rights in the Company.

 

  8. Events of Default

The Company’s failure to pay principal or interest on the Debentures when due and the Company’s bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization will result in a default on the Debentures. In addition, failures to observe or perform any other covenant or obligation in the indenture for 90 days after notice, or failure to make certain other debt payments, may, upon notice from the trustee or holders of 25% of the principal of the Debentures, also constitute an event of default. An event of default will give holders the right to accelerate principal and interest on the Debentures.

 

  B. Other Facts

The Prospectus Supplement and the Subordinated Indenture provide that each holder of the Debentures will be deemed to have agreed to treat the Debentures as indebtedness for all U.S. federal, state and local tax purposes.

The Company has paid regular dividends on its common stock in each of the past 35 years, and the Company has increased dividends every year since 1983. The Company has assets and projected cash flows sufficient to demonstrate that it is capable of servicing the Debentures pursuant to their terms without exercising its right to Optional Deferral. The Company and its subsidiaries have aggregate long term debt liabilities of approximately $3,672 million and shareholders’ equity of

 

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approximately $14,179 million as of June 30, 2012. The Company and its subsidiaries had net earnings of $1,964 million in 2011, $2,344 million in 2010 and $1,497 in 2009. The Debentures were issued with investment grade debt ratings of Baa1 provided by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. and BBB provided by Standard & Poor’s Corporation.

 

II. Certain Assumptions and Representations

 

  A. Assumptions

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed, photostatic, electronic or facsimile copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of documents executed, or to be executed, by the parties indicated therein, we have assumed that each party has, or will have, the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder, and we have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by each party indicated in the documents and that such documents constitute, or will constitute, valid and binding obligations of each party.

In connection with this opinion (the “ Opinion ”), we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the officer’s certificate dated September 26, 2012 (the “ Officer’s Certificate ”) and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the Opinion set forth herein. We have also relied upon statements and representations made to us by representatives of the Company and have assumed that such statements and the facts set forth in such representations are true, correct and complete without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief. For purposes of the Opinion stated herein, we have assumed the validity and the initial and continuing accuracy of the documents, certificates, records, statements and representations referred to above. We have also assumed that the transactions related to the offering of the Debentures will be consummated in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus Supplement. Terms used and not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Prospectus Supplement.

 

  B. Representations

An officer of the Company has provided the following representations in the Officer’s Certificate that are relevant to the Opinion:

 

  1. The facts, representations, and covenants relating to the Debentures as described in the Opinion are true, accurate, and complete in all material respects.

 

4


  2. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will take any position on any U.S. federal, state or local income or franchise tax return that is inconsistent with the U.S. tax treatment of the Debentures described in the Opinion.

 

  3. The Company has no present intention to exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Debentures.

 

  4. The Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Debentures is remote because, among other things, deferral of interest payments on the Debentures would prohibit the Company from paying dividends on its outstanding equity.

 

  5. The Company has paid regular dividends on its common stock in each of the past 35 years, and the Company has increased dividends every year since 1983.

 

  6. Based on the Company’s assets and projected cash flows, the Company expects to have the financial resources to satisfy its payment obligations under the Debentures pursuant to their terms.

 

  7. The Company, on a stand alone basis, incurs expenses and makes payments to trade creditors.

 

III. Summary of Conclusions

Generally, the characterization of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes depends on all the facts and circumstances surrounding the issuance and operation of a particular instrument, and no single factor or characteristic is considered to be controlling. 1 There is no controlling authority directly on point dealing with debentures that have terms similar to the Debentures.

Based on and subject to the description of the facts, assumptions, representations, and analysis set forth herein and in the Prospectus Supplement, it is our opinion that under current U.S. federal income tax law, the Debentures will constitute indebtedness of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In rendering our Opinion, we have considered applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Treasury Regulations ”), pertinent judicial authorities, rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “ Service ”), and such other

 

1  

See, e.g. , John Kelley Co. v. Commissioner , 326 U.S. 521 (1946).

 

5


authorities as we have considered relevant. It should be noted that such laws, Code, Treasury Regulations, judicial decisions, administrative interpretations and such other authorities are subject to change at any time and, in some circumstances, with retroactive effect. A change in any of the authorities upon which our advice is based could affect our conclusions herein. There can be no assurance that our Opinion will be accepted by the Service or, if challenged, by a court.

*      *      *

Except as set forth above, we express no other opinion. This Opinion has been prepared for you in connection with the filing of the Prospectus Supplement. It may not be relied upon by anyone else without our prior written consent. We consent to the Company filing this Opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Commission. This Opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our Opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof, or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record, statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that becomes incorrect or untrue.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

 

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