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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2013

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa   42-1425214
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580

(515) 242-4300

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Paul J. Leighton, Esq.

Vice President, Secretary and Assistant General Counsel

MidAmerican Energy Company

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580

(515) 242-4300

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Peter J. Hanlon, Esq.

J. Alan Bannister, Esq.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

(212) 351-4000

 

 

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

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

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:   x

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

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

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filed” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered (1)

 

Proposed maximum

offering price

per unit (2)

 

Proposed maximum

aggregate

offering price (3)

  Amount of
registration fee (4)(5)

Unsecured Debt Securities and First Mortgage Bonds

  $1,650,000,000   —     $1,650,000,000   $212,520

 

 

(1) Includes such additional aggregate principal amount of unsecured debt securities and first mortgage bonds issued with an original issue discount such that the aggregate initial public offering price of all unsecured debt securities and first mortgage bonds will not exceed $1,650,000,000 less the dollar amount of other unsecured debt securities and first mortgage bonds previously issued.
(2) Omitted pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
(3) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(4) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.
(5) Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, a portion of the registration fee of $212,520 due for the registration of the securities to be registered hereby is offset by the $88,660 registration fee associated with the unsold securities under MidAmerican Energy Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-190862) which was initially filed on August 28, 2013 and terminated effective October 30, 2013.

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

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated November 4, 2013.

Prospectus

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

Unsecured Debt Securities

First Mortgage Bonds

 

 

We will provide the specific terms of the securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

 

Investing in the securities involves risks. See “ Risk Factors ” on page 3.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The securities will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. Currently, there is no public market for the securities.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                           , 2013


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

MidAmerican Energy Company

     1   

Forward-Looking Statements

     1   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     2   

Risk Factors

     3   

Use of Proceeds

     3   

Description of Debt Securities

     3   

Description of First Mortgage Bonds

     9   

Plan of Distribution

     26   

About this Prospectus

     27   

Where You Can Find More Information

     27   

Incorporation by Reference

     27   

Legal Matters

     28   

Experts

     28   


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MidAmerican Energy Company

We are a public utility company headquartered in Iowa that serves 0.7 million regulated retail electric customers in portions of Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota and 0.7 million regulated retail and transportation natural gas customers in portions of Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois and Nebraska. We are principally engaged in the business of generating, transmitting, distributing and selling electricity and in distributing, selling and transporting natural gas. Our service territory covers approximately 11,000 square miles. Metropolitan areas in which we distribute electricity at retail include Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Sioux City and Waterloo, Iowa; and the Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline, Illinois). Metropolitan areas in which we distribute natural gas at retail include Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Iowa City, Sioux City and Waterloo, Iowa; the Quad Cities; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We have a diverse customer base consisting of urban and rural residential customers and a variety of commercial and industrial customers. Principal industries served by us include processing and sales of food products; manufacturing, processing and fabrication of primary metals; farm and other non-electrical machinery; real estate; technology; cement and gypsum products; and government. In addition to retail sales and natural gas transportation, we sell electricity principally to markets operated by regional transmission organizations and natural gas to other utilities and market participants on a wholesale basis. We are a transmission-owning member of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. and participate in its energy and ancillary services markets.

Our headquarters and principal executive offices are located at 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580. Our telephone number is (515) 242-4300.

Forward-Looking Statements

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, also referred to as the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, also referred to as the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements can typically be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “intend,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and similar terms. These statements are based upon our current intentions, assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors. Many of these factors are outside our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others:

 

    general economic, political and business conditions, as well as changes in, and compliance with, laws and regulations, including reliability and safety standards, affecting our operations or related industries;

 

    changes in, and compliance with, environmental laws, regulations, decisions and policies that could, among other items, increase operating and capital costs, reduce generating facility output, accelerate generating facility retirements or delay generating facility construction or acquisition;

 

    the outcome of rate cases and other proceedings conducted by regulatory commissions or other governmental and legal bodies and our ability to recover costs in rates in a timely manner;

 

    changes in economic, industry, competition or weather conditions, as well as demographic trends, new technologies and various conservation, energy efficiency and distributed generation measures and programs, that could affect customer growth and usage, electricity and natural gas supply or our ability to obtain long-term contracts with customers and suppliers;

 

    a high degree of variance between actual and forecasted load or generation that could impact our hedging strategy and the cost of balancing our generation resources with our retail load obligations;

 

    performance and availability of our generating facilities, including the impacts of outages and repairs, transmission constraints, weather, including wind, and operating conditions;

 

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    changes in prices, availability and demand for wholesale electricity, coal, natural gas, other fuel sources and fuel transportation that could have a significant impact on generating capacity and energy costs;

 

    the financial condition and creditworthiness of our significant customers and suppliers;

 

    changes in business strategy or development plans;

 

    availability, terms and deployment of capital, including reductions in demand for investment grade commercial paper, debt securities and other sources of debt financing and volatility in the London Interbank Offered Rate, the base interest rate for our credit facilities;

 

    changes in our credit ratings;

 

    risks relating to nuclear generation;

 

    the impact of certain contracts used to mitigate or manage volume, price and interest rate risk, including increased collateral requirements, and changes in commodity prices, interest rates and other conditions that affect the fair value of certain contracts;

 

    the impact of inflation on costs and our ability to recover such costs in regulated rates;

 

    increases in employee healthcare costs, including the implementation of the Affordable Care Act;

 

    the impact of investment performance and changes in interest rates, legislation, healthcare cost trends, mortality and morbidity on pension and other postretirement benefits expense and funding requirements;

 

    unanticipated construction delays, changes in costs, receipt of required permits and authorizations, ability to fund capital projects and other factors that could affect future generating facilities and infrastructure additions;

 

    the impact of new accounting guidance or changes in current accounting estimates and assumptions on our consolidated financial results;

 

    other risks or unforeseen events, including the effects of storms, floods, fires, explosions, litigation, wars, terrorism, embargoes and other catastrophic events, including catastrophic events triggered by a breakdown or failure of our operating assets; and

 

    other business or investment considerations that may be disclosed from time to time in our filings with the SEC or in other publicly disseminated written documents.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exclusive.

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

The following table sets forth the ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated.

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   Twelve Months Ended December 31,
     2013    2012    2011    2010    2009    2008

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)

   2.7x    2.7x    2.8x    2.9x    3.0x    3.8x

 

(1) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of net income from continuing operations plus income taxes, interest on long-term debt, other interest charges and interest on leases. “Earnings” also include allowances for borrowed and other funds used during construction. “Fixed charges” consist of interest on long-term debt, other interest charges and interest on rentals.

 

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Risk Factors

Investing in the securities involves risks, including the risks described in the documents we incorporate by reference herein. You should carefully consider these risks and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before deciding to invest in the securities, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, before acquiring any of such securities. In addition, risks not known to us or that we believe are immaterial also may impair our business operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Use of Proceeds

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, reductions of our indebtedness, refinancing of existing securities and financing of capital expenditures. We may invest funds not immediately required for such purposes in short-term securities. The amount and timing of sales of the securities described in this prospectus will depend on market conditions and the availability to us of other funds.

Description of Unsecured Debt Securities

This section of this prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of the unsecured debt securities that we may offer. For a description of the first mortgage bonds that we may offer, see “Description of First Mortgage Bonds.” When we offer to sell a particular series of unsecured debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of unsecured debt securities.

General

We may issue senior unsecured debt securities or subordinated unsecured debt securities, in addition to first mortgage bonds described under “Description of First Mortgage Bonds.” The senior unsecured debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations and the subordinated unsecured debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. The senior unsecured debt securities and the subordinated unsecured debt securities will be issued under a senior unsecured indenture and a subordinated unsecured indenture, respectively, in each case between us and a trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of certain provisions of the unsecured indentures does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the forms of unsecured indentures (copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part). Except to the extent set forth in a prospectus supplement for a particular series of unsecured debt securities, the unsecured indentures, as amended or supplemented from time to time, will be substantially similar to the forms of unsecured indentures filed as exhibits to the registration statement and described below.

Prospectus Supplement

A prospectus supplement relating to a series of unsecured debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms may include:

 

    the title of the series of unsecured debt securities;

 

    whether the series of unsecured debt securities are senior unsecured debt securities or subordinated unsecured debt securities;

 

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    the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of the series of unsecured debt securities and, if any unsecured debt securities of a series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount;

 

    if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the unsecured debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    the rate or rates of interest, if any, which will be borne by such unsecured debt securities, which may be fixed or variable;

 

    the date from which interest will accrue;

 

    the record date for interest payable on the unsecured debt securities;

 

    the maturity date of the unsecured debt securities;

 

    the dates when, places where and manner in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable;

 

    the securities registrar if other than the trustee;

 

    the terms of any mandatory redemption (including any sinking fund requirement) or any redemption at our option;

 

    the terms of any redemption at the option of holders of the unsecured debt securities;

 

    the denominations in which the unsecured debt securities are issuable;

 

    whether the unsecured debt securities will be represented by a global security and the terms of any such global security;

 

    the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid;

 

    any events of default, covenants or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in the applicable unsecured indenture;

 

    whether and upon what terms the unsecured debt securities may be defeased;

 

    any special tax implications of the unsecured debt securities; and

 

    any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in the applicable unsecured indenture.

The unsecured debt securities may bear interest at a fixed or a floating rate, or may bear no interest. Unsecured debt securities bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate below the prevailing market rate at the time of issuance may be deemed to be issued at a discount below their stated principal amount. Further, the holders of any unsecured debt securities as to which we have the right to defer interest may be allocated interest income for federal and state income tax purposes without receiving equivalent, or any, interest payments. Material federal income tax consequences may result from any such deemed original issue discount or interest deferrals. Any such material federal income tax consequences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Ranking of Senior Unsecured Debt Securities; Ranking of Subordinated Unsecured Debt Securities

The senior unsecured debt securities will rank senior to our subordinated unsecured debt securities and any of our other indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated in right of payment to the senior unsecured debt securities. In addition, the senior unsecured debt securities will rank pari passu in right of payment with our other senior indebtedness, but will effectively rank junior to our senior secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such senior secured indebtedness.

The subordinated unsecured debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the senior unsecured debt securities, the first mortgage bonds described in this prospectus and all of our other current and future senior debt. As of the date of this prospectus, we have outstanding $950 million of first mortgage bonds

 

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and $2.0 billion of other senior debt secured equally and ratably with such first mortgage bonds as described under “—Description of First Mortgage Bonds—Security and Priority.” Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, no payments on the subordinated unsecured debt securities may be made if (1) any senior debt is not paid when due or (2) the maturity of any senior debt has been accelerated because of a default. Upon any distribution of our assets to creditors upon a bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization or similar event, all amounts due on our senior debt must be paid before any payments are made on the subordinated unsecured debt securities.

Subject to the payment in full of all senior debt, the rights of the holders of subordinated unsecured debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of our senior debt to receive payments or distributions applicable thereto until all amounts owing on the subordinated unsecured debt securities are paid in full.

Neither the subordinated unsecured indenture nor the senior unsecured indenture will limit the amount of senior debt (whether secured or unsecured) that we can incur, and the mortgage bond indenture will not limit the amount of senior unsecured debt that we can incur.

Global Securities

The unsecured debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities. Each global security will:

 

    be registered in the name of a depositary or nominee thereof that we will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

    be deposited with the depositary or nominee or custodian; and

 

    bear any required legends.

As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the unsecured debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the unsecured debt securities and the applicable unsecured indenture. Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

    will not be entitled to have the unsecured debt securities registered in their names;

 

    will not be entitled to physical delivery of certificated unsecured debt securities; and

 

    will not be considered to be holders of those unsecured debt securities under the unsecured debt securities or the applicable unsecured indenture.

Payments on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have laws that require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as “participants.” Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of unsecured debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and effected through records maintained by the depositary, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests held by participants on behalf of other persons.

Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the depositary. The depositary policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the depositary’s or any participant’s records with respect to beneficial interests in a global security.

 

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Exchange of Global Securities for Certificated Securities

Except as otherwise may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global securities may be exchanged for unsecured debt securities in certificated form only in the following circumstances:

 

    if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global securities, or if the depositary is no longer registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act and we do not appoint a replacement depositary within 90 days;

 

    an event of default under the applicable unsecured indenture occurs; or

 

    if we determine, subject to the procedures of the depositary, that a series of unsecured debt securities will no longer be represented by global securities.

If any global securities are exchangeable for certificated securities as described above, we will execute, and the trustee will authenticate upon our order, certificated securities of like tenor and terms in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global securities. These certificated securities will be delivered to persons specified by the depositary in exchange for the beneficial interests in the global securities being exchanged.

Redemption and Repayment

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following:

 

    if the unsecured debt securities are subject to any sinking fund and the terms of any such sinking fund;

 

    if we may elect to redeem the unsecured debt securities prior to maturity and the terms of any such optional redemption;

 

    if we will be required to redeem the unsecured debt securities prior to maturity upon the occurrence of certain events and the terms of any such mandatory redemption; and

 

    if the holders of the unsecured debt securities will have the right to repayment of the unsecured debt securities prior to maturity and the terms of any such optional repayment.

If we elect or are required to redeem unsecured debt securities, a redemption notice will be sent to each holder of unsecured debt securities to be redeemed at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. The redemption notice will include the following: (1) the redemption date, the places of redemption and the redemption price; (2) a statement that payment of the redemption price will be made on surrender of the unsecured debt securities at the places of redemption; (3) a statement that accrued interest to the redemption date will be paid as specified in the notice and that after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue; (4) if less than all of the unsecured debt securities of a series are to be redeemed, the particular unsecured debt securities or portions thereof to be redeemed; (5) if any unsecured debt securities are to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the unsecured debt securities to be redeemed and a statement that, upon surrender of the unsecured debt securities for redemption, new unsecured debt securities having the same terms will be issued in an amount equal to the unredeemed portion; and (6) if applicable, a statement that redemption is subject to the receipt by the trustee prior to the redemption date of sufficient funds to make such redemption.

If notice of redemption is given as specified above, the unsecured debt securities called for redemption will become due and payable on the date and at the places stated in the notice at the applicable redemption price, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. After the redemption date, the unsecured debt securities subject to redemption will cease to bear interest and will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable unsecured indenture, other than the right to receive payment of the redemption price together with accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

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If unsecured debt securities are repayable at the option of the holders prior to maturity, a holder that elects to have its unsecured debt securities repaid will be required to deliver such unsecured debt securities (or a guarantee of delivery from an eligible institution) to the trustee at least 30 but not more than 45 days prior to the repayment date. For unsecured debt securities represented by global securities held by the depositary, the repayment option may be exercised by a direct participant in the depositary on behalf of the beneficial owner by sending written notice to the trustee (specifying certain information regarding the unsecured debt securities to be repaid) at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to the repayment date.

Covenants

Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the unsecured debt securities will be subject to covenants including the following:

 

    a covenant that requires us to maintain an office for payment and registration of transfer or exchange of the unsecured debt securities in New York, New York;

 

    a covenant that requires us to notify the trustee in writing of any event of default under an unsecured indenture within five days after we become aware of such event of default;

 

    a covenant that requires us to maintain our corporate existence, rights and franchises, unless the maintenance of such rights and franchises is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business; and

 

    a covenant that prohibits us from consolidating with or merging with or into any other person or conveying, transferring or leasing all or substantially all of our property or assets to any other person, unless the surviving company or transferee, as applicable, is a U.S. company and assumes all of our obligations under the unsecured indenture.

The covenant described immediately above includes a phrase relating to a conveyance, transfer or lease of “all or substantially all” of our property or assets. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “all or substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the nature and extent of the restriction on our ability to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our property or assets, and the protections provided to the holders of unsecured debt securities by such restriction, may be uncertain.

Events of Default

Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following will constitute events of default under the applicable unsecured indenture:

 

    we fail to pay interest on the applicable series of unsecured debt securities when due and such failure continues for 30 days;

 

    we fail to pay principal of, and premium, if any, on the applicable series of unsecured debt securities when due;

 

    we breach any other covenant or representation in the applicable unsecured indenture and such breach continues for 90 days (such period to be extended if we are diligently pursuing a cure) after we receive a notice of default with respect thereto;

 

    a decree or order is entered against us in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding and is not vacated in 90 days, or a similar involuntary event relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency occurs and continues for 90 days; or

 

    we commence a voluntary bankruptcy case or take similar voluntary actions relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency.

 

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Upon the occurrence of an event of default under an unsecured indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities may declare such unsecured debt securities to be immediately due and payable. Holders of a majority in principal amount of such unsecured debt securities may rescind the acceleration so long as the conditions set forth in the applicable unsecured indenture have been satisfied.

Prior to acceleration, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities may waive an event of default, other than (1) an event of default related to non-payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest and (2) an event of default related to a covenant or other provision of the applicable unsecured indenture that cannot be modified without the consent of each holder of unsecured debt securities affected thereby.

The trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the applicable unsecured indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to the applicable unsecured 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.

Modifications to the Unsecured Indenture

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the unsecured debt securities will be subject to provisions which allow us and the trustee to amend the applicable unsecured indenture without the consent of any holder of unsecured debt securities for the following purposes:

 

    to cure ambiguities or to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provisions, provided that the amended provision shall not adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding unsecured debt securities in any material respect;

 

    to add covenants, events of default or collateral, or to surrender a right or power conferred upon us in the applicable unsecured indenture;

 

    to establish the form of additional unsecured debt securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable unsecured indenture;

 

    to evidence the succession of another company to us and the assumption by the successor of our obligations under the applicable unsecured indenture;

 

    to grant to or confer upon the trustee for the benefit of the holders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority;

 

    to permit the trustee to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law;

 

    to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationships among, the trustee and any authenticating agent or paying agent for the unsecured debt securities; and

 

    to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable unsecured indenture, so long as the change or elimination becomes effective only when there are no unsecured debt securities outstanding that were created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture or other document evidencing such change or elimination.

Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the unsecured debt securities will be subject to contain provisions which allow us and the trustee to amend the applicable unsecured indenture for any other purpose with the consent of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities, other than amendments which:

 

    change the stated maturity of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities;

 

    reduce the principal amount of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities;

 

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    reduce the interest rate for the applicable series of unsecured debt securities;

 

    extend the dates for scheduled payments of principal and interest on the applicable series of unsecured debt securities;

 

    impair the right of a holder of the applicable series of unsecured debt securities to institute suit for the payment of its unsecured debt securities; or

 

    reduce the percentage of holders of unsecured debt securities required to consent to amendments or waive defaults under the applicable unsecured indenture.

The items described in the first five bullets above will require the consent of all holders of senior unsecured debt securities or subordinated unsecured debt securities, as the case may be, affected by the amendment. The item described in the last bullet above will require the consent of all holders of senior unsecured debt securities or subordinated unsecured debt securities, as the case may be.

Governing Law

The senior unsecured indenture and the subordinated unsecured indenture will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Description of First Mortgage Bonds

This section of this prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of the first mortgage bonds that we may offer. We may issue first mortgage bonds from time to time in one or more series, and when we offer to sell a particular series of first mortgage bonds, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of first mortgage bonds.

General

The first mortgage bonds will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2013, which we refer to as the “Mortgage Bond Indenture,” between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, which we refer to as the “Bond Trustee.” The Mortgage Bond Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds that may be issued, subject to meeting certain conditions to issuance, including those described under “—Issuance of First Mortgage Bonds.”

The first mortgage bonds will be secured by a lien on certain of our property pursuant to a Mortgage, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of September 9, 2013, which we refer to as the “Mortgage,” from us to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as collateral trustee, which we refer to as the “Collateral Trustee.” This Mortgage constitutes a mortgage lien, subject to permissible encumbrances, as described below under “—Security and Priority—Permissible Encumbrances,” as well as exceptions and exclusions as described below under “—Security and Priority—Excepted Property,” on all of our electric generating, transmission and distribution property within the State of Iowa. See “—Security and Priority.”

The first mortgage bonds will be secured equally and ratably with our outstanding first mortgage bonds issued under the Mortgage Bond Indenture as well as certain of our other outstanding senior debt entitled by the terms thereof to be equally and ratably secured with our first mortgage bonds. Such other outstanding senior debt was issued prior to the date of this prospectus pursuant to indentures that we entered in 2002 and 2006. As of the date of this prospectus, we have outstanding $950 million of first mortgage bonds and $2.0 billion of such senior debt which are secured by the Mortgaged Property (as defined below under “—Security and Priority.”) We refer to such outstanding senior debt as our “Equal and Ratable Notes.” Collateral administration is governed by the Mortgage Bond Indenture and an Intercreditor and Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2013,

 

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which we refer to as the “Collateral Trust Agreement,” among us, the Bond Trustee and the Collateral Trustee. Under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee has agreed to hold the trust estate (including all of the Collateral Trustee’s right, title and interest under the Mortgage) for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the first mortgage bonds and the holders of the Equal and Ratable Notes.

The Collateral Trust Agreement also provides that, except in the circumstances described below under “—Description of First Mortgage Bonds—Remedies” and “—Description of First Mortgage Bonds—Release and Substitution of Property” with respect to the continuation of a Triggering Event (defined below) and upon prior notice by the Requisite Secured Parties (defined below), the Collateral Trustee will follow the directions of the Bond Trustee for, among other things, the release of property subject to the Mortgage, the application of cash held by the Collateral Trustee and the exercise of remedies under the Mortgage, in each case with such directions given only in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

Further, under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee has agreed that the proceeds of any collection, sale or other realization of any part of the shared collateral pursuant to the Mortgage or other shared collateral document will be held in trust by the Collateral Trustee and applied first, to the payment of any unpaid fees of the Collateral Trustee and all taxes, assessments or Prior Liens and second, to the holders of all outstanding first mortgage bonds and the holders of all outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes, equally and ratably until paid in full.

The following summary of certain provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement (copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part). Capitalized terms used below are used as defined in the Mortgage Bond Indenture. Except to the extent set forth in a prospectus supplement for a particular series of first mortgage bonds, the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement, each as amended or supplemented from time to time, will be substantially similar to the forms of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement filed as exhibits to the registration statement and described below.

Prospectus Supplement

A prospectus supplement relating to a series of first mortgage bonds being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms may include:

 

    the title of the series of first mortgage bonds;

 

    the principal amount of the series of first mortgage bonds to be issued at any particular time;

 

    if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the first mortgage bonds payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    the rate of interest, if any, which will be borne by the first mortgage bonds, and if the interest rate is not a fixed rate, the formula for determining the interest rate from time to time;

 

    the date from which interest will accrue;

 

    the record date for interest payable on the first mortgage bonds;

 

    the maturity date of the first mortgage bonds;

 

    the dates when, places where and manner in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable;

 

    the terms of any mandatory redemption (including any sinking fund requirement) or any redemption at our option;

 

    the terms of any redemption at the option of holders of the first mortgage bonds;

 

    the denominations in which the first mortgage bonds are issuable;

 

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    whether the first mortgage bonds will be represented by a global security and the terms of any such global security;

 

    the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal, premium, if any, or interest may be paid;

 

    if payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which the first mortgage bonds are stated to be payable, the terms and conditions applying to payments in that currency;

 

    any events of default, covenants or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in the Mortgage Bond Indenture;

 

    any special tax implications of the first mortgage bonds; and

 

    any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in the Mortgage Bond Indenture.

The first mortgage bonds may bear interest at a fixed or a floating rate, or may bear no interest. First mortgage bonds bearing no interest or bearing interest at a rate below the prevailing market rate at the time of issuance may be deemed to be issued at a discount below their stated principal amount. Further, the holders of any first mortgage bonds as to which we have the right to defer interest may be allocated interest income for federal and state income tax purposes without receiving equivalent, or any, interest payments. Material federal income tax consequences may result from any such deemed original issue discount or interest deferrals. Any such material federal income tax consequences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Security and Priority

Each series of first mortgage bonds will be secured, equally and ratably (except as to sinking funds and other analogous funds established for the exclusive benefit of a particular series) with our Equal and Ratable Notes and all of our other first mortgage bonds, regardless of series, from time to time issued and outstanding under the Mortgage Bond Indenture. As of the date of this prospectus, we have outstanding $2.0 billion of Equal and Ratable Notes and $950 million of first mortgage bonds which are secured by the Mortgaged Property. None of the unsecured debt securities which may be issued pursuant to the registration statement to which this base prospectus relates are entitled to be secured equally and ratably with our first mortgage bonds and Equal and Ratable Notes.

The Mortgage constitutes a first mortgage lien, subject to Permissible Encumbrances as described below, on substantially all of our electric generating, transmission and distribution property within the State of Iowa, other than property duly released from the lien of the Mortgage in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement and other than Excepted Property, as described below. None of our gas distribution property within the State of Iowa or outside the State of Iowa or our other property located outside of the State of Iowa is currently subject to the lien of the Mortgage. However, we may enter into supplemental indentures with the Bond Trustee and supplemental mortgages in favor of the Collateral Trustee, in either case without the consent of the holders of first mortgage bonds, to subject such Excepted Property, at our option, to the lien of the Mortgage. This property would then constitute Bondable Property, as described below under “—Issuance of First Mortgage Bonds,” and would therefore be available as a basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds. We refer to our property that is subject, or intended to be subject, to the lien of the Mortgage as “Mortgaged Property.”

We may obtain the release of property from the lien of the Mortgage from time to time, upon the bases provided for release in the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement. See “—Release and Substitution of Property.”

The Mortgage provides that after-acquired property (other than Excepted Property) is subject to the lien of the Mortgage. However, in the case of consolidation or merger (whether or not we are the surviving company) or transfer of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, the surviving company will not be required to grant

 

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a first lien mortgage upon any of the properties either owned or subsequently acquired by the surviving company. See “—Merger, Consolidation, Conveyance and Lease.”

Our principal plants and properties, insofar as they constitute real estate, are owned in fee; certain of our other facilities are located on premises held by us under leases, permits or easements; and our electric transmission and distribution lines and systems (which constitute a substantial portion of our investment in physical property) are for the most part located over or under highways, streets, other public places or property owned by others for which permits, grants, easements, licenses or franchises (deemed satisfactory but without examination of underlying land titles) have been obtained.

Excepted Property . The lien of the Mortgage does not cover certain property, which we refer to as “Excepted Property,” including:

 

    all cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and securities (i) not deposited, or required to be deposited, with the Collateral Trustee by the express provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Collateral Trust Agreement or the Mortgage, as applicable or (ii) held by the Collateral Trustee for the benefit of a trustee for Equal and Ratable Notes, as applicable;

 

    all bills, notes and other instruments, accounts receivable, claims, credits, judgments, demands, general intangibles, choses in action, permits, franchises, patents, patent applications, patent licenses and other patent rights, trade names, trademarks, and all contracts, leases and agreements of whatsoever kind and nature, not pledged or required to be pledged with the Collateral Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage Bond Indenture;

 

    all merchandise, equipment, spare parts, tools, materials, supplies and fuel held for sale or lease in the ordinary course of business or for use or consumption in, or in the operation of, any properties of, or for the benefit of, us, or held in advance of use thereof for maintenance, replacement or fixed capital purposes;

 

    all electricity, gas, steam, water and other materials, products or services generated, manufactured, produced, provided or purchased by us for sale or distribution or used or to be used by us;

 

    all railcars, aircraft, watercraft, automobiles, buses, trucks, tractors, trailers and similar vehicles and movable equipment, and all components, spare parts, accessories, supplies and fuel used or to be used in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

    all office furniture and office equipment;

 

    all leasehold interests and leasehold improvements;

 

    the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold now owned or hereafter acquired by us which is specifically subjected to the lien of the Mortgage;

 

    all timber, crops, sand, gravel, rocks, earth, natural gas, oil, coal, uranium and other minerals, products or components of land and minerals, harvested, mined or extracted from or otherwise separated from the earth, or lying or being upon, within or under any properties of ours, including Mortgaged Property, and timber, crops, sand, gravel, rocks, earth, natural gas, oil, coal, uranium and other land and mineral rights, leases and royalties and income therefrom, and rights to explore for minerals;

 

    except as the same may be specifically subjected to the lien of the Mortgage, all nuclear fuel, cores and materials;

 

    all satellites and other equipment and materials used or to be used in outer space; all business machines; all communications equipment; all computer equipment; all record production, storage and retrieval equipment; all telephone equipment; and all components, spare parts, accessories, programs and supplies used or to be used in connection with any of the foregoing;

 

    all real or personal property which meets all of the following conditions:

 

    is not specifically described in Exhibit A to the Mortgage,

 

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    is not specifically subjected or required to be subjected to the lien of the Mortgage by any express provision of the Mortgage or the Mortgage Bond Indenture, and

 

    is not an integral part of or used or to be used (i) as an integral part of our electric generating, transmission and distribution operations in the State of Iowa, or (ii) in connection with the operation of any property specifically subjected or required to be subjected to the lien of the Mortgage by the express provisions of the Mortgage or the Mortgage Bond Indenture;

 

    all real and personal property which is not in the State of Iowa;

 

    our franchise to be a corporation; and

 

    all books and records.

Permissible Encumbrances. The lien of the Mortgage is subject to Permissible Encumbrances. These include:

 

    the lien of the Mortgage and other liens in favor of the Collateral Trustee and subject to the Collateral Trust Agreement, and all liens and encumbrances junior thereto;

 

    liens for taxes or assessments by governmental bodies not yet due or the payment of which is being contested in good faith by us;

 

    any right of any municipal or other governmental body or agency, by virtue of any franchise, grant, license, permit, contract or statute, to occupy, purchase or designate a purchaser of, or to order the sale of, any Mortgaged Property upon payment of reasonable compensation therefor, or to modify or terminate any franchise, grant, license, permit, contract or other right, or to regulate our property and business;

 

    liens and charges incidental to our construction or current operations which are not delinquent or, whether or not delinquent, are being contested in good faith by us;

 

    easements, leases, rights of way, restrictions, exceptions or reservations, and zoning ordinances, regulations and restrictions, with respect to any of our property or rights of way, which do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the use of such property or rights of way for the purposes for which such property or rights of way are held by us;

 

    irregularities in or defects of title to any of our property or rights of way which do not materially impair the use of such property or rights of way for the purposes for which such property or rights of way are held by us;

 

    liens securing obligations neither (i) assumed by us nor (ii) on account of which we customarily pay interest, directly or indirectly, existing upon real property, or rights in or relating to real property acquired by us for rights of way for lines, pipes, structures and appurtenances thereto;

 

    party-wall agreements and agreements for and obligations relating to the joint or common use of property owned solely by us or owned by us in common or jointly with one or more Persons;

 

    liens securing indebtedness incurred by a Person, other than us, which indebtedness has been neither assumed nor guaranteed by us nor on which we customarily pay interest, existing on property which we own jointly or in common with such Person or such Person and others, if there is an effective bar against partition of such property which would preclude the sale of such property by such other Person or the holder of such lien without our consent;

 

    any attachment, judgment and other similar lien arising in connection with court proceedings (i) in an amount not in excess of the greater of $100,000,000 or 5% of the principal amount of the Bonds outstanding at the time such attachment, judgment or lien arises, or (ii) the execution of which has been stayed or which has been appealed and secured, if necessary, by an appeal bond;

 

    the burdens of any law or governmental rule, regulation, order or permit requiring us to maintain certain facilities or to perform certain acts as a condition of its occupancy or use of, or interference with, any public or private lands or highways or any river, stream or other waters;

 

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    any duties or obligations of us to any federal, state or local or other governmental authority with respect to any franchise, grant, license, permit or contract which affects any Mortgaged Property;

 

    liens in favor of a government or governmental entity securing (i) payments pursuant to a statute (other than taxes and assessments), or (ii) indebtedness incurred to finance all or part of the purchase price or Cost of construction of the property subject to such lien;

 

    any other liens or encumbrances of whatever nature or kind which, in the opinion of counsel, do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the lien of the Mortgage or the security afforded thereby for the benefit of the holders of first mortgage bonds;

 

    any trustee’s lien under the Mortgage Bond Indenture or under the Collateral Trust Agreement;

 

    any Prior Lien if such Prior Lien shall not attach to any Mortgaged Property other than the Mortgaged Property that was or became subject to the Prior Lien at the time of acquisition by us of such Mortgaged Property, other than pursuant to an after-acquired property clause of such Prior Lien; but, if we, as successor corporation, shall have executed a supplemental indenture relating thereto, the extension of such Prior Lien to Mortgaged Property subsequently acquired by us shall be permitted;

 

    liens existing at the date of the Mortgage Bond Indenture;

 

    leases existing at the date of the Mortgage Bond Indenture affecting properties owned by us at such date and renewals and extensions thereof; and leases affecting such properties entered into after such date or affecting properties acquired by us after such date which, in either case, (i) have respective terms of not more than ten (10) years (including extensions or renewals at the option of the tenant) or (ii) do not materially impair the use by us of such properties for the respective purposes for which they are held by us;

 

    liens vested in lessors, licensors, franchisors or permitters for rent or other amounts to become due or for other obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or the performance of which other obligations or acts is required under leases, subleases, licenses, franchises or permits, so long as the payment of such rent or other amounts or the performance of such other obligations or acts is not delinquent or is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; and

 

    any lien securing indebtedness for the payment, prepayment or redemption of which there have been irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee or other holder of such lien moneys and/or Investment Securities which (together with the interest reasonably expected to be earned from the investment and reinvestment in Investment Securities of the moneys and/or the principal of and interest on the Investment Securities so deposited) shall be sufficient for such purpose; provided, however, that if such indebtedness is to be redeemed or otherwise prepaid prior to the stated maturity thereof, any notice requisite to such redemption or prepayment shall have been given in accordance with the mortgage or other instrument creating such lien or irrevocable instructions to give such notice shall have been given to such trustee or other holder.

“Prior Lien” means any mortgage, lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest on or in, or pledge of, any Mortgaged Property existing both at and immediately prior to the time of the acquisition by us of such Mortgaged Property, or created as a purchase money mortgage on such Mortgaged Property at the time of its acquisition by us, in each case ranking prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Mortgage.

The Mortgage Bond Indenture and Collateral Trust Agreement provide that the Bond Trustee and Collateral Trustee are entitled to payment, prior to the first mortgage bonds, of their reasonable compensation and expenses and indemnity against certain liabilities.

 

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Issuance of First Mortgage Bonds

An unlimited principal amount of first mortgage bonds may be issued under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, subject to the following conditions with respect to collateral coverage. The Mortgage Bond Indenture permits us to issue first mortgage bonds from time to time on any or a combination of three different bases:

 

  (1) on the basis of Bondable Property (as described below) that has not become Bonded (as described below), in a principal amount not exceeding 70% of the Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) of that Bondable Property;

 

  (2) on the basis of first mortgage bonds or Equal and Ratable Notes that have been purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us since the date of the Mortgage Bond Indenture or are then being purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us, and which have not previously been Bonded, in a principal amount not exceeding the principal amount of such purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged first mortgage bonds or Equal and Ratable Notes; and

 

  (3) on the basis of cash deposited with the Bond Trustee for this purpose (which we may later withdraw on the basis of Bondable Property that has not become Bonded or on the basis of purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged first mortgage bonds or Equal and Ratable Notes, as described below under “—Withdrawal or Application of Certain Cash”), in a principal amount not exceeding the amount of such deposited cash.

“Bonded” or “Bonding” as applied to first mortgage bonds or Bondable Property generally means that first mortgage bonds or Bondable Property are within one or more of the following classes:

 

    (a) the aggregate amount of Bondable Property which has been used as a basis for the authentication and delivery of first mortgage bonds or the withdrawal of cash and (b) an aggregate amount of Bondable Property with a value equal to 10/7 (ten sevenths) of the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding indebtedness secured by a Prior Lien (which we refer to as “Prior Lien Debt”).

 

    first mortgage bonds that have been purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us and have been used as a basis for the authentication and delivery of first mortgage bonds or the withdrawal of cash, and first mortgage bonds paid, purchased or redeemed with money used or applied by the Bond Trustee.

 

    first mortgage bonds which have been used as a basis for a waiver by us of our right to the authentication and delivery of first mortgage bonds on the basis of first mortgage bonds that have been purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us.

 

    first mortgage bonds and Bondable Property which have been allocated or used as a basis for any credit or action or pursuant to any provision of, or retired through the operation of, any sinking, improvement, maintenance, replacement or analogous fund for any series of first mortgage bonds; provided, however, that any such first mortgage bonds or Bondable Property so allocated or used shall be reinstated as Unbonded when all of the first mortgage bonds of the series of first mortgage bonds in connection with such fund was established are retired first mortgage bonds.

All Bondable Property which is retired, abandoned, destroyed, released or otherwise disposed of will be deemed retired Bondable Property, but may later again become Bondable Property.

Bondable Property includes our property in Iowa used in our electric generating, transmission and distribution operations and may consist of: construction work in progress; property in the process of purchase to which we have legal title; our fractional and other undivided interests in property owned jointly or in common with other Persons; engineering, economic, environmental, financial, geological and legal and other analyses and surveys, data processing equipment and software associated with the acquisition or construction of property; paving, grading and other improvements to property owned by others but used by us; and certain property owned by us located on property owned by others, including governmental and municipal agencies. We may at our

 

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option subject to the lien of the Mortgage gas distribution property within the State of Iowa or outside the State of Iowa or our other property used in our electric generating, transmission and distribution operations located outside of the State of Iowa, which would then become Bondable Property.

The “amount” of Bondable Property is its Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in effect at the date of the Mortgage Bond Indenture or, at our option, at the date of their determination. In determining Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, we may conform to accounting orders from any governmental regulatory commission.

Bonded Bondable Property generally consists of (i) Bondable Property which has been the basis of the authentication and delivery of outstanding first mortgage bonds, (ii) Bondable Property with a value equal to 10/7 (ten sevenths) of the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes and any Prior Lien Debt, (iii) Bondable Property which has been used as the basis for the release of Mortgaged Property, (iv) Bondable Property which has been used as the basis for the withdrawal of cash and (v) Bondable Property allocated or used as a basis for certain credit or action or pursuant to certain sinking, improvement, maintenance, replacement or analogous fund for any series of first mortgage bonds.

It is expected that the first mortgage bonds will be issued on the basis of Bondable Property or the deposit of cash. As of the date of this prospectus, we have pledged property having a value of approximately $10.45 billion as of September 30, 2013 as Bondable Property, which would allow us, in accordance with the limitations described above, to have outstanding approximately $7.31 billion in aggregate principal amount of first mortgage bonds and Equal and Ratable Notes. As of the date of this prospectus, we have outstanding $950 million in principal amount of first mortgage bonds and $2.0 billion in principal amount of Equal and Ratable Notes.

Withdrawal or Application of Certain Cash

Proceeds of any insurance against loss by fire may be paid or remitted to us at our request, and the Mortgage Bond Indenture will not obligate us to use the proceeds to rebuild or repair damaged or destroyed Mortgaged Property, to the extent that the Fair Value of all Mortgaged Property after the damage or destruction of Mortgaged Property with respect to which the proceeds are payable is at least 10/7 (ten sevenths) of the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes plus (z) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Prior Lien Debt. Such insurance proceeds must, however, be paid to the Collateral Trustee or to the Bond Trustee or other mortgagee under any Prior Lien on the Mortgaged Property damaged or destroyed to the extent that the Fair Value of all remaining Mortgaged Property does not equal the amount described in preceding sentence. Provided that no Triggering Event shall have occurred and be continuing, during the first eighteen (18) months after receipt of any such monies by the Collateral Trustee, we may be reimbursed from such insurance proceeds held by the Collateral Trustee for amounts spent to purchase or otherwise acquire property which becomes Mortgaged Property at the time of such purchase or acquisition, or to rebuild or renew the Mortgaged Property destroyed or damaged. Any such monies held by the Collateral Trustee and not applied to such reimbursement (or for which notice of our intention to apply such monies to the rebuilding or renewal then in progress) within the first eighteen (18) months after the Collateral Trustee’s receipt will be held and applied as described below.

Unless we are in default in the payment of principal of or interest on any first mortgage bonds then outstanding or any other default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture has occurred and is continuing, cash that was deposited with the Bond Trustee as a basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds generally may be withdrawn by us in an amount, subject to certain deductions and additions, up to 70% of the Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) of Bondable Property that has not become Bonded.

In addition, unless we are in default in the payment of principal of or interest on any first mortgage bonds then outstanding or any other default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture has occurred and is continuing (and subject to the provisions of the Collateral Trust Agreement upon the occurrence and continuance of any Triggering Event described below), any cash that has been received or transferred to, and held by, the Bond

 

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Trustee or the Collateral Trustee under the Mortgage Bond Indenture or the Collateral Trust Agreement may be released or applied upon our request, including as follows:

 

    in the case of cash other than cash deposited by us as a basis for the issuance of first mortgage bonds, such cash may be withdrawn by us to the extent of 100% of the lesser of the Cost or Fair Value of Unbonded Bondable Property;

 

    withdrawn by us in an amount equal to the principal amount of first mortgage bonds which we then have the right to have authenticated and delivered on the basis of first mortgage bonds that have been purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us;

 

    applied by the Bond Trustee to payment at maturity of outstanding first mortgage bonds or to the redemption of any outstanding first mortgage bonds which are redeemable by their terms; or

 

    applied to the purchase of first mortgage bonds, so long as no cash is applied to the payment of more than the principal amount of any first mortgage bonds so purchased, except to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of all first mortgage bonds so purchased exceeds the aggregate cost for principal of and interest, brokerage and premium, if any, on all first mortgage bonds so purchased.

Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Triggering Event, under the Collateral Trust Agreement, the Collateral Trustee will no longer be required to release or apply any cash held by it in as described in the preceding paragraph, unless directed by the Requisite Secured Parties.

Release and Substitution of Property

Unless a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture has occurred and is continuing, we generally may obtain the release from the lien of the Mortgage of any Mortgaged Property (which does not include cash held by the Bond Trustee):

 

  (1) if after such release, the Fair Value of the remaining Mortgaged Property equals or exceeds a sum equal to 10/7 (ten sevenths) of the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes plus (z) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Prior Lien Debt; or

 

  (2) if the Fair Value of the Mortgaged Property to be released is less than  1 2 of 1% of the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes plus (z) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Prior Lien Debt; provided that the aggregate Fair Value of Mortgaged Property released in this manner in any period of 12 consecutive calendar months does not exceed 1% of such sum; or

 

  (3) on the basis of (a) the deposit of cash, Governmental Obligations or purchase money obligations, (b) Bondable Property to be acquired by us with the proceeds of, or otherwise in connection with, such release or (c) a waiver of the right to issue first mortgage bonds on the basis of first mortgage bonds which have been purchased, paid, retired, redeemed or otherwise discharged by us after the date of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, and have not previously been Bonded; or

 

  (4) if any Mortgaged Property is taken by exercise of the power of eminent domain, and all net proceeds of such taking, purchase or sale (or, in the case of a sale or conveyance in anticipation thereof, an aggregate amount of Governmental Obligations or purchase money obligations having a fair value to the Company in cash), and cash, not less than the Fair Value of the Mortgaged Property taken, purchased, sold or conveyed, together with all net sums payable for any damage to any Mortgaged Property by or in connection with any such taking, purchase, sale or conveyance, to the extent not deposited under a Prior Lien with the trustee, mortgagee or other holder or such Prior Lien, are deposited with the Collateral Trustee, to be held and applied in accordance with the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Mortgage Bond Indenture. See “—Description of First Mortgage Bonds—Withdrawal or Application of Certain Cash.”

 

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At any time when a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture has occurred and is continuing, we may only obtain any such release if we satisfy such conditions in (1), (2), (3) or (4) above and we have the consent of the Bond Trustee, except that upon the continuance of a Triggering Event in connection with the exercise of remedies at the direction of the Requisite Secured Parties as described below under “—Description of the First Mortgage Bonds—Remedies”, we may not obtain such release unless directed by the Requisite Secured Parties and certain other conditions of the Collateral Trust Agreement are satisfied.

“Requisite Secured Parties” means the holders of a majority in principal amount of the sum of (x) all outstanding first mortgage bonds and (y) all outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes.

A “Triggering Event” would occur upon any of the following: (i) our failure to pay the principal amount of the Equal and Ratable Notes or first mortgage bonds of any series, upon final maturity, after expiration of any relevant grace period, (ii) a decree or order is entered against us in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding and is not vacated in 90 days, or a similar involuntary event relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency occurs and continues for 90 days; or we petition for voluntary bankruptcy or take similar voluntary actions relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency, (iii) the acceleration of the principal amount of the first mortgage bonds or Equal and Ratable Notes or (iv) the issuance of any direction by the Bond Trustee to the Collateral Trustee, following the occurrence and during the continuance of any default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, to commence exercise of foreclosure or similar remedies under the Mortgage and any other documents providing for collateral security with respect to the collateral that secures both the first mortgage bonds and the Equal and Ratable Notes.

In addition, at any time or from time to time, without any release or consent from the Bond Trustee, we may dispose of certain obsolete Mortgaged Property; grant certain rights of way and easements; abandon any Mortgaged Property and surrender any franchises under which we are operating that in the judgment of management are not necessary or important for the operation of the remaining Mortgaged Property; cancel or make changes in or alterations of or substitutions for leases; alter, change the location of, add to, repair or replace transmission and distribution equipment; cancel, make changes in or substitutions for or dispose of rights of way; and surrender or modify any franchise under which we may be operating if advisable in our judgment.

Global Securities

The first mortgage bonds of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities. Each global security will:

 

    be registered in the name of a depositary or nominee thereof that we will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

    be deposited with the depositary or nominee or custodian; and

 

    bear any required legends.

As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered holder of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the first mortgage bonds represented by the global security for all purposes under the first mortgage bonds and the Mortgage Bond Indenture. Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:

 

    will not be entitled to have the first mortgage bonds registered in their names;

 

    will not be entitled to physical delivery of certificated first mortgage bonds; and

 

    will not be considered to be holders of those first mortgage bonds under the first mortgage bonds or the Mortgage Bond Indenture.

Payments on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have laws that require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

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Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as “participants.” Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of first mortgage bonds represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and effected through records maintained by the depositary, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests held by participants on behalf of other persons.

Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the depositary. The depositary policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither we nor the Bond Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the depositary’s or any participant’s records with respect to beneficial interests in a global security.

Exchange of Global Securities for Certificated Securities

Except as otherwise may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global securities may be exchanged for first mortgage bonds in certificated form only in the following circumstances:

 

    if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global securities, or if the depositary is no longer registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act and we do not appoint a replacement depositary within 90 days;

 

    a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture occurs; or

 

    if we determine, subject to the procedures of the depositary, that a series of first mortgage bonds will no longer be represented by global securities.

If any global securities are exchangeable for certificated securities as described above, we will execute, and the Bond Trustee will authenticate upon our order, certificated securities of like tenor and terms in certificated form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global securities. These certificated securities will be delivered to persons specified by the depositary in exchange for the beneficial interests in the global securities being exchanged.

Redemption and Repayment

The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following:

 

    if the first mortgage bonds are subject to any sinking fund and the terms of any such sinking fund;

 

    if we may elect to redeem the first mortgage bonds prior to maturity and the terms of any such optional redemption;

 

    if we will be required to redeem the first mortgage bonds prior to maturity upon the occurrence of certain events and the terms of any such mandatory redemption; and

 

    if the holders of the first mortgage bonds will have the right to repayment of the first mortgage bonds prior to maturity and the terms of any such optional repayment.

If we elect or are required to redeem first mortgage bonds, a redemption notice will be mailed to each holder of first mortgage bonds to be redeemed at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture to the Mortgage Bond Indenture. The redemption notice will include the following: (1) the redemption date; (2) if less than all of the first mortgage bonds of a series are to be redeemed, the particular first mortgage bonds or portions thereof to be redeemed; and (3) if any first mortgage bonds are to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the first mortgage bonds to be redeemed.

 

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If notice of redemption is given as specified above and, before the redemption date we deposit funds, obligations or instruments with the Bond Trustee sufficient to effect the redemption, then the first mortgage bonds called for redemption will become due and payable on the date stated in the redemption notice at the applicable redemption price, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. After the redemption date, the first mortgage bonds subject to redemption will cease to bear interest and will not be entitled to the benefits of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, other than the right to receive payment of the redemption price together with accrued interest to the redemption date.

Covenants

Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the first mortgage bonds will be subject to covenants including the following:

 

    a covenant that the property subject to the Mortgage Bond Indenture is owned free and clear of all liens other than Permissible Encumbrances, and that we will maintain and preserve the lien of the Mortgage so long as any first mortgage bond is outstanding, subject to Permissible Encumbrances;

 

    a covenant that requires us promptly to record and file the Mortgage and all supplemental mortgages or notices in respect thereof, as required by law to preserve and protect the security of the holders of first mortgage bonds and the rights of the Bond Trustee;

 

    a covenant that requires us to insure the Mortgaged Property, with reasonable deductibles and retentions, against loss by fire, to the extent customary, either through insurance companies we believe to be reputable or through creation of an insurance fund or other self insurance plan;

 

    a covenant that requires us to maintain the Mortgaged Property in good repair, supplied with all necessary equipment and to cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals and improvements; provided that we may discontinue the operation of any Mortgaged Property if, in our judgment, desirable in the conduct of our business and not in any material respect adverse to the interests of the holders of first mortgage bonds;

 

    a covenant that requires us to pay taxes and assessments on the Mortgaged Property and to use our best efforts to observe all governmental requirements as to any Mortgaged Property, and all covenants, terms and conditions upon which any Mortgaged Property is held, subject to an exception for taxes and assessments contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

    a covenant that requires us to maintain our corporate existence (other than in the case of a permitted merger or consolidation); and

 

    a covenant that prohibits us from issuing any debt securities, other than first mortgage bonds, that are required by their terms to be equally and ratably secured with the first mortgage bonds, except to replace any mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Equal and Ratable Notes or to effect exchanges and transfers of Equal and Ratable Notes.

Events of Default

Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following will constitute defaults under the Mortgage Bond Indenture:

 

    we fail to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, on the first mortgage bonds when due and such failure continues for three Business Days;

 

    we fail to pay interest on the first mortgage bonds when due and such failure continues for 90 days;

 

    we fail to pay any Prior Lien Debt in one or more series, in each case in an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 or greater, after giving effect to any applicable grace period;

 

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    we breach any other covenant or condition in the Mortgage Bond Indenture or any supplemental indenture thereto and such breach continues for 90 days after we receive a written notice of default with respect thereto;

 

    a decree or order is entered against us in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding and is not vacated in 90 days, or a similar involuntary event relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency occurs and continues for 90 days;

 

    we commence a voluntary bankruptcy case or take similar voluntary actions relating to our bankruptcy or insolvency; or

 

    the occurrence of a Triggering Event, to the extent not otherwise a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture.

The Bond Trustee is required to give the holders of the first mortgage bonds notice within 90 days of any default known to the Bond Trustee, unless the default has been cured or waived, except that in the event of a default described in the fourth bullet point above, no notice may be given until at least 60 days after its occurrence, and except that the Bond Trustee may withhold a notice of default (except for certain payment defaults) if the Bond Trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of first mortgage bonds.

We have agreed to furnish the Bond Trustee with an annual statement as to our compliance with the conditions and covenants in the Mortgage Bond Indenture. However, the Mortgage Bond Indenture does not otherwise require us to notify the Bond Trustee of any default.

Remedies

Upon the occurrence of a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Bond Trustee may, and upon the written request of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds is required to, declare all outstanding first mortgage bonds to be immediately due and payable. However, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds may rescind the acceleration if, before any sale of the Mortgaged Property pursuant to the Collateral Trust Agreement:

 

    all arrears of interest upon the first mortgage bonds, with interest on overdue interest installments at the first mortgage bonds’ respective rates of interest have been paid by or on our behalf or collected out of the Mortgaged Property and

 

    all defaults have been remedied.

Prior to acceleration, holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the affected series of first mortgage bonds may waive a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, other than (1) a default related to non-payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, (2) a default arising from the creation of a Prior Lien except Permissible Encumbrances or (3) a default related to a covenant or other provision of the Mortgage Bond Indenture that may not be modified without the consent of each holder of first mortgage bonds affected thereby.

Subject to the provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture relating to the duties of the Bond Trustee, if a default occurs and is continuing, the Bond Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement, unless the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds have requested the Bond Trustee to take action and have offered to the Bond Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Bond Trustee against its costs, expenses and liabilities.

No holder of first mortgage bonds has any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for the foreclosure of the Mortgage, or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy under the Indenture unless:

 

    holders of at least 33% of the outstanding first mortgage bonds have requested the Bond Trustee to take action and offered the Bond Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it; and

 

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    the Bond Trustee for a period of 60 days has refused or neglected to act on such notice.

Following the occurrence of a Triggering Event and the delivery of prior written notice to the Bond Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, the Requisite Secured Parties will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for the exercise of any right or remedy available to the Collateral Trustee with respect to the collateral that secures both the first mortgage bonds and the Equal and Ratable Notes, or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Collateral Trustee, or for the taking of any other action authorized by the instruments comprising the Trust Estate and, thereafter, shall have the exclusive right and authority to direct the Collateral Trustee as to such matters.

During the continuance of a default under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, if the events described in the previous paragraph have not occurred, then:

 

    the Bond Trustee, in its discretion from time to time (i) may direct the Collateral Trustee to sell, subject to Prior Liens, all or any part of the Mortgaged Property as provided in the Mortgage or exercise any other rights or remedies provided for under the Mortgage; or (ii) may proceed, and may instruct the Collateral Agent to proceed, to protect and to enforce the rights of the Bond Trustee and of the holders of first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Bond Indenture and the rights of the Collateral Trustee and the holders of first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement, by suit in equity or at law, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement in the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage or the Collateral Trust Agreement (as applicable) or in aid of the execution of any power granted by the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage or the Collateral Trust Agreement or for the foreclosure of the Mortgage, or for the enforcement of any other appropriate legal or equitable remedy; and

 

    upon the written direction of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds, the Bond Trustee is required to take all action so directed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of first mortgage bonds under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, under the Mortgage and under the Collateral Trust Agreement, or to take appropriate judicial proceedings by action, suit or otherwise; but the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds, from time to time have the right to direct and control the actions of the Bond Trustee and the Bond Trustee generally has no obligation to take any such action unless so directed.

The Mortgage Bond Indenture also provides that a court in its discretion may require the plaintiff in any suit to enforce any right or remedy under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage or the Collateral Trust Agreement, or against the Bond Trustee or the Collateral Trustee, to file an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit. The Mortgage Bond Indenture further provides that the court may assess reasonable costs including attorneys’ fees against any party to the suit. However, these provisions do not apply to a suit instituted by the Bond Trustee, a suit instated by a holder or holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding first mortgage bonds or to any suit instituted by any holder of first mortgage bonds for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest.

Merger, Consolidation, Conveyance and Lease

The Mortgage Bond Indenture does not prevent us from consolidating or merging with or into, or conveying, transferring or leasing all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property to another person so long as, among other things:

 

    the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease is on terms which would not create any Prior Lien (other than any Permissible Encumbrances) on the Mortgaged Property, or impair the Lien or security of the Mortgage or any of the rights or powers of the Bond Trustee or holders of the first mortgage bonds under the Indenture or the Bond Trustee under the Mortgage or Collateral Trust Agreement;

 

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    if the other party to the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease has outstanding or proposes to issue in connection with the transaction any secured obligations, to the lien of which any of the Mortgaged Property would be subject, the lien of the Mortgage is established as superior to the lien of such other secured obligations with respect to the Mortgaged Property;

 

    any such lease is made subject to immediate termination by us or the Bond Trustee during the continuance of a default, and by the purchaser of the Mortgaged Property leased at any sale under the Mortgage Bond Indenture; and

 

    in the event of a consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, or a lease with a term extending beyond the maturity of any outstanding first mortgage bonds, the surviving company, or the person acquiring all or substantially all the Mortgaged Property, or the lessee, assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the first mortgage bonds and the observance of the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement.

The Mortgage Bond Indenture requires that the surviving company either:

 

    grant a first (subject only to liens affecting our property prior to the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease) lien to the Collateral Trustee upon all its property then owned and which it may later acquire (other than Excepted Property), or

 

    confirm the prior lien of the Mortgage upon the Mortgaged Property and extend the lien of the Mortgage as a first lien (or as a lien subject only to liens affecting our property prior to the consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease) to all property the surviving company later acquires or constructs that forms an integral part of any property subject to the lien of the Mortgage and all renewals, replacements and additional property as the surviving company purchases, constructs or acquires and covenant to maintain the Mortgaged Property in good repair, working order and condition and to comply with the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture.

The covenant described immediately above includes a phrase relating to a conveyance, transfer or lease of “all or substantially all” of our property or assets. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “all or substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the nature and extent of the restriction on our ability to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property, and the protections provided to the holders of first mortgage bonds by such restriction, may be uncertain. However, the Mortgage Bond Indenture provides that any conveyance, transfer or lease of Mortgaged Property, following which the Fair Value of the Mortgaged Property we retain exceeds 10/7 (ten sevenths) of the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding first mortgage bonds plus (y) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Equal and Ratable Notes plus (z) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Prior Lien Debt, will be deemed not to constitute a conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property

Modifications to the Mortgage Bond Indenture, Mortgage or Collateral Trust Agreement

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the first mortgage bonds will be subject to provisions which allow us and the Bond Trustee to amend the Mortgage Bond Indenture, and allow us and the Collateral Trustee to amend the Mortgage, in each case without the consent of any holder of first mortgage bonds for the following purposes:

 

    to amplify or correct the description of any property pledged or intended to be pledged by the Mortgage;

 

    to subject additional property to the lien of the Mortgage, including property outside the State of Iowa or which is an integral part of or used or to be used as an integral part of our gas distribution operations;

 

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    to close the Mortgage Bond Indenture against, or provide limitations with respect to, the issuance of additional first mortgage bonds;

 

    to establish and create series of first mortgage bonds and establish their terms;

 

    to provide alternative methods or forms for evidencing and recording ownership of first mortgage bonds;

 

    to reflect changes in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles;

 

    to comply with the rules or regulations of any national securities exchange on which any first mortgage bonds may be listed;

 

    to modify the provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture as necessary to continue its qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

 

    to evidence the succession of another company to us and the assumption by the successor of our obligations under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Trust Agreement;

 

    to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Mortgage Bond Indenture, but if the change or elimination would materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of any outstanding first mortgage bonds against us or our property, then the change or elimination shall become effective only with respect to those first mortgage bonds issued thereafter; and

 

    to cure ambiguities or to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provisions, provided that the amended provision shall not materially impair the security of the Mortgage Bond Indenture or the Mortgage or materially adversely affect the outstanding first mortgage bonds.

In addition, without the consent of any holder of first mortgage bonds, the Bond Trustee, as requested by the Company, may direct the Collateral Trustee to enter into amendments with the Company to the Collateral Trust Agreement to: (i) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, (ii) add guarantors or other parties so long as such addition will not materially impair the security of the Mortgage Bond Indenture or materially adversely affect the outstanding first mortgage bonds, (iii) further secure the first mortgage bonds and, as applicable, the Equal and Ratable Notes, (iv) provide more fully or clearly for the equal and ratable sharing of the lien of the Mortgage in accordance with the intent of the Collateral Trust Agreement, (v) remove any series of the Equal and Ratable Notes from the equal and ratable sharing in the lien of the Mortgage, in whole or in part, if such sharing is no longer required under the indenture governing such series, (vi) otherwise remove, lessen or release any lien or rights provided for the benefit of the Equal and Ratable Notes (or any portion thereof) to the extent we determine that such lien or rights are not required to be granted or (vii) make any other change which will not materially impair the security of the Mortgage Bond Indenture or materially adversely affect the outstanding first mortgage bonds. Under the Mortgage Bond Indenture, we and the Collateral Trustee may amend the Mortgage without the consent of any holder of first mortgage bonds to make changes corresponding to changes permitted to be made in the Collateral Trust Agreement according to the preceding clauses (iii) through (vii). Under the Collateral Trust Agreement, no such amendment, supplement or waiver to the Collateral Trust Agreement or the Mortgage that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of the Equal and Ratable Notes to equally and ratably share in the security provided for in the Collateral Trust Agreement and the Mortgage may be made unless joined in, or consented to in writing, by the respective indenture trustees for each series of Equal and Ratable Notes.

Except as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the first mortgage bonds will be subject to provisions which allow us and the Bond Trustee to amend the Mortgage Bond Indenture and the Mortgage for any other purpose with the consent of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds which would be affected by the action to be taken, or if one or more series of first mortgage bonds would be materially adversely affected by the action to be taken, with the consent of the holders of not less than 60% in

 

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aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of such series so affected (which need not include 60% of the aggregate principal amount of the first mortgage bonds of each such series), other than amendments which:

 

    extend the fixed maturity of any first mortgage bonds;

 

    change any terms of any sinking, improvement, maintenance, replacement or analogous fund or conversion rights with respect to any first mortgage bonds;

 

    reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest on any first mortgage bonds;

 

    reduce the principal amount of any first mortgage bonds;

 

    limit the right of a holder of first mortgage bonds to institute suit for the enforcement of payment of its first mortgage bonds;

 

    reduce the percentage of principal amount outstanding first mortgage bonds, required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or supplemental mortgage; or

 

    permit us to create any Prior Lien (except in the case of a permitted merger or consolidation with another person owning property subject to a Prior Lien).

The items described in the bullets above will require the consent of all holders of first mortgage bonds affected by the amendment.

Governing Law

The Mortgage Bond Indenture will be governed by the laws of the State of New York except to the extent that the law of any jurisdiction where property subject to the lien of the Mortgage is located shall mandatorily govern matters as to security interests.

 

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Plan of Distribution

We may offer and sell or exchange the securities described in this prospectus:

 

    through agents;

 

    through one or more underwriters;

 

    through one or more dealers;

 

    directly to one or more purchasers (through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise); or

 

    through a combination of any such methods of sale.

The distribution of the securities described in this prospectus may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions either:

 

    at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

    at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

    at prices relating to such prevailing market prices;

 

    at negotiated prices; or

 

    at a fixed exchange ratio in return for other of our securities.

Offers to purchase or exchange the securities may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of the securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached. The names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers, which may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell such securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Offers to purchase or exchange the securities may be solicited directly by us and sales or exchanges thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others. The terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may enter into agreements with agents, underwriters and dealers under which we agree to indemnify them against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof. The terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Certain of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

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In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate proceeds of the offering.

About this Prospectus

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Using this process, we may offer the securities described in this prospectus, either separately or with other securities registered hereunder, in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, in addition to the information contained in the documents we refer you to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Where You Can Find More Information

We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these materials at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities described in this prospectus. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You should read the registration statement for further information about us and the securities described in this prospectus.

Incorporation by Reference

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. The information filed by us with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede this information.

We incorporate by reference our filings listed below and any additional documents that we may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date we file the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to the termination of any offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement; except we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, unless specifically noted below or in a prospectus supplement:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012;

 

    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013; and

 

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    our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2013, September 12, 2013, September 13, 2013 and September 19, 2013.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address or telephone number:

Treasurer

MidAmerican Energy Company

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580

(515) 242-4300

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of such document.

Legal Matters

The validity of the securities described in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York. Certain matters involving the laws of Iowa will be passed upon for us by Paul J. Leighton, Esq.

Experts

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from MidAmerican Energy Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

With respect to the unaudited interim financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, June 30, 2013 and 2012 and September 30, 2013 and 2012, which are incorporated herein by reference, Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, have applied limited procedures in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) for a review of such information. However, as stated in their reports included in MidAmerican Energy Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and incorporated by reference herein, they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. Deloitte & Touche LLP are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for their reports on the unaudited interim financial information because those reports are not “reports” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by MidAmerican Energy Company in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates other than the SEC registration fee.

 

     Amount to
be Paid
 

Registration Fee

   $ 212,520   

Federal Taxes

     —      

State Taxes and Fees

     —      

Printing Expenses

     400,000   

Legal Fees and Expenses

     450,000   

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     140,000   

Rating Agency Fees

     1,100,000   

Trustee Fees and Expenses

     25,000   

Miscellaneous Expenses

     50,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,377,520   
  

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Sections 490.850-490.855 and 490.857 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act permit corporations organized thereunder to indemnify directors, officers, employees and agents against liability under certain circumstances. The Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and the Restated Bylaws, as amended, of MidAmerican Energy Company provide for indemnification of directors, officers and employees to the full extent provided by the Iowa Business Corporation Act. The Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws state that the indemnification provided therein shall not be deemed exclusive. MidAmerican Energy Company may, but has currently elected not to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of MidAmerican Energy Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not MidAmerican Energy Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Iowa Business Corporation Act. MidAmerican Energy Company may also enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers to further assure such persons indemnification as permitted by Iowa law.

As permitted by Section 490.832 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act, the Articles of Incorporation of MidAmerican Energy Company provide that no director shall have personal liability to MidAmerican Energy Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, except liability for any of the following: (1) the amount of a financial benefit received by a director to which the director is not entitled; (2) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or the shareholders; (3) a violation of Section 490.833 (relating to certain unlawful distributions to shareholders); or (4) an intentional violation of criminal law.

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement or incorporated by reference is contained in the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

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

provided, however , that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided , however , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

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Table of Contents

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the undersigned registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

 

II-3


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Des Moines, State of Iowa, on November 4, 2013.

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Paul J. Leighton

Name:   Paul J. Leighton
Title:   Vice President, Secretary and
  Assistant General Counsel

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Paul J. Leighton and Steven R. Weiss, as his true and lawful attorneys and agents, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, or any related registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/    William J. Fehrman        

   President, Chief Executive Officer and   November 4, 2013
William J. Fehrman    Director  
   (principal executive officer)  

/s/    Thomas B. Specketer        

   Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and   November 4, 2013
Thomas B. Specketer    Director (principal financial and accounting  
   officer)  

/s/    Steven R. Weiss        

   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and   November 4, 2013
Steven R. Weiss    Director  

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4.1   Form of Indenture (Senior Unsecured Debt Securities)
  4.2   Form of Indenture (Subordinated Unsecured Debt Securities)
  4.3**   Indenture (First Mortgage Bonds), dated as of September 9, 2013 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to MidAmerican Energy Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 13, 2013, Commission File No. 333-15387)
  4.4**   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2013 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to MidAmerican Energy Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 19, 2013, Commission File No. 333-15387)
  4.5**   Intercreditor and Collateral Trust Agreement, dated as of September 9, 2013 (Filed as Exhibit 4.3 to MidAmerican Energy Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 13, 2013, Commission File No. 333-15387)
  4.6**   Mortgage, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Financing Statement, dated as of September 9, 2013 (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to MidAmerican Energy Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 13, 2013, Commission File No. 333-15387)
  5.1   Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
  5.2   Opinion of Paul J. Leighton, Esq.
12.1   Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
15.1   Awareness Letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.1   Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2   Consent of Paul J. Leighton, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.2)
23.3   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.1   Power of Attorney (included in signature pages)
25.1   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. for the form of senior unsecured indenture
25.2   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. for the form of subordinated unsecured indenture
25.3   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. for the Mortgage Bond Indenture

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to an amendment hereto or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein.
** Previously filed.

 

II-5

Exhibit 4.1

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

AND

                             , as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of                     , 20         

Senior Debt Securities


Reconciliation and tie between

the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

and Indenture,

dated as of             , 20          *

 

Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture Section  

Section 3.10(a)(1)

     6.09   

                    (a)(2)

     6.09   

                    (a)(3)

     Not Applicable   

                    (a)(4)

     Not Applicable   

                    (a)(5)

     6.08, 6.10   

                    (b)

     6.08, 6.10   

                    (c)

     Not Applicable   

Section 3.11(a)

     6.13   

                    (b)

     6.13   

Section 3.12(a)

     7.01, 7.02(a)   

                    (b)

     7.02(b)   

                    (c)

     7.03   

Section 3.13(a)

     7.03   

                    (b)

     7.03   

                    (c)

     7.03   

                    (d)

     7.03   

Section 3.14(a)

     7.04, 10.05   

                    (b)

     Not Applicable   

                    (c)(1)

     1.02   

                    (c)(2)

     1.02   

                    (c)(3)

     Not Applicable   

                    (d)

     Not Applicable   

                    (e)

     1.02   

                    (f)

     Not Applicable   

Section 3.15(a)

     6.01   

                    (b)

     6.02   

                    (c)

     6.01   

                    (d)

     6.01   

                    (e)

     5.14   

 

* This table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i


Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture Section  

Section 3.16(a)

     1.01   

                    (a)(1)(A)

     5.12   

                    (a)(1)(B)

     5.13   

                    (a)(2)

     Not Applicable   

                    (b)

     5.08   

Section 3.17(a)(1)

     5.03   

                    (a)(2)

     5.04   

                    (b)

     10.03   

Section 3.18(a)

     1.07   

                    (c)

     1.07   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                 Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1   
  

Section 1.01

     Definitions      1   
  

Section 1.02

     Compliance Certificates and Opinions      7   
  

Section 1.03

     Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      8   
  

Section 1.04

     Acts of Holders; Record Dates      8   
  

Section 1.05

     Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company      10   
  

Section 1.06

     Notice to Holders; Waiver      10   
  

Section 1.07

     Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      10   
  

Section 1.08

     Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11   
  

Section 1.09

     Successors and Assigns      11   
  

Section 1.10

     Separability Clause      11   
  

Section 1.11

     Benefits of Indenture      11   
  

Section 1.12

     Governing Law      11   
  

Section 1.13

     Legal Holidays      11   
  

Section 1.14

     Waiver of Jury Trial      11   
  

Section 1.15

     Force Majeure      11   

ARTICLE II. SECURITY FORMS

     12   
  

Section 2.01

     Forms of Securities      12   
  

Section 2.02

     Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      12   
  

Section 2.03

     Securities in Global Form      12   

ARTICLE III. THE SECURITIES

     13   
  

Section 3.01

     Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      13   
  

Section 3.02

     Denominations      15   
  

Section 3.03

     Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      15   
  

Section 3.04

     Temporary Securities      17   
  

Section 3.05

     Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange and Book-Entry Securities      17   
  

Section 3.06

     Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      20   
  

Section 3.07

     Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      20   
  

Section 3.08

     Persons Deemed Owners      21   
  

Section 3.09

     Cancellation      22   
  

Section 3.10

     Computation of Interest      22   
  

Section 3.11

     CUSIP Numbers      22   

ARTICLE IV. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     23   
  

Section 4.01

     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      23   
  

Section 4.02

     Application of Trust Money      23   

ARTICLE V. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

     24   
  

Section 5.01

     Events of Default      24   
  

Section 5.02

     Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      26   

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

 

                 Page  
  

Section 5.03

     Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      28   
  

Section 5.04

     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      28   
  

Section 5.05

     Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      29   
  

Section 5.06

     Application of Money Collected      29   
  

Section 5.07

     Limitation on Suits      29   
  

Section 5.08

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

Section 5.09

     Restoration of Rights and Remedies      30   
  

Section 5.10

     Rights and Remedies Cumulative      31   
  

Section 5.11

     Delay or Omission Not Waiver      31   
  

Section 5.12

     Control by Holders      31   
  

Section 5.13

     Waiver of Defaults      32   
  

Section 5.14

     Undertaking for Costs      32   
  

Section 5.15

     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      33   

ARTICLE VI. THE TRUSTEE

     33   
  

Section 6.01

     Certain Duties and Responsibilities      33   
  

Section 6.02

     Notice of Defaults      34   
  

Section 6.03

     Certain Rights of Trustee      34   
  

Section 6.04

     Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      36   
  

Section 6.05

     May Hold Securities      36   
  

Section 6.06

     Money Held in Trust      36   
  

Section 6.07

     Compensation and Reimbursement      36   
  

Section 6.08

     Disqualification; Conflicting Interests      37   
  

Section 6.09

     Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      37   
  

Section 6.10

     Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      37   
  

Section 6.11

     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      39   
  

Section 6.12

     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      40   
  

Section 6.13

     Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      40   
  

Section 6.14

     Appointment of Authenticating Agent      40   

ARTICLE VII. HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     41   
  

Section 7.01

     Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      41   
  

Section 7.02

     Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      42   
  

Section 7.03

     Reports by Trustee      43   
  

Section 7.04

     Reports by Company      43   
  

Section 7.05

     Holders’ Meetings      43   

ARTICLE VIII. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

     45   
  

Section 8.01

     Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      45   
  

Section 8.02

     Successor Substituted      46   

ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     46   
  

Section 9.01

     Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      46   

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

 

                 Page  
  

Section 9.02

     Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      47   
  

Section 9.03

     Execution of Supplemental Indentures      48   
  

Section 9.04

     Effect of Supplemental Indentures      48   
  

Section 9.05

     Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      48   
  

Section 9.06

     Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      48   
  

Section 9.07

     Notice of Supplemental Indenture      49   

ARTICLE X. COVENANTS

     49   
  

Section 10.01

     Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      49   
  

Section 10.02

     Maintenance of Office or Agency      49   
  

Section 10.03

     Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      49   
  

Section 10.04

     Corporate Existence      51   
  

Section 10.05

     Notice of Defaults      51   
  

Section 10.06

     Waiver of Certain Covenants      51   

ARTICLE XI. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     51   
  

Section 11.01

     Applicability of Article      51   
  

Section 11.02

     Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      51   
  

Section 11.03

     Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      52   
  

Section 11.04

     Notice of Redemption      52   
  

Section 11.05

     Deposit of Redemption Price      53   
  

Section 11.06

     Securities Payable on Redemption Date      53   
  

Section 11.07

     Securities Redeemed in Part      53   

ARTICLE XII. SINKING FUNDS

     54   
  

Section 12.01

     Applicability of Article      54   
  

Section 12.02

     Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      54   
  

Section 12.03

     Redemption of Securities for Mandatory Sinking Fund      54   

ARTICLE XIII. REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

     55   
  

Section 13.01

     Applicability of Article      55   
  

Section 13.02

     Notice of Repayment Date      55   
  

Section 13.03

     Deposit of Repayment Price      56   
  

Section 13.04

     Securities Payable on Repayment Date      56   
  

Section 13.05

     Securities Repaid in Part      56   

ARTICLE XIV. DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     57   
  

Section 14.01

     Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      57   
  

Section 14.02

     Defeasance and Discharge      57   
  

Section 14.03

     Covenant Defeasance      57   
  

Section 14.04

     Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      58   
  

Section 14.05

     Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      60   
  

Section 14.06

     Reinstatement      60   

 

v


TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont.)

 

                 Page  

ARTICLE XV. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     60   
   Section 15.01      Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors      60   

 

vi


INDENTURE, dated as of                     , 20    , between MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Iowa (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580, and                     , a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at                                 .

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER

PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01 Definitions .

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

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

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

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

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

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

 

1


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

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

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Authorized Newspaper ” means a newspaper of general circulation in the relevant area, printed in the English language and customarily published on each Business Day therein.

Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board or any director or directors and/or officer or officers of the Company to whom that board or committee shall have duly delegated its authority.

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

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

Capital Stock ,” as applied to the stock of any corporation, means the capital stock of every class whether now or hereafter authorized, regardless of whether such capital stock shall be limited to a fixed sum or percentage with respect to the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such corporation.

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

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

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

 

2


Corporate Trust Office ” means the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at                                 .

Corporation ” includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.

Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any liability of such Person (i) for borrowed money or (ii) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations but excluding trade payables), or (iii) for the payment of money relating to a lease that is required to be classified as a capitalized lease obligation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (b) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed, that is recourse to such Person or that is otherwise such Person’s legal liability; and (c) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, which shall in either case be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.05 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 Securities of that series.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

generally accepted accounting principles ” or “ GAAP ” means, as of any date of computation, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied, that are in effect on the date of such computation.

Global Security or Securities ” means one or more fully registered Securities in global form evidencing all or a part of a series of Securities issued to the Depositary for such series or its nominee or registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

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

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

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Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

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

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

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

Notice of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(4).

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by at least two officers of the Company, one signature being that of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and the other signature being that of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

Original Issue Discount Security ” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

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

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

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

(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

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(iv) Securities with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance as provided in Article XIV;

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, and (b) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

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

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

Place of Payment ,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

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

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

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of                     ,                      and                      and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

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Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, 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 Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer by 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Repayment Date ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Repayment Price ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee customarily performing corporate trust functions who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

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

Subsidiary ” means a corporation or limited liability company more than 50% of the outstanding voting Capital Stock or voting membership interests of which is or are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, (1) “voting Capital Stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, and (2) “voting membership interests” means membership interests which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors (or the equivalent thereof), whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of membership interests have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

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

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

United States ” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section 14.04.

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

Section 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

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

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided for in Section 10.05) shall include:

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

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

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

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

Section 1.04 Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

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

 

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

(e) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, fix any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.01) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date for action to be taken by the Holders of one or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

(h) The Trustee shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

 

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Section 1.05 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company .

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

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

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, Attention: Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, portable document format (or PDF), facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction, except for instances of negligence or willful misconduct. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver .

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

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to give notice of any event to Holders by mail when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Section 3.10 through Section 3.17, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through the operation of Section 3.18(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or shall be deemed to be so excluded, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

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

Section 1.09 Successors and Assigns .

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

Section 1.10 Separability Clause .

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

Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture .

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Paying Agent and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture; provided that this Section 1.11 shall not limit the rights of any Holder of a Global Security to give any notice or take any action, or appoint any agents, with regard to any part or different parts of the principal amount of such Global Security pursuant to Section 1.04.

Section 1.12 Governing Law .

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of said state without regard to the conflicts of laws and rules of said state.

Section 1.13 Legal Holidays .

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) 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 Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 1.14 Waiver of Jury Trial .

EACH OF THE COMPANY 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 1.15 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.

 

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ARTICLE II.

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01 Forms of Securities .

The Securities of each series shall be in such form or forms (including global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange upon which the Securities may be listed and (with respect to Global Securities of any Series) the rules of the Depositary, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

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

 

 

as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Officer

Section 2.03 Securities in Global Form .

If any Security of a series is issuable in global form, such Security may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed

 

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thereon and also may provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee and in such manner as shall be specified in such Security. Any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form, after its initial issuance, shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.02.

ARTICLE III.

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.01 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. All Securities of each series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Maturity of the Securities of such series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and, to the extent not set forth therein, set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(1) the title of the Securities of the series including CUSIP Numbers (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of Securities);

(2) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities will be issued;

(3) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.06, Section 9.06, Section 11.06, Section 13.05 or Section 14.03);

(4) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or, if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any of the Securities will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

 

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

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

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

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

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

(11) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;

(12) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series;

(13) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article X which applies to Securities of the series;

(14) the nature and terms of the security for any secured Securities;

(15) the form and terms of any guarantee of the Securities;

(16) the application, if any, of Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article XIV;

(17) the listing of the Securities on any securities exchange or the inclusion in any other market or quotation or trading system;

(18) any Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, issuing or transfer agent or Securities Registrar or any other Person appointed to act in connection with such Securities for or on behalf of the Holders thereof or the Company; and

 

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

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate, to the extent applicable, or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuance of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Board Resolution or the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Section 3.02 Denominations .

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form with or without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities upon Company Order. If all the Securities of any one series are not to be originally issued at one time and if a Board Resolution relating to such Securities shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures (acceptable to the Trustee) for the issuance and authentication of such Securities.

If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

(a) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(b) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued and such documents reasonably contemplate the issuance of all Securities of such series.

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series having the same terms issued and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions

 

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and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered 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.”

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities .

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security in lieu of which it is issued.

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

Section 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange and Book-Entry Securities .

The Company shall cause to be kept at one of its offices or agencies maintained pursuant to Section 10.02 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “ Security Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of exchanges and transfers of Securities. The Person responsible for the maintenance of the Security Register is referred to herein as the “ Security Registrar .” The Trustee is hereby initially appointed Security Registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The exchange of and the transfer of Securities also may be registered at the office of the Trustee.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

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

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, Section 9.06, Section 11.06, Section 13.05 or Section 14.03 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.05, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

 

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The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall 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 Global Security or Securities representing such series, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

If (1) an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and (2) beneficial owners of interests representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series represented by a Global Security or Securities shall advise the Trustee through the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities in writing that the maintenance of a Depositary for such series is no longer in such beneficial owners’ best interests, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall 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 such Global Security or Securities, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

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

(ii) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to Clause (i) above.

Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. The Trustee shall, at Company expense, deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

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Section 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such other security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by the Trustee to save it harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security, subject to satisfaction of the foregoing conditions. Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

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

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. The Company and the Trustee understand that interest on any Global Security will be disbursed or credited by the Depositary to the Persons having ownership thereof pursuant to a book entry or other system maintained by the Depositary.

 

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Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or Clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

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

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

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners .

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 3.09 Cancellation .

Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01(6) for Securities of any series all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any mandatory sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee, except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security or Securities in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the portion of the Global Security so surrendered not to be paid, redeemed, repaid or registered for transfer or exchange or for credit. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures and a certificate of disposition shall be delivered to the Company upon its request therefor, unless, by a Company Order, the Company shall direct the canceled Securities be returned to it.

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest .

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11 CUSIP Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to 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 Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

Upon Company Request, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a particular series, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such Securities, when:

(1) either:

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose sums sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; and

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

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

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations, if any, of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03, in each case with respect to such Securities, shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Notwithstanding the cessation, termination and discharge of all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company under this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07 and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

ARTICLE V.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

Section 5.01 Events of Default .

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

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any mandatory sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the Securities of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(4) default in the performance of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 5.01 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series),

 

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and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days (unless the Company during such period shall have performed such covenant or warranty, or if such covenant or warranty cannot reasonably have been performed during such period, then the Company shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing such performance) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(5) default (i) in the payment of any principal of or interest on any Debt of the Company (other than Securities of that series), aggregating more than $100,000,000 in principal amount, when due after giving effect to any applicable grace period or (ii) in the performance of any other term or provision of any Debt of the Company (other than Securities of that series) in excess of $100,000,000 in principal amount that results in such Debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled, or such Debt shall not have been discharged, within a period of 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, a written notice specifying such default or defaults and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(6) the entry against the Company of one or more judgments, decrees or orders by a court having jurisdiction in the premises from which no appeal may be or is taken for the payment of money, either individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $100,000,000, and the continuance of such judgment, decree or order unsatisfied and in effect for any period of 45 consecutive days after the amount thereof is due without a stay of execution and there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, a written notice specifying such entry and continuance of such judgment, decree or order and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder; or

(7) the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

(8) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or the consent by it to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator,

 

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assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action.

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any proposed Notice of Default from any Holder with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such proposed Notice of Default, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such proposed Notice of Default. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such proposed Notice of Default, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, or their proxies, shall have joined in such proposed Notice of Default prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such proposed Notice of Default shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new proposed Notice of Default identical to a proposed Notice of Default which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period, an additional proposed Notice of Default with respect to any new or different fact or circumstance permitting the giving of a proposed Notice of Default with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01. Any such proposed Notice of Default shall be considered a Notice of Default hereunder at such time, if any, that Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have joined in such proposed Notice of Default by giving timely notice to the Trustee hereunder.

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(7) or Section 5.01(8)) at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of said amounts, all obligations of the Company in respect of payment of principal of the Securities of such series shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(7) or Section 5.01(8) hereof occurs with respect to the Company, all Outstanding Securities shall become immediately due and payable without further action or notice.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

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

Upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period, an additional written notice of declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of such series, or an additional written notice of rescission and annulment of any declaration of acceleration with respect to any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02.

 

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Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest upon any Security when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at its Maturity, or

(3) default is made in the making or satisfaction of any mandatory sinking fund payment when it becomes due pursuant to the terms of the Securities of any series,

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

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may, but shall not be obligated to, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

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

Section 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal, premium and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial

 

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proceeding, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

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

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected .

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07;

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits .

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest .

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

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

 

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Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

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

Section 5.12 Control by Holders .

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

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, expose the Trustee to personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining therein, and

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

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any such direction with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction, which record date shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.04(e). The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series, or their proxies, shall have been joined in such direction prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such direction shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new direction identical to a direction which has been canceled pursuant to the provisions of the preceding sentence or (ii) during any such 90-day period, a new direction contrary to or different from such direction, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.12.

 

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Section 5.13 Waiver of Defaults .

By Act delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any affected series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any existing Event of Default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences (including an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration), except an Event of Default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, or

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

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to waive any past default hereunder. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any default hereunder, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such majority in principal amount shall have been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such waiver previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.

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

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee, by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be).

 

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Section 5.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VI.

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

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

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision of this Indenture 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 any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

(c) 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:

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

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

 

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

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

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

Section 6.02 Notice of Defaults .

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee of the board of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.01(4) with respect to the Securities of such series no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

Section 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee .

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:

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

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

 

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(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

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

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

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

(h) the Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any default hereunder (except failure by the Company to pay principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any series of Securities so long as the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent for such series of Securities) unless the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of such default by the Company or by the Holders of at least a 10% in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, and all such notices or other instruments required by this Indenture to be delivered to the Trustee must, in order to be effective, be delivered at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and in the absence of such notice the Trustee may conclusively assume there is no default except as aforesaid;

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

(j) 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;

 

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(k) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless other written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

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

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

Section 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the identity of any Subsidiary unless either (A) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge thereof or (B) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or any Holder.

Section 6.05  May Hold Securities .

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 6.08 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.06 Money Held in Trust .

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

Section 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees:

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

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s own negligence or bad faith; and

 

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(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, in each case to the extent permitted by law, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the Trustee’s part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the Trustee’s costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

The benefits of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 6.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests .

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 3.10 of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series by virtue of being Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series of Securities except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of the Securities of that series.

Section 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30

 

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days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may at the expense of the Company petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the removal of Trustee, the removed Trustee may at the expense of the Company petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to any or all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to any or all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to such series.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona

 

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fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice of appointment shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 6.07.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign,

 

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transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

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

Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

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 such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.11 of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of such claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to and comply with said Section 3.11 to the extent required thereby.

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities (which may be an Affiliate of the Company) which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon registration of transfer or partial redemption or repayment thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the

 

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Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of no less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent for such series by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee of such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07.

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

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

 

 

as Trustee
By:  

 

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

 

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ARTICLE VII.

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee for the Securities of such Series

(a) semiannually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date relating to that series (or, if there is no Regular Record Date relating to that series, on June 30 and December 31), a list, in such form as such Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of that series as of such date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee is Security Registrar with respect to Securities of a particular series no such list shall be required with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

 

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Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee .

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year         , the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act if and to the extent and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

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

Section 7.04 Reports by Company .

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission. Delivery of such reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 7.05 Holders’ Meetings .

(a) A meeting of Holders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.05 for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to remove the Trustee for such series and appoint a successor Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

(3) to consent to the execution of an indenture or supplemental indentures hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; and

(4) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

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(b) The Trustee for any series may at any time call a meeting of Holders of such series to take any action specified in paragraph (a) of this Section 7.05, to be held at such time or times and at such place or places as the Trustee for such series shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given to Holders of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1.05. Such notice shall be given not less than 20 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(c) In case at any time the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series or of all series, as the case may be, shall have requested the Trustee for such series to call a meeting of Holders of any or all such series by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have given the notice of such meeting within 20 days after the receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time or times and the place or places for such meetings and may call such meetings to take any action authorized by giving notice thereof as provided in the preceding paragraph.

(d) To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall be (a) a Holder of a Security of the series with respect to which such meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as agent or proxy by such Holder. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee for the series with respect to which such meeting is being held and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

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

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of such series as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 7.05, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by a majority vote of the meeting.

Subject to the provisos in the definition of “Outstanding,” at any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of the series with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or such other amount as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01) of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Outstanding Securities of such series held by him or instruments in writing duly designating him

 

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as the person to vote on behalf of Holders of Securities of such series. Any meeting of Holders with respect to which a meeting was duly called pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section 7.05 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of such Holders present and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

(f) The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was transmitted as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 7.05. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.

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

(g) Nothing contained in this Section 7.05 shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to any Holder under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series.

ARTICLE VIII.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER,

CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to any Person unless:

(1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company shall be either the Company or a corporation or limited liability company, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto executed and delivered to the

 

45


Trustee, all obligations hereunder, including the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; and

(2) after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company.

Section 8.02 Successor Substituted .

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Company in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of its property or assets is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. In the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities. All Securities issued by the successor Person shall in all respects have the same legal priority as the Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

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

(1) to make such provision in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as may be necessary or desirable and not inconsistent with this Indenture or for the purpose of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or inconsistent provision, provided that such provision shall not adversely affect the interests of Holders of Outstanding Securities created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture in any material respect; or

(2) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

46


(3) to secure the Securities; or

(4) to establish the form of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01; or

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

(6) to grant to or confer upon the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority; or

(7) to permit the Trustee to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law; or

(8) to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationships among, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent and any Paying Agent; or

(9) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender a right or power conferred on the Company herein; or

(10) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series).

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of any Security; or reduce the rate of interest on any Security; or change the method of calculating interest, or any term used in the calculation of interest, or the period for which interest is payable, on any Security; or reduce the principal amount of any Security or any premium thereon; or reduce the payment of any mandatory sinking fund or analogous obligation; or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof; or adversely affect the right of repayment or renewal, if any, at the option of the Holders; or change the coin or currency in which the principal of any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable; or change the date on which any Security may be redeemed; or adversely affect the rights of any Holding to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Security, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security that would be affected thereby (for purposes of this Section 9.02(1) only, the term “Security” shall include Securities for which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company); or

 

47


(2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities the consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of certain past defaults or Events of Default hereunder or the consequences thereof, in each case without the consent of the Holders of all of the Outstanding Securities.

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

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

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

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

Section 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

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

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

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

 

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Section 9.07 Notice of Supplemental Indenture .

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the appropriate Trustee of any supplemental indenture, the Company shall transmit, as provided herein, to all Holders of any series of the Securities affected thereby, a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE X.

COVENANTS

Section 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

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

Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company terminates the appointment of a Paying Agent or Security Registrar or otherwise shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to appoint a successor Paying Agent or Security Registrar reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. If the Company fails to maintain a Paying Agent or Security Registrar, the Trustee will act as such, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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

Section 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .

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

 

49


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

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

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

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

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

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 10.04 Corporate Existence .

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

Section 10.05 Notice of Defaults .

The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default within five days after the Company becomes aware of such occurrence.

Section 10.06 Waiver of Certain Covenants .

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 8.01 with respect to the Securities of any series if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE XI.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article .

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated in Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

51


Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, in a manner which the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If the Company shall so specify and identify the appropriate Securities, Securities owned of record and beneficially by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

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

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

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption .

Notice of redemption shall, unless otherwise specified by the terms of the Securities to be redeemed, be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 1.06.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price (or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof);

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in each Place of Payment;

(4) that payment of the Redemption Price will be made on the surrender of such Securities at such place or places of redemption;

(5) that accrued interest to the Redemption Date will be paid as specified in such notice and that from and after the Redemption Date interest on such Securities will cease to accrue;

 

52


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

(7) in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, that upon surrender of such Securities, a new Security or new Securities having the same terms will be issued in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion;

(8) that redemption is subject to the receipt by the Trustee or a Paying Agent prior to the Redemption Date of sufficient funds to make the redemption, if such is the case; and

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

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

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price .

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

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

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part .

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a

 

53


written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new Global Security.

ARTICLE XII.

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article .

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 12.02 Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

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

Section 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Mandatory Sinking Fund .

Not less than 60 days prior to each mandatory sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities or applying

 

54


previously cancelled Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02 and the basis for such credit and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee. Not less than 30 days before each such mandatory sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such mandatory sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.03. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.04, Section 11.05 and Section 11.06.

ARTICLE XIII.

REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES

AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 13.01 Applicability of Article .

Securities of any series that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repaid in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 13.02 Notice of Repayment Date .

Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series shall, unless otherwise specified by the terms of the Securities of such series, be given by the Company not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to such Repayment Date, to the Trustee and to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 1.05 and Section 1.06, respectively.

The notice as to Repayment Date shall state:

(1) the Repayment Date;

(2) the Repayment Price;

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in each Place of Payment, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid;

(4) a description of the procedure which a Holder must follow to exercise a repayment right; and

(5) that exercise of the option to elect repayment is irrevocable.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notice shall limit any Holder’s right to exercise a repayment right.

 

55


Section 13.03 Deposit of Repayment Price .

On or prior to any Repayment Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities of such series which are to be repaid on that date.

Section 13.04 Securities Payable on Repayment Date .

The form of option to elect repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series as provided in Section 2.01, the Securities so to be repaid shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price, together with accrued interest to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Repayment Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Date according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Security to be repaid shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed in the Security.

Section 13.05 Securities Repaid in Part .

Any Security which by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder thereof and which is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.02 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new Global Security.

 

56


ARTICLE XIV.

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 14.01 Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

If pursuant to Section 3.01 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.02 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.03, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article XIV, shall be applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option at any time with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 14.02 (if applicable) or Section 14.03 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIV.

Section 14.02 Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies) on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ defeasance ”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company and upon Company Request, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.06, Section 6.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03 and such obligations as shall be ancillary thereto, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article XIV. Subject to compliance with this Article XIV, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 14.03 Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 8.01 (and any other covenant applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to covenant defeasance under this Section) and the occurrence of an event specified in Clause (4) of Section 5.01 with respect to Section 8.01

 

57


(and any other Event of Default applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to covenant defeasance under this Section) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ covenant defeasance ”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, limitation or restrictive covenant set forth in any such Section or Clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, including any supplement hereto, any Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate delivered hereto but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 14.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions precedent to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.09 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article XIV 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 benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. 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, sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereto delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the maturity of such principal, premium or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XI, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, “ U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, 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 U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such 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 from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

58


(2) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing (A) on the date of such deposit or (B) insofar as Section 5.01(7) and Section 5.01(8) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(3) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (A) cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.08 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or (B) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

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

(5) In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

(6) In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(7) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01.

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

59


Section 14.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes for this Section 14.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

Section 14.06 Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIV until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.02 or Section 10.03; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XV.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,

STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 15.01 Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors .

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company

 

60


or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or any successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of such Securities.

* * *

 

61


This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
                                                  , as Trustee
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

62

Exhibit 4.2

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

AND

                    , as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of             , 20    

Subordinated Debt Securities


Reconciliation and tie between

the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

and Indenture,

dated as of             , 20     *

 

Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture Section  

Section 3.10(a)(1)

     6.09   

    (a)(2)

     6.09   

    (a)(3)

     Not Applicable   

    (a)(4)

     Not Applicable   

    (a)(5)

     6.08, 6.10   

    (b)

     6.08, 6.10   

    (c)

     Not Applicable   

Section 3.11(a)

     6.13   

    (b)

     6.13   

Section 3.12(a)

     7.01, 7.02(a)   

    (b)

     7.02(b)   

    (c)

     7.03   

Section 3.13(a)

     7.03   

    (b)

     7.03   

    (c)

     7.03   

    (d)

     7.03   

Section 3.14(a)

     7.04, 10.05   

    (b)

     Not Applicable   

    (c)(1)

     1.02   

    (c)(2)

     1.02   

    (c)(3)

     Not Applicable   

    (d)

     Not Applicable   

    (e)

     1.02   

    (f)

     Not Applicable   

Section 3.15(a)

     6.01   

    (b)

     6.02   

    (c)

     6.01   

    (d)

     6.01   

    (e)

     5.14   

 

* This table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i


Trust Indenture

Act Section

   Indenture Section  

Section 3.16(a)

     1.01   

    (a)(1)(A)

     5.12   

    (a)(1)(B)

     5.13   

    (a)(2)

     Not Applicable   

    (b)

     5.08   

Section 3.17(a)(1)

     5.03   

    (a)(2)

     5.04   

    (b)

     10.03   

Section 3.18(a)

     1.07   

    (c)

     1.07   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION      1   

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     8   

Section 1.03

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     8   

Section 1.04

 

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     9   

Section 1.05

 

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

     10   

Section 1.06

 

Notice to Holders; Waiver

     11   

Section 1.07

 

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     11   

Section 1.08

 

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     11   

Section 1.09

 

Successors and Assigns

     12   

Section 1.10

 

Separability Clause

     12   

Section 1.11

 

Benefits of Indenture

     12   

Section 1.12

 

Governing Law

     12   

Section 1.13

 

Legal Holidays

     12   

Section 1.14

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

     13   

Section 1.15          Force Majeure

  
ARTICLE II. SECURITY FORMS      13   

Section 2.01

 

Forms of Securities

     13   

Section 2.02

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     13   

Section 2.03

 

Securities in Global Form

     14   
ARTICLE III. THE SECURITIES      14   

Section 3.01

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     14   

Section 3.02

 

Denominations

     16   

Section 3.03

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     16   

Section 3.04

 

Temporary Securities

     18   

Section 3.05

 

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange and Book-Entry Securities

     19   

Section 3.06

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     21   

Section 3.07

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     22   

Section 3.08

 

Persons Deemed Owners

     23   

Section 3.09

 

Cancellation

     23   

Section 3.10

 

Computation of Interest

     24   

Section 3.11

 

CUSIP Numbers

     24   
ARTICLE IV. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      24   

Section 4.01

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     24   

Section 4.02

 

Application of Trust Money

     25   
ARTICLE V. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES      26   

Section 5.01

 

Events of Default

     26   

Section 5.02

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     27   

 

iii


Section 5.03

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     29   

Section 5.04

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     30   

Section 5.05

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     30   

Section 5.06

 

Application of Money Collected

     30   

Section 5.07

 

Limitation on Suits

     31   

Section 5.08

 

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     32   

Section 5.09

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     32   

Section 5.10

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     32   

Section 5.11

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     32   

Section 5.12

 

Control by Holders

     32   

Section 5.13

 

Waiver of Defaults

     33   

Section 5.14

 

Undertaking for Costs

     34   

Section 5.15

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     34   
ARTICLE VI. THE TRUSTEE      34   

Section 6.01

 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     34   

Section 6.02

 

Notice of Defaults

     36   

Section 6.03

 

Certain Rights of Trustee

     36   

Section 6.04

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     37   

Section 6.05

 

May Hold Securities

     38   

Section 6.06

 

Money Held in Trust

     38   

Section 6.07

 

Compensation and Reimbursement

     38   

Section 6.08

 

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     39   

Section 6.09

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     39   

Section 6.10

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     39   

Section 6.11

 

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     41   

Section 6.12

 

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     42   

Section 6.13

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     42   

Section 6.14

 

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     42   
ARTICLE VII. HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY      44   

Section 7.01

 

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

     44   

Section 7.02

 

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     44   

Section 7.03

 

Reports by Trustee

     45   

Section 7.04

 

Reports by Company

     45   

Section 7.05

 

Holders’ Meetings

     45   
ARTICLE VIII. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE      47   

Section 8.01

 

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     47   

Section 8.02

 

Successor Substituted

     48   
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      48   

Section 9.01

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     48   

Section 9.02

 

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

     49   

 

iv


Section 9.03

     Execution of Supplemental Indentures      50   

Section 9.04

     Effect of Supplemental Indentures      50   

Section 9.05

     Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      51   

Section 9.06

     Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      51   

Section 9.07

     Notice of Supplemental Indenture      51   

Section 9.08

     Subordination Unimpaired      51   
ARTICLE X. COVENANTS      51   

Section 10.01

     Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      51   

Section 10.02

     Maintenance of Office or Agency      52   

Section 10.03

     Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      52   

Section 10.04

     Corporate Existence      53   

Section 10.05

     Notice of Defaults      53   

Section 10.06

     Waiver of Certain Covenants      54   
ARTICLE XI. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      54   

Section 11.01

     Applicability of Article      54   

Section 11.02

     Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      54   

Section 11.03

     Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      54   

Section 11.04

     Notice of Redemption      55   

Section 11.05

     Deposit of Redemption Price      56   

Section 11.06

     Securities Payable on Redemption Date      56   

Section 11.07

     Securities Redeemed in Part      56   
ARTICLE XII. SINKING FUNDS      57   

Section 12.01

     Applicability of Article      57   

Section 12.02

     Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      57   

Section 12.03

     Redemption of Securities for Mandatory Sinking Fund      57   
ARTICLE XIII. REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS      58   

Section 13.01

     Applicability of Article      58   

Section 13.02

     Notice of Repayment Date      58   

Section 13.03

     Deposit of Repayment Price      59   

Section 13.04

     Securities Payable on Repayment Date      59   

Section 13.05

     Securities Repaid in Part      59   
ARTICLE XIV. DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      60   

Section 14.01

     Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      60   

Section 14.02

     Defeasance and Discharge      60   

Section 14.03

     Covenant Defeasance      61   

Section 14.04

     Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      61   

Section 14.05

     Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      63   

Section 14.06

     Reinstatement      63   

 

v


ARTICLE XV. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS      64   

Section 15.01

     Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors      64   
ARTICLE XVI. SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES      64   

Section 16.01

     16.01 Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt      64   

Section 16.02

     Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of Senior Debt      67   

Section 16.03

     Payment Permitted If No Default      67   

Section 16.04

     Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition      68   

Section 16.05

     Trustee to Effectuate Subordination      68   

Section 16.06

     Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt      68   

Section 16.07

     Article Applicable to Paying Agents      68   

Section 16.08

     Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt      69   

 

vi


INDENTURE, dated as of             , 20    , between MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Iowa (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office at 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2580, and                     , a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”), having its Corporate Trust Office at                     .

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER

PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01 Definitions .

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

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

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

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

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

 

1


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

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

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

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Authorized Newspaper ” means a newspaper of general circulation in the relevant area, printed in the English language and customarily published on each Business Day therein.

Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board or any director or directors and/or officer or officers of the Company to whom that board or committee shall have duly delegated its authority.

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

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

Capital Stock ,” as applied to the stock of any corporation, means the capital stock of every class whether now or hereafter authorized, regardless of whether such capital stock shall be limited to a fixed sum or percentage with respect to the rights of the holders thereof to participate in dividends and in the distribution of assets upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such corporation.

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

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

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

 

2


Corporate Trust Office ” means the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at                     .

Corporation ” includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.

Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any liability of such Person (i) for borrowed money or (ii) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations but excluding trade payables), or (iii) for the payment of money relating to a lease that is required to be classified as a capitalized lease obligation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (b) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed, that is recourse to such Person or that is otherwise such Person’s legal liability; and (c) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, which shall in either case be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.05 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 Securities of that series.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

generally accepted accounting principles ” or “ GAAP ” means, as of any date of computation, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied, that are in effect on the date of such computation.

Global Security or Securities ” means one or more fully registered Securities in global form evidencing all or a part of a series of Securities issued to the Depositary for such series or its nominee or registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

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

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

3


Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

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

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

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

Notice of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(4).

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by at least two officers of the Company, one signature being that of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and the other signature being that of the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

Original Issue Discount Security ” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

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

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

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

 

4


(iii) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

(iv) Securities with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance as provided in Article XIV;

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, and (b) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

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

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

Place of Payment ,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

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

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

 

5


Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of                     ,                     and                     and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “ Primary Treasury Dealer ”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, 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 Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer by 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Repayment Date ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Repayment Price ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee customarily performing corporate trust functions who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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

Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

Senior Debt ” means the principal of, and premium, if any, and any interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect) and all other monetary obligations of every kind or nature due on or in connection with (a) all indebtedness of the Company (including Senior Debt Securities) whether heretofore or hereafter incurred (i) for borrowed money or (ii) in connection with the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company of assets other than in the ordinary course of business, for the payment of which the Company is liable directly or indirectly by guarantee, letter of credit, obligation to purchase or acquire or otherwise, or the payment of which is secured by a lien, charge or encumbrance on assets acquired by the Company, (b) amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions and deferrals of any such indebtedness, and (c) any indebtedness issued in exchange for any such indebtedness; provided, however, that the following will not constitute Senior Debt with respect to Securities: (1) any Debt as to which, in the instrument evidencing such Debt or pursuant to which such Debt was issued, it is expressly provided that such Debt is subordinate in right of payment to all Debt of the Company not expressly subordinated to such Debt; and (2) any Debt of the Company in respect of Securities and any Debt which by its terms refers explicitly to the Securities and states that such Debt shall not be senior in right of payment.

 

6


Senior Debt Securities ” means, collectively, (i) any debt securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of February 8, 2002 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly The Bank of New York), as trustee, (ii) any debt securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2006 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, (iii) any debt securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2013, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as indenture trustee and (iv) any debt securities issued by the Company pursuant to the Indenture (Senior Debt Securities), dated as of             , 20    , between the Company and the trustee thereunder.

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

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

“Subsidiary” means a corporation or limited liability company more than 50% of the outstanding voting Capital Stock or voting membership interests of which is or are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, (1) “voting Capital Stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, and (2) “voting membership interests” means membership interests which ordinarily have voting power for the election of directors (or the equivalent thereof), whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of membership interests have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

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

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

United States ” means the United States of America.

U.S. Government Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section 14.04.

 

7


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

Section 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

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

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided for in Section 10.05) shall include:

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

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

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

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

Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

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

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

 

8


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

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

Section 1.04 Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

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

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

(e) The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, fix any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of

 

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Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.01) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date for action to be taken by the Holders of one or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount. Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

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

(h) The Trustee shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

Section 1.05 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company .

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

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

 

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(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, Attention: Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, portable document format (or PDF), facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction, except for instances of negligence or willful misconduct. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Section 1.06 Notice to Holders; Waiver .

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

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to give notice of any event to Holders by mail when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Section 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Section 3.10 through Section 3.17, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through the operation of Section 3.18(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or shall be deemed to be so excluded, as the case may be.

Section 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

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

 

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Section 1.09 Successors and Assigns .

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

Section 1.10 Separability Clause .

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

Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture .

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Paying Agent, the Holders and the holders of Senior Debt, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture; provided that this Section 1.11 shall not limit the rights of any Holder of a Global Security to give any notice or take any action, or appoint any agents, with regard to any part or different parts of the principal amount of such Global Security pursuant to Section 1.04.

Section 1.12 Governing Law .

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of said state without regard to the conflicts of laws and rules of said state.

Section 1.13 Legal Holidays .

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) 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 Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

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Section 1.14 Waiver of Jury Trial .

EACH OF THE COMPANY 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 1.15 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 II.

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01 Forms of Securities .

The Securities of each series shall be in such form or forms (including global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange upon which the Securities may be listed and (with respect to Global Securities of any Series) the rules of the Depositary, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

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

 

 

as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Officer

 

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Section 2.03 Securities in Global Form .

If any Security of a series is issuable in global form, such Security may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and also may provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee and in such manner as shall be specified in such Security. Any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form, after its initial issuance, shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.02.

ARTICLE III.

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.01 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. All Securities of each series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Maturity of the Securities of such series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and, to the extent not set forth therein, set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(1) the title of the Securities of the series including CUSIP Numbers (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of Securities);

(2) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities will be issued;

(3) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.06, Section 9.06, Section 11.06, Section 13.05 or Section 14.03);

 

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(4) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date or, if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any of the Securities will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which will be deemed to be Outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined);

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

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

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

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

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

(11) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions upon which such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;

(12) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series;

(13) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article X which applies to Securities of the series;

(14) the nature and terms of the security for any secured Securities;

(15) the form and terms of any guarantee of the Securities;

 

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(16) the application, if any, of Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article XIV;

(17) the listing of the Securities on any securities exchange or the inclusion in any other market or quotation or trading system;

(18) any Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, issuing or transfer agent or Securities Registrar or any other Person appointed to act in connection with such Securities for or on behalf of the Holders thereof or the Company; and

 

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

The Securities shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Debt of the Company as provided in Article XVI.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate, to the extent applicable, or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuance of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Board Resolution or the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Section 3.02 Denominations .

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form with or without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

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

 

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At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities upon Company Order. If all the Securities of any one series are not to be originally issued at one time and if a Board Resolution relating to such Securities shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures (acceptable to the Trustee) for the issuance and authentication of such Securities.

If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

(a) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.03 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued and such documents reasonably contemplate the issuance of all Securities of such series.

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series having the same terms issued and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered 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.”

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities .

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security in lieu of which it is issued.

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

 

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Section 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange and Book-Entry Securities .

The Company shall cause to be kept at one of its offices or agencies maintained pursuant to Section 10.02 a register (the register maintained in such office being herein sometimes referred to as the “ Security Register ”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of exchanges and transfers of Securities. The Person responsible for the maintenance of the Security Register is referred to herein as the “ Security Registrar .” The Trustee is hereby initially appointed Security Registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The exchange of and the transfer of Securities also may be registered at the office of the Trustee.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

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

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, Section 9.06, Section 11.06, Section 13.05 or Section 14.03 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.05, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall 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 Global Security or Securities representing such series, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

If (1) an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing and (2) beneficial owners of interests representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series represented by a Global Security or Securities shall advise the Trustee through the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities in writing that the maintenance of a Depositary for such series is no longer in such beneficial owners’ best interests, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall 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 such Global Security or Securities, in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

 

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

(ii) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to Clause (i) above.

Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. The Trustee shall, at Company expense, deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

Section 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such other security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by the Trustee to save it harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security, subject to satisfaction of the foregoing conditions. Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

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

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. The Company and the Trustee understand that interest on any Global Security will be disbursed or credited by the Depositary to the Persons having ownership thereof pursuant to a book entry or other system maintained by the Depositary.

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or Clause (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

 

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

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

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners .

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 3.09 Cancellation .

Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01(6) for Securities of any series all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any mandatory sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee, except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security or Securities in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the portion of the Global Security so surrendered not to be paid, redeemed, repaid or registered for transfer or exchange or for credit. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures and a certificate of disposition shall be delivered to the Company upon its request therefor, unless, by a Company Order, the Company shall direct the canceled Securities be returned to it.

 

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Section 3.10 Computation of Interest .

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11 CUSIP Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to 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 Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE IV.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

Upon Company Request, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a particular series, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such Securities, when:

(1) either:

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

 

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(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose sums sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; and

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of a particular series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07, the obligations, if any, of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03, in each case with respect to such Securities, shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Notwithstanding the cessation, termination and discharge of all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company under this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07 and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE V.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES

Section 5.01 Events of Default .

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

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any mandatory sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the Securities of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(4) default in the performance of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 5.01 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days (unless the Company during such period shall have performed such covenant or warranty, or if such covenant or warranty cannot reasonably have been performed during such period, then the Company shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing such performance) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(5) the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

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(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or the consent by it to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action.

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any proposed Notice of Default from any Holder with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such proposed Notice of Default, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such proposed Notice of Default. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such proposed Notice of Default, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, or their proxies, shall have joined in such proposed Notice of Default prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such proposed Notice of Default shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new proposed Notice of Default identical to a proposed Notice of Default which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period, an additional proposed Notice of Default with respect to any new or different fact or circumstance permitting the giving of a proposed Notice of Default with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.01. Any such proposed Notice of Default shall be considered a Notice of Default hereunder at such time, if any, that Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have joined in such proposed Notice of Default by giving timely notice to the Trustee hereunder.

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or Section 5.01(6)) at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of said amounts, all obligations of the Company in respect of payment of principal of the Securities of such series shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(5) or Section 5.01(6) hereof occurs with respect to the Company, all Outstanding Securities shall become immediately due and payable without further action or notice.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

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

Upon receipt by the Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, or (ii) during any such 90-day period, an additional written notice of declaration of acceleration with respect to

 

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Securities of such series, or an additional written notice of rescission and annulment of any declaration of acceleration with respect to any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02.

Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest upon any Security when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at its Maturity, or

(3) default is made in the making or satisfaction of any mandatory sinking fund payment when it becomes due pursuant to the terms of the Securities of any series,

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

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may, but shall not be obligated to, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

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

 

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Section 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal, premium and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

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

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected .

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07;

 

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

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits .

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

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

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

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

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

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

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

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Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest .

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

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

Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

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

Section 5.12 Control by Holders .

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

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, expose the Trustee to personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining therein, and

 

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

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any such direction with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction, which record date shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.04(e). The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series, or their proxies, shall have been joined in such direction prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such direction shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new direction identical to a direction which has been canceled pursuant to the provisions of the preceding sentence or (ii) during any such 90-day period, a new direction contrary to or different from such direction, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.12.

Section 5.13 Waiver of Defaults .

By Act delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any affected series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any existing Event of Default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences (including an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration), except an Event of Default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, or

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

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to waive any past default hereunder. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any default hereunder, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such

 

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record date; provided, that unless such majority in principal amount shall have been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such waiver previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.

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

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee, by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be).

Section 5.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VI.

THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

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

 

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(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision of this Indenture 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 any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

(c) 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:

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

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

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

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

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting

the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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Section 6.02 Notice of Defaults .

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee of the board of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.01(4) with respect to the Securities of such series no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

Section 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee .

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01:

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

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

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

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

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

 

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(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

(h) the Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any default hereunder (except failure by the Company to pay principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any series of Securities so long as the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent for such series of Securities) unless the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of such default by the Company or by the Holders of at least a 10% in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, and all such notices or other instruments required by this Indenture to be delivered to the Trustee must, in order to be effective, be delivered at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and in the absence of such notice the Trustee may conclusively assume there is no default except as aforesaid;

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

(j) 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;

(k) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless other written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

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

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

Section 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee

 

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or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of the identity of any Subsidiary unless either (A) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge thereof or (B) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or any Holder.

Section 6.05  May Hold Securities .

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 6.08 and Section 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section 6.06 Money Held in Trust .

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

Section 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees:

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

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s own negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, in each case to the extent permitted by law, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the Trustee’s part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the Trustee’s costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

 

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The benefits of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 6.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests .

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 3.10 of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series by virtue of being Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series of Securities except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of the Securities of that series.

Section 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may at the expense of the Company petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor

 

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Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 60 days after the removal of Trustee, the removed Trustee may at the expense of the Company petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to any or all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to any or all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to such series.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.06. Each notice of appointment shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 6.07.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

 

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

Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

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 such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 3.11 of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of such claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to and comply with said Section 3.11 to the extent required thereby.

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities (which may be an Affiliate of the Company) which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon registration of transfer or partial redemption or repayment thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good

 

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standing under the laws of the United States, any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of no less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent. An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent for such series by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee of such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

Except with respect to an Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.07.

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

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

 

 

as Trustee
By:  

 

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

 

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ARTICLE VII.

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS

BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee for the Securities of such Series

(a) semiannually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date relating to that series (or, if there is no Regular Record Date relating to that series, on June 30 and December 31), a list, in such form as such Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of that series as of such date, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that if and so long as the Trustee is Security Registrar with respect to Securities of a particular series no such list shall be required with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

 

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Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee .

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year             , the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act if and to the extent and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

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

Section 7.04 Reports by Company .

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission. Delivery of such reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 7.05 Holders’ Meetings .

(a) A meeting of Holders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.05 for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to remove the Trustee for such series and appoint a successor Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI;

(3) to consent to the execution of an indenture or supplemental indentures hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; and

 

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(4) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

(b) The Trustee for any series may at any time call a meeting of Holders of such series to take any action specified in paragraph (a) of this Section 7.05, to be held at such time or times and at such place or places as the Trustee for such series shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given to Holders of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1.05. Such notice shall be given not less than 20 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(c) In case at any time the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series or of all series, as the case may be, shall have requested the Trustee for such series to call a meeting of Holders of any or all such series by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have given the notice of such meeting within 20 days after the receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time or times and the place or places for such meetings and may call such meetings to take any action authorized by giving notice thereof as provided in the preceding paragraph.

(d) To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall be (a) a Holder of a Security of the series with respect to which such meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as agent or proxy by such Holder. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee for the series with respect to which such meeting is being held and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

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

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of such series as provided in paragraph (c) of this Section 7.05, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by a majority vote of the meeting.

Subject to the provisos in the definition of “Outstanding,” at any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of the series with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or such other amount as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01) of Securities of such series held or represented by

 

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him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Outstanding Securities of such series held by him or instruments in writing duly designating him as the person to vote on behalf of Holders of Securities of such series. Any meeting of Holders with respect to which a meeting was duly called pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section 7.05 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of such Holders present and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

(f) The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was transmitted as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 7.05. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.

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

(g) Nothing contained in this Section 7.05 shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to any Holder under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series.

ARTICLE VIII.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER,

CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to any Person unless:

(1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to any Person, the Person formed by such

 

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consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company shall be either the Company or a corporation or limited liability company, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations hereunder, including the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed; and

(2) after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company.

Section 8.02 Successor Substituted .

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Company in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of its property or assets is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. In the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities. All Securities issued by the successor Person shall in all respects have the same legal priority as the Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

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

(1) to make such provision in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture as may be necessary or desirable and not inconsistent with this Indenture or for the purpose of supplying any omission, curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or

 

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inconsistent provision, provided that such provision shall not adversely affect the interests of Holders of Outstanding Securities created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture in any material respect; or

(2) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(3) to secure the Securities; or

(4) to establish the form of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01; or

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

(6) to grant to or confer upon the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders any additional rights, remedies, powers or authority; or

(7) to permit the Trustee to comply with any duties imposed upon it by law; or

(8) to specify further the duties and responsibilities of, and to define further the relationships among, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent and any Paying Agent; or

(9) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender a right or power conferred on the Company herein; or

(10) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series).

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of any Security; or reduce the rate of interest on any Security; or change the method of calculating interest, or any term used in the calculation of interest, or the period for which interest is payable, on any Security; or reduce the principal amount of any

 

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Security or any premium thereon; or reduce the payment of any mandatory sinking fund or analogous obligation; or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof; or adversely affect the right of repayment or renewal, if any, at the option of the Holders; or change the coin or currency in which the principal of any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable; or change the date on which any Security may be redeemed; or adversely affect the rights of any Holding to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Security, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security that would be affected thereby (for purposes of this Section 9.02(1) only, the term “Security” shall include Securities for which an offer to purchase has been accepted by the Company); or

(2) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities the consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of certain past defaults or Events of Default hereunder or the consequences thereof, in each case without the consent of the Holders of all of the Outstanding Securities.

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

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

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

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

 

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Section 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

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

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

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

Section 9.07 Notice of Supplemental Indenture .

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the appropriate Trustee of any supplemental indenture, the Company shall transmit, as provided herein, to all Holders of any series of the Securities affected thereby, a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

Section 9.08 Subordination Unimpaired .

No supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall directly or indirectly modify the provisions of Article XVI in any manner which might alter the subordination of the Securities.

ARTICLE X.

COVENANTS

Section 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

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

 

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Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company terminates the appointment of a Paying Agent or Security Registrar or otherwise shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to appoint a successor Paying Agent or Security Registrar reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. If the Company fails to maintain a Paying Agent or Security Registrar, the Trustee will act as such, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

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

Section 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .

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

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

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

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

 

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

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

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 10.04 Corporate Existence .

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

Section 10.05 Notice of Defaults .

The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of an Event of Default within five days after the Company becomes aware of such occurrence.

 

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Section 10.06 Waiver of Certain Covenants .

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 8.01 with respect to the Securities of any series if, before the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE XI.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article .

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated in Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, in a manner which the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, which may provide for the selection for

 

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redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If the Company shall so specify and identify the appropriate Securities, Securities owned of record and beneficially by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

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

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

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption .

Notice of redemption shall, unless otherwise specified by the terms of the Securities to be redeemed, be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 1.06.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price (or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof);

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in each Place of Payment;

(4) that payment of the Redemption Price will be made on the surrender of such Securities at such place or places of redemption;

(5) that accrued interest to the Redemption Date will be paid as specified in such notice and that from and after the Redemption Date interest on such Securities will cease to accrue;

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

(7) in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, that upon surrender of such Securities, a new Security or new Securities having the same terms will be issued in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion;

 

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(8) that redemption is subject to the receipt by the Trustee or a Paying Agent prior to the Redemption Date of sufficient funds to make the redemption, if such is the case; and

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

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

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price .

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

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

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part .

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

 

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authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new Global Security.

ARTICLE XII.

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article .

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 12.02 Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

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

Section 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Mandatory Sinking Fund .

Not less than 60 days prior to each mandatory sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the

 

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portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities or applying previously cancelled Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02 and the basis for such credit and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee. Not less than 30 days before each such mandatory sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such mandatory sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.03. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.04, Section 11.05 and Section 11.06.

ARTICLE XIII.

REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES

AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 13.01 Applicability of Article .

Securities of any series that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repaid in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 13.02 Notice of Repayment Date .

Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series shall, unless otherwise specified by the terms of the Securities of such series, be given by the Company not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to such Repayment Date, to the Trustee and to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 1.05 and Section 1.06, respectively.

The notice as to Repayment Date shall state:

(1) the Repayment Date;

(2) the Repayment Price;

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in each Place of Payment, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid;

(4) a description of the procedure which a Holder must follow to exercise a repayment right; and

(5) that exercise of the option to elect repayment is irrevocable.

 

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No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notice shall limit any Holder’s right to exercise a repayment right.

Section 13.03 Deposit of Repayment Price .

On or prior to any Repayment Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities of such series which are to be repaid on that date.

Section 13.04 Securities Payable on Repayment Date .

The form of option to elect repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series as provided in Section 2.01, the Securities so to be repaid shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price, together with accrued interest to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Repayment Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Date according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Security to be repaid shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed in the Security.

Section 13.05 Securities Repaid in Part .

Any Security which by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder thereof and which is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.02 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new Global Security.

 

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ARTICLE XIV.

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 14.01 Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

If pursuant to Section 3.01 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.02 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 14.03, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article XIV, shall be applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option at any time with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 14.02 (if applicable) or Section 14.03 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIV.

Section 14.02 Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies) on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ defeasance ”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company and upon Company Request, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.06, Section 6.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03 and such obligations as shall be ancillary thereto, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities and other provisions in respect of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article XIV. Subject to compliance with this Article XIV, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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Section 14.03 Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 8.01 (and any other covenant applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to covenant defeasance under this Section) and the occurrence of an event specified in Clause (4) of Section 5.01 with respect to Section 8.01 (and any other Event of Default applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.01 to be subject to covenant defeasance under this Section) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “ covenant defeasance ”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, limitation or restrictive covenant set forth in any such Section or Clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, including any supplement hereto, any Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate delivered hereto but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 14.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions precedent to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.09 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article XIV 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 benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. 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, sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereto delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the maturity of such principal, premium or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XI, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing. For this purpose, “ U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or

 

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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 U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such 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 from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

(2) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing (A) on the date of such deposit or (B) insofar as Section 5.01(5) and Section 5.01(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(3) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (A) cause the Trustee for the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.08 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company or (B) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

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

(5) In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

(6) In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

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(7) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01.

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

Section 14.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes for this Section 14.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) held and applied pursuant to this Section 14.05 shall not be subject to the claims of the holders of Senior Debt under Article XVI.

Section 14.06 Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIV until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.02 or Section 10.03; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE XV.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS,

STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 15.01 Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors .

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

ARTICLE XVI.

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 16.01 Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt .

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

 

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In the event that the Company shall default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Debt when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for repayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of Senior Debt or any trustee therefor or representative thereof, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities.

In the event of

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

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

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

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

all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the Securities on account thereof. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt (including any interest thereof accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall have been paid in full. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with

 

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respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), or any security shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms hereof, such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of Senior Debt is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.

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

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

The provisions of this Section 16.01 shall not impair any right, interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.

The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting, respectively, obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities.

 

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Section 16.02 Trustee and Holders of Securities May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Trustee May Require Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Debt; Trustee Not Fiduciary to Holders of Senior Debt .

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XVI, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon an order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or reorganization or arrangement proceedings are pending or upon a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XVI. In the absence of any such bankruptcy trustee, receiver, assignee or other Person, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) as evidence that such Person is a holder of such Senior Debt (or is such a trustee or representative). In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payments or distributions pursuant to this Article XVI, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, as to the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XVI, 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. With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Debt if it shall in good faith pay over or deliver to Holders of Securities, the Company or any other Person moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

Section 16.03 Payment Permitted If No Default .

Nothing contained in this Article XVI or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall prevent (a) the Company at any time, except during the pendency of any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings referred to in, or under the conditions described in, Section 16.01, from making payments of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities, or (b) the application by the Trustee or any Paying Agent of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to payments of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities if the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, did not have the written notice provided for in Section 16.04 by the times referred to therein of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit or exchange, and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received by it on or after such times.

 

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Section 16.04 Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition .

Anything in this Article XVI or elsewhere in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of money to or by the Trustee and shall be entitled conclusively to assume that no such facts exist and that no event specified in Section 16.01 has happened, until the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate to that effect or notice in writing to that effect signed by or on behalf of the holder or holders, or their representatives, of Senior Debt who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or holders or representatives or from any trustee under any indenture pursuant to which such Senior Debt shall be outstanding; provided, however, that, if prior to the third Business Day preceding the date upon which by the terms hereof any money becomes payable (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal of or interest on any Security), or in the event of the execution of an instrument pursuant to Section 4.01 acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, then if prior to the second Business Day preceding the date of such execution, the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall not have received with respect to such money the Officers’ Certificate or notice provided for in this Section 16.04, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have full power and authority to receive such money and apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by the notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such date. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Paying Agent of any facts which would prohibit the payment of money to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

Section 16.05 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination .

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

Section 16.06 Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt .

The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at the time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder; provided, however, that nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.07.

Section 16.07 Article Applicable to Paying Agents .

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if the Paying Agent

 

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were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that Sections 16.04 and 16.06 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

Section 16.08 Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt .

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

* * *

 

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This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
                                                              , as Trustee
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

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Client: 64901-00034

November 4, 2013

MidAmerican Energy Company

666 Grant Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Re: MidAmerican Energy Company

      Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to MidAmerican Energy Company, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of the Company’s: (i) unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (the “ Senior Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ”) and (ii) first mortgage bonds (the “ First Mortgage Bonds ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “ Securities ”).

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ”). The First Mortgage Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2013, between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2013, between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (as so supplemented and amended, the “ Mortgage Bond Indenture ” and, collectively with the Senior Base Indenture and Subordinated Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the Senior Base Indenture, the form of the Subordinated Base Indenture, the form of the Mortgage Bond Indenture and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render these opinions. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

 

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MidAmerican Energy Company

November 4, 2013

Page 2

 

We have assumed without independent investigation that:

(i) at the time any Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “ Relevant Time ”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws;

(ii) at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and all related documentation and will comply with all applicable laws;

(iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;

(iv) at the Relevant Time, all corporate or other action required to be taken by the Company to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities and any related documentation (including the execution (in the case of certificated Securities), delivery and performance of the Securities and any related documentation referred to in paragraph 1 below) shall have been duly completed and shall remain in full force and effect;

(v) at the Relevant Time, the relevant Base Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and all other parties thereto and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and

(vi) at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action of the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto.

Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to any Securities, when:

 

  a. the terms and conditions of such Securities have been duly established by supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant Base Indenture,


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MidAmerican Energy Company

November 4, 2013

Page 3

 

  b. any such supplemental indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the relevant trustee (together with the relevant Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and

 

  c. such Securities have been executed (in the case of certificated Securities), delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and issued and sold for the consideration set forth in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement,

such Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

A. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and the United States of America. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of New York, the United States of America and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

B. The opinions above with respect to the Indenture and the Securities (collectively, the “ Documents ”) are each subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including without limitation the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

C. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights; (ii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) under the Indenture or any other Document of, or any consent thereunder relating to, unknown future rights or the rights of any party thereto existing, or duties owing to it, as a matter of law; (iii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) contained in the Indenture or any other Document of rights of any party, or duties owing to it, that is broadly or vaguely stated or does not describe the right or duty purportedly waived with reasonable specificity; (iv) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities laws or due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party;


LOGO

MidAmerican Energy Company

November 4, 2013

Page 4

 

(v) any purported fraudulent transfer “savings” clause; (vi) any provision in any Document waiving the right to object to venue in any court; (vii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any Federal court; (viii) any waiver of the right to jury trial or (ix) any provision to the effect that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy or that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others.

You have informed us that you intend to issue Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and we understand that prior to issuing any Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (i) you will advise us in writing of the terms thereof, and (ii) you will afford us an opportunity to (x) review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued or sold (including the applicable offering documents), and (y) file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, 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.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ GIBSON, DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP

Exhibit 5.2

[LETTERHEAD OF MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY]

November 4, 2013

MidAmerican Energy Company

666 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Assistant General Counsel of MidAmerican Energy Company, an Iowa corporation (the “ Company ”). I have served in such capacity in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of the Company’s: (i) unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (the “ Senior Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ”) and (ii) first mortgage bonds (the “ First Mortgage Bonds ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “ Securities ”).

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”), to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee. The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ”) to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee. The First Mortgage Bonds are to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2013, between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee, as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 19, 2013, between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (as so supplemented and amended, the “ Mortgage Bond Indenture ”, and collectively with the Senior Base Indenture and the Subordinated Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”). The Company has also executed a mortgage, security agreement, fixture filing and financing statement, dated as of September 9, 2013 (the “ Mortgage ”), in favor of the Trust Company, in its capacity as collateral trustee (the “ Collateral Trustee ”), and an intercreditor and collateral trust agreement, dated as of September 9, 2013 (the “ Collateral Trust Agreement ” and, together with the Mortgage, the “ Security Documents ”), with the Trust Company, in its capacity as indenture trustee, and the Trust Company, in its capacity as the Collateral Trustee.

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, I have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the form of the Senior Base Indenture, the form of the Subordinated Base Indenture, the Mortgage Bond Indenture, the Security Documents and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable to enable me to render these opinions. In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, I have relied to the extent I deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.


Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that (i) the Company is duly incorporated, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Iowa and has all requisite power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Base Indentures and the Security Documents; (ii) the execution and delivery of the Mortgage Bond Indenture and each of the Security Documents by the Company and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action and do not violate any law, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company; and (iii) the Mortgage Bond Indenture and each of the Security Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

I render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Iowa and the United States of America. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of Iowa, the United States of America and the facts as they currently exist. I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and I further consent to the use of my name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, 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 rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Sincerely,

/s/ Paul J. Leighton, Esq.

Paul J. Leighton, Esq.

Assistant General Counsel

EXHIBIT 12.1

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In Millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30, 2013
    Twelve Months Ended December 31,  
     2012     2011     2010     2009     2008  

Earnings available for fixed charges:

            

Net income from continuing operations

   $ 272      $ 355      $ 319      $ 357      $ 350      $ 343   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Add (deduct):

            

Income tax (benefit) expense

     (73     (99     (17     (49     (27     126   

Total fixed charges

     116        153        166        163        165        165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     43        54        149        114        138        291   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total earnings available for fixed charges

   $ 315      $ 409      $ 468      $ 471      $ 488      $ 634   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

            

Interest on long-term debt

   $ 106      $ 142      $ 157      $ 155      $ 155      $ 154   

Other interest charges

     1        1        1        1        3        4   

Estimated interest portion of rental expense

     9        10        8        7        7        7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

   $ 116      $ 153      $ 166      $ 163      $ 165      $ 165   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     2.7        2.7        2.8        2.9        3.0        3.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit 15.1

November 4, 2013

MidAmerican Energy Company

Des Moines, Iowa

We have reviewed, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the unaudited interim financial information of MidAmerican Energy Company for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, and have issued our report dated May 3, 2013, for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and have issued our report dated August 2, 2013 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, and have issued our report dated November 1, 2013. As indicated in such reports, because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.

We are aware that our reports referred to above, which were included in your Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013, are being incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3.

We also are aware that the aforementioned reports, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are not considered a part of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 1, 2013, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of MidAmerican Energy Company appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of MidAmerican Energy Company for the year ended December 31, 2012, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Des Moines, Iowa

November 4, 2013

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

400 South Hope Street Suite 400

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa   42-1425214

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa

  50309-2580
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

    

Address

Comptroller of the Currency

United States Department of the Treasury

     Washington, DC 20219

Federal Reserve Bank

     San Francisco, CA 94105

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

     Washington, DC 20429

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1. A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2. A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

 

  3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

- 2 -


  4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

 

  6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 24th day of October, 2013.

 

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

/s/ Michael Countryman

Name:   Michael Countryman
Title:   Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

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

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2013, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     1,319   

Interest-bearing balances

     241   

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0   

Available-for-sale securities

     725,987   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold

     83,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0   

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

     0   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

     0   

Trading assets

     0   

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     4,612   

Other real estate owned

     0   

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0   

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0   

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     856,313   

Other intangible assets

     137,762   

Other assets

     126,539   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

 

1


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     651   

Noninterest-bearing

     651   

Interest-bearing

     0   

Not applicable

  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased

     0   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0   

Trading liabilities

     0   

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0   

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0   

Other liabilities

     242,219   

Total liabilities

     242,870   

Not applicable

  

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0   

Common stock

     1,000   

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     1,121,790   

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     567,244   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     2,869   

Other equity capital components

     0   

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,692,903   

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0   

Total equity capital

     1,692,903   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura           )         CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President          )

Frank P. Sulzberger, Director     )             Directors (Trustees)

William D. Lindelof, Director    )

 

2

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE
  PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

400 South Hope Street Suite 400

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa   42-1425214

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa

  50309-2580
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Comptroller of the Currency

United States Department of the Treasury

   Washington, DC 20219

Federal Reserve Bank

   San Francisco, CA 94105

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

   Washington, DC 20429

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1. A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2. A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

 

  3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

- 2 -


  4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

 

  6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 24th day of October, 2013.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

By:  

/s/ Michael Countryman

Name:   Michael Countryman
Title:   Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

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

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2013, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     1,319   

Interest-bearing balances

     241   

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0   

Available-for-sale securities

     725,987   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold

     83,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0   

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

     0   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

     0   

Trading assets

     0   

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     4,612   

Other real estate owned

     0   

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0   

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0   

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     856,313   

Other intangible assets

     137,762   

Other assets

     126,539   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

 

1


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     651   

Noninterest-bearing

     651   

Interest-bearing

     0   

Not applicable

  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased

     0   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0   

Trading liabilities

     0   

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0   

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0   

Other liabilities

     242,219   

Total liabilities

     242,870   

Not applicable

  

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0   

Common stock

     1,000   

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     1,121,790   

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     567,244   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     2,869   

Other equity capital components

     0   

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,692,903   

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0   

Total equity capital

     1,692,903   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura           )         CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President          )

Frank P. Sulzberger, Director     )             Directors (Trustees)

William D. Lindelof, Director    )

 

2

Exhibit 25.3

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  95-3571558
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

400 South Hope Street Suite 400

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa   42-1425214

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

666 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Des Moines, Iowa

  50309-2580
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

First Mortgage Bonds

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the

Treasury

   Washington, DC 20219

Federal Reserve Bank

   San Francisco, CA 94105

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

   Washington, DC 20429

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1. A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2. A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

 

  3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

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  4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

 

  6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 24th day of October, 2013.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

By:  

/s/ Michael Countryman

Name:   Michael Countryman
Title:   Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

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

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2013, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     1,319   

Interest-bearing balances

     241   

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0   

Available-for-sale securities

     725,987   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold

     83,000   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0   

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

     0   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

     0   

Trading assets

     0   

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     4,612   

Other real estate owned

     0   

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0   

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0   

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     856,313   

Other intangible assets

     137,762   

Other assets

     126,539   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

 

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LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     651   

Noninterest-bearing

     651   

Interest-bearing

     0   

Not applicable

  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased

     0   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0   

Trading liabilities

     0   

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0   

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0   

Other liabilities

     242,219   

Total liabilities

     242,870   

Not applicable

  

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0   

Common stock

     1,000   

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     1,121,790   

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     567,244   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     2,869   

Other equity capital components

     0   

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,692,903   

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0   

Total equity capital

     1,692,903   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     1,935,773   
  

 

 

 

I, Cherisse Waligura, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Cherisse Waligura           )         CFO

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

Troy Kilpatrick, President          )

Frank P. Sulzberger, Director     )             Directors (Trustees)

William D. Lindelof, Director    )

 

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