As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

41-0449260

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, California 94104

(866) 249-3302

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area

code, of Wells Fargo & Company’s principal executive offices)

James M. Strother

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Wells Fargo & Company

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, California 94104

415-396-1793

(Name, address, including zip code, and

telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With a copy to:

 

Mary E. Schaffner

Jeannine E. Zahn

Wells Fargo & Company

MAC #N9305-173

Wells Fargo Center, 17th Floor

Sixth and Marquette

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

 

Sonia A. Shewchuk

Dawn Holicky Pruitt

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

2200 Wells Fargo Center

90 South Seventh Street

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-3901

  

Douglas D. Smith

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

555 Mission Street, Suite 3000

San Francisco, California 94105

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

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. ☒

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 filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer    ☒    Accelerated filer    ☐

Non-accelerated filer       

(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

   Smaller reporting company    ☐


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each Class of
Securities to be Registered (1)
  Amount
to be
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
  Amount of
Registration
Fee

Wells Fargo & Company Debt Securities (2), Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts (3), Units (4), Common Stock, par value $1-2/3 per share (5), and Securities Warrants

                (6)(7)(8)               (8)               (8)           (9)

 

 

(1) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder.
(2) There is being registered hereby such indeterminate principal amount of Debt Securities as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices. The Debt Securities to be offered hereunder will consist of one or more series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities, or any thereof, as more fully described herein.
(3) The Purchase Contracts may require the holder thereof to purchase or sell (i) Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock of Wells Fargo & Company, (ii) securities of an entity unaffiliated with the Registrant, a basket of such securities or any combination of the above, (iii) currencies or (iv) commodities.
(4) The Units to be offered hereunder will consist of one or more Purchase Contracts and Debt Securities.
(5) Common Stock will be issued only upon conversion, exchange or exercise of Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Securities Warrants.
(6) Includes (i) such indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock of Wells Fargo & Company as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices plus such indeterminate number of shares of Preferred Stock of Wells Fargo & Company as may be issued upon exercise of Securities Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company or in exchange for, or upon conversion of, Debt Securities of Wells Fargo & Company or other Preferred Stock of Wells Fargo & Company registered hereunder, (ii) such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares of Wells Fargo & Company as may be issued in the event Wells Fargo & Company elects to offer fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock registered hereunder, (iii) such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock of Wells Fargo & Company as may be issued upon exercise of Securities Warrants of Wells Fargo & Company or in exchange for, or upon conversion of, Debt Securities or Preferred Stock of Wells Fargo & Company registered hereunder, (iv) such indeterminate number of Purchase Contracts as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices, and (v) such indeterminate number of Warrants as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by Depository Shares.
(7) This Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of the registered securities that may be reoffered and resold on an ongoing basis after their initial sale in market-making transactions by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. These securities consist of (i) an indeterminate amount of such securities that are initially being registered, and will initially be offered and sold, under this Registration Statement and (ii) an indeterminate amount of other securities of Wells Fargo & Company initially offered and sold under other registration statements. All such market-making transactions with respect to securities that are made pursuant to a prospectus supplement relating to, and after the effectiveness of, this Registration Statement are being made pursuant to the base prospectus contained in this Registration Statement.
(8) Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II(E).
(9) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), Wells Fargo & Company is deferring payment of all of the registration fees. Pursuant to Rule 457(q), no separate registration fee is required for the registration of the indeterminate amount of securities to be offered solely for market-making purposes by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.

 

 

 

Explanatory Note

The base prospectus included in this Registration Statement may also be used by affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company, including Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in market-making transactions in the securities described in the table above after they are initially offered and sold and in other securities of Wells Fargo & Company offered and sold under prior registration statements.


PROSPECTUS

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, California 94104

(866) 249-3302

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Purchase Contracts

Units

Securities Warrants

 

 

We may also issue common stock upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any of the securities listed above. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

 

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

 

 

These securities are our unsecured obligations, and all payments are subject to our credit risk. If we default on our obligations, you could lose some or all of your investment. The securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank or nonbank subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency.

 

 

We will use this prospectus in the initial sale of these securities. In addition, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or another of our affiliates, may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in any of these securities after their initial sale.

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should consider the risk factors described herein and in any documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.

 

 

This prospectus is dated February 24, 2017.


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Wells Fargo & Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “ SEC ,” using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell, either separately or together, debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units and securities warrants in one or more offerings. We may also issue common stock upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any of the securities mentioned above.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, units and securities warrants that we may issue. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Such prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” We may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.

When we refer to “ Wells Fargo ,” “ our company ,” “ we ,” “ our ” and “ us ” in this prospectus under the headings “The Company” and “Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends,” we mean Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. When such terms are used elsewhere in this prospectus, we refer only to Wells Fargo & Company unless the context indicates otherwise.

The registration statement that contains this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, contains additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. That registration statement can be read at the SEC web site or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The distribution of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities. Our SEC filings are also available at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange. For further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the New York Stock Exchange, you should call (212) 656-3000.

We “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Some information contained in this prospectus updates the information incorporated by reference, and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus and/or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the “ Exchange Act ,” on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the later of (i) the time that we sell all the securities offered by this prospectus and (ii) the date that our broker-dealer subsidiaries cease offering securities in market-making transactions pursuant to this prospectus (other than any documents or any portions of any documents that are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act in accordance with the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules):

 

    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, including information specifically incorporated by reference into our Form 10-K from our 2015 Annual Report to Stockholders and our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;

 

    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016, June 30, 2016 and September 30, 2016;

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K or 8-K/A filed January 4, 2016, January 5, 2016, January 7, 2016, January 15, 2016, January 22, 2016, January 26, 2016, January 28, 2016, January 29, 2016, January 29, 2016, January 29, 2016, February 1, 2016, February 3, 2016, February 3, 2016, February 9, 2016, February 12, 2016, February 19, 2016, February 24, 2016, February 26, 2016, February 26, 2016, February 29, 2016, March 1, 2016, March 4, 2016, March 8, 2016, March 9, 2016, March 11, 2016, March 14, 2016, March 15, 2016, March 16, 2016, March 18, 2016, March 21, 2016, March 22, 2016, March 23, 2016, March 28, 2016, March 29, 2016, March 31, 2016, April 4, 2016, April 5, 2016, April 6, 2016, April 7, 2016, April 8, 2016, April 11, 2016, April 14, 2016, April 15, 2016, April 21, 2016, April 22, 2016, April 22, 2016, April 26, 2016, April 27, 2016, April 29, 2016, April 29, 2016, May 4, 2016, May 6, 2016, May 9, 2016, May 10, 2016, May 17, 2016, May 18, 2016, May 24, 2016, May 25, 2016, May 26, 2016, May 27, 2016, May 31, 2016, June 2, 2016, June 3, 2016, June 6, 2016, June 6, 2016, June 7, 2016, June 8, 2016, June 10, 2016, June 14, 2016, June 15, 2016, June 22, 2016, July 6, 2016, July 7, 2016, July 11, 2016, July 12, 2016, July 12, 2016, July 15, 2016, July 25, 2016, July 26, 2016, July 27, 2016, July 28, 2016, July 29, 2016, August 3, 2016, August 4, 2016, August 5, 2016, August 8, 2016, August 10, 2016, August 15, 2016, August 17, 2016, August 18, 2016, August 19, 2016, August 23, 2016, August 24, 2016, August 26, 2016, August 29, 2016, August 30, 2016, August 31, 2016, September 1, 2016, September 2, 2016, September 8, 2016, September 14, 2016, September 20, 2016,

 

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  September 21, 2016, September 22, 2016, September 23, 2016, September 28, 2016, September 28, 2016, October 5, 2016, October 7, 2016, October 11, 2016, October 11, 2016, October 12, 2016, October 14, 2016, October 18, 2016, October 21, 2016, October 21, 2016, October 25, 2016, October 27, 2016, October 27, 2016, October 31, 2016, October 31, 2016, November 1, 2016, November 4, 2016, November 7, 2016, November 15, 2016, November 17, 2016, November 21, 2016, November 21, 2016, December 1, 2016, December 5, 2016, December 7, 2016, December 8, 2016, December 8, 2016, December 9, 2016, December 13, 2016, December 14, 2016, December 14, 2016, December 16, 2016, December 22, 2016, December 28, 2016, December 30, 2016, January 4, 2017, January 13, 2017, January 17, 2017, January 24, 2017, January 24, 2017, January 30, 2017, January 30, 2017, January 30, 2017, January 31, 2017, February 1, 2017, February 2, 2017, February 2, 2017, February 3, 2017, February 7, 2017, February 8, 2017, February 13, 2017, February 13, 2017, February 16, 2017, February 17, 2017, February 17, 2017, February 23, 2017, February 23, 2017 and February 24, 2017; and

 

  the description of our common stock contained in exhibit 99(e) to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, including any amendment or report filed to update such description.

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

Office of the Corporate Secretary

Wells Fargo & Company

MAC D1053-300

301 South College Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Phone: (704) 374-3234

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or presented in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. Neither we, nor any underwriters or agents, have authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. We may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. We are only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the dates on the front of those documents.

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a diversified, community-based financial services company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware and registered as a financial holding company and a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. We provide banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through banking locations, ATMs, digital (online, mobile and social), and contact centers (phone, e-mail and correspondence), and we have international offices to support our customers who conduct business in the global economy.

We are a separate and distinct legal entity from our banking and other subsidiaries. A significant source of funds to pay dividends on our common and preferred stock and debt service on our debt is dividends from our subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay to us without regulatory approval.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities will be added to our general funds and will be available for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    investments in or advances to our existing or future subsidiaries;

 

    repayment of obligations that have matured; and

 

    reducing our outstanding commercial paper and other debt.

Until the net proceeds have been used, they will be invested in short-term securities.

 

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RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND TO FIXED CHARGES

AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

 

     Fiscal Year Ended December 31,

 

        Quarter
Ended
September 30,

 

    
       2015  

 

     2014  

 

     2013  

 

     2012  

 

     2011  

 

     2016  

 

     2015  

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:

                    

Excluding interest on deposits

   10.74    11.05    10.68    8.40    5.92    7.42    11.02

Including interest on deposits

   8.60    8.56    7.91    6.08    4.32    6.03    8.88

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:

                    

Excluding interest on deposits

   6.68    7.44    7.36    6.21    4.69    5.10    6.82

Including interest on deposits

   5.84    6.27    5.99    4.90    3.67    4.44    5.99

 

  The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated as follows:

(income before income tax expense) –

(net income from noncontrolling interests) +

            (fixed charges)                

        (fixed charges)            

 

  The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is calculated as follows:

(income before income taxes tax expense) –

(net income from noncontrolling interests) +

                                 (fixed charges)                                

(fixed charges) + (pretax earnings required to cover preferred stock dividends)

 

  Pretax earnings required to cover preferred stock dividends are calculated as follows:

        preferred stock dividends        

1 – (our effective income tax rate)

 

  Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, consist of

 

    interest on short-term borrowings and long-term debt,
    amortization of debt expense,
    capitalized interest, and
    one-third of net rental expense, which we believe is representative of the interest factor.

 

  Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, consist of all of the items listed immediately above plus interest on deposits.

 

  The preferred dividends, including accretion, were increased to amounts representing the pretax earnings that would be required to cover such dividend and accretion requirements.

 

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We have included these ratios to comply with SEC regulations. However, we believe that the fixed charge ratios are not meaningful measures for our business due to two factors. First, even if our net income did not change, our ratios would decline if the proportion of our income that is tax-exempt increased. Conversely, our ratios would increase if the proportion of our income that is tax-exempt decreased. Second, even if our net income did not change, our ratios would decline if our interest income and interest expense increased by the same amount due to an increase in the level of interest rates. Conversely, our ratios would increase if our interest income and interest expense decreased by the same amount due to a decrease in the level of interest rates.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Your investment in our securities involves risks. This prospectus does not describe all of those risks. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors contained in our annual and quarterly reports. Additional risks specific to particular securities will be detailed in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should consult your financial, legal, tax and other professional advisors as to the risks associated with an investment in our securities and the suitability of the investment for you.

General

The Securities Are Subject To The Credit Risk Of Wells Fargo.

Any securities that we may issue are our obligations and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of any third party. Any amounts payable under any securities are subject to our creditworthiness. As a result, our actual and perceived creditworthiness may affect the value of our securities and, in the event we were to default on our obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of such securities.

The Resolution Of Wells Fargo Under The Orderly Liquidation Authority Could Result In Greater Losses For Holders Of Our Debt Securities, Particularly If A Single-Point-Of-Entry Strategy Is Used.

Your ability to recover the full amount that would otherwise be payable on our debt securities in a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may be impaired by the exercise by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “ FDIC ”) of its powers under the “orderly liquidation authority” under Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “ Dodd-Frank Act ”). In particular, the single point of entry strategy described below is intended to impose losses at the top-tier holding company level in the resolution of a Global Systemically Important Bank (“ G-SIB ”) such as Wells Fargo.

Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act created a new resolution regime known as the “orderly liquidation authority” to which financial companies, including bank holding companies such as Wells Fargo, can be subjected. Under the orderly liquidation authority, the FDIC may be appointed as receiver for a financial company for purposes of liquidating the entity if, upon the recommendation of applicable regulators, the United States Secretary of the Treasury determines, among other things, that the entity is in severe financial distress, that the entity’s failure would have serious adverse effects on the U.S. financial system and that resolution under the orderly liquidation authority would avoid or mitigate those effects. Absent such determinations, Wells Fargo, as a bank holding company, would remain subject to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

If the FDIC is appointed as receiver under the orderly liquidation authority, then the orderly liquidation authority, rather than the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, would determine the powers of the receiver and the rights and obligations of creditors and other parties who have transacted with Wells Fargo. There are substantial differences between the rights available to creditors in the orderly liquidation authority and under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including the right of the FDIC under the orderly liquidation authority to disregard the strict priority of creditor claims in some circumstances (which would otherwise be respected by a bankruptcy court) and the use of an administrative claims procedure to determine creditors’ claims (as opposed to the judicial procedure utilized in bankruptcy proceedings). In certain circumstances under the orderly liquidation authority, the FDIC could elevate the priority of claims if it determines that doing so is necessary to facilitate a smooth and orderly liquidation without the need to obtain the consent of other creditors or prior court review. In addition, under the orderly liquidation authority, the FDIC has the right to transfer assets or liabilities of the failed company to a third party or “bridge” entity.

The FDIC has announced that a “single point of entry” strategy may be a desirable strategy to resolve a large financial institution such as Wells Fargo in a manner that would, among other things, impose losses on

 

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shareholders, unsecured debt holders (including, in our case, holders of our debt securities) and other creditors of the top-tier holding company (in our case, Wells Fargo), while permitting the holding company’s subsidiaries to continue to operate. In addition, in December 2016, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ FRB ”) finalized rules requiring U.S. G-SIBs, including Wells Fargo, to maintain minimum amounts of long-term debt and total loss absorbing capacity (TLAC). It is possible that the application of the single point of entry strategy—in which Wells Fargo would be the only legal entity to enter resolution proceedings—could result in greater losses to holders of our debt securities than the losses that would result from the application of a bankruptcy proceeding or a different resolution strategy for Wells Fargo. Assuming Wells Fargo entered resolution proceedings and that support from Wells Fargo to its subsidiaries was sufficient to enable the subsidiaries to remain solvent, losses at the subsidiary level could be transferred to Wells Fargo and ultimately borne by Wells Fargo’s security holders (including holders of our unsecured debt securities), with the result that third-party creditors of Wells Fargo’s subsidiaries would receive full recoveries on their claims, while Wells Fargo’s security holders (including holders of our debt securities) and other unsecured creditors could face significant losses. In that case, Wells Fargo’s security holders could face significant losses while the third-party creditors of Wells Fargo’s subsidiaries would incur no losses because the subsidiaries would continue to operate and would not enter resolution or bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, holders of our debt securities could face losses ahead of our other similarly situated creditors in a resolution under the orderly liquidation authority if the FDIC exercised its right, described above, to disregard the strict priority of creditor claims.

The orderly liquidation authority also requires that creditors and shareholders of the financial company in receivership must bear all losses before taxpayers are exposed to any losses, and amounts owed by the financial company or the receivership to the U.S. government would generally receive a statutory payment priority over the claims of private creditors, including senior creditors such as claims in respect of our debt securities. In addition, under the orderly liquidation authority, claims of creditors (including holders of our debt securities) could be satisfied through the issuance of equity or other securities in a bridge entity to which Wells Fargo’s assets are transferred. If securities were to be delivered in satisfaction of claims, there can be no assurance that the value of the securities of the bridge entity would be sufficient to repay all or any part of the creditor claims for which the securities were exchanged.

While the FDIC has issued regulations to implement the orderly liquidation authority, not all aspects of how the FDIC might exercise this authority are known and additional rulemaking is possible.

The Resolution Of Wells Fargo In A Bankruptcy Proceeding Could Also Result in Greater Losses For Holders Of Our Debt Securities.

As required by the Dodd-Frank Act and regulations issued by the FRB and the FDIC, we are required to provide to the FRB and the FDIC a plan for our rapid and orderly resolution in the event of material financial distress affecting Wells Fargo or the failure of Wells Fargo. The strategy described in our most recently filed resolution plan is a “multiple point of entry” strategy, in which Wells Fargo, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“ WFBNA ”) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“ WFS ”) would each undergo separate resolution proceedings under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and the Securities Investor Protection Act, respectively. To further the orderly resolution of its businesses and those of its subsidiaries, Wells Fargo may provide capital and liquidity resources to certain of its major subsidiaries (such as WFBNA and WFS) during any period of distress, including through the forgiveness of intercompany indebtedness, the making of additional intercompany loans and by other means. These subsidiaries may enter into separate resolution proceedings even after receiving capital and liquidity resources from Wells Fargo. It is possible that creditors of some or all of Wells Fargo’s major subsidiaries would receive significant, or even full, recoveries on their claims while holders of Wells Fargo’s debt securities could face significant or complete losses. It is also possible that holders of Wells Fargo’s debt securities could face greater losses than if the multiple point of entry strategy had not been implemented and Wells Fargo had not provided capital and liquidity resources to major subsidiaries that enter separate resolution proceedings because assets and other resources provided to those subsidiaries would not be available to pay Wells Fargo’s creditors (including holders of Wells Fargo’s debt securities).

 

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It may also be possible for Wells Fargo to be resolved under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code using a strategy in which only Wells Fargo itself enters proceedings while some or all of its operating subsidiaries are maintained as going concerns. In this case, the effects on creditors of Wells Fargo would likely be similar to those arising under the orderly liquidation authority, as described above. To carry out such a strategy, Wells Fargo may seek to recapitalize its subsidiaries or provide them with liquidity in order to preserve them as going concerns prior to the commencement of Wells Fargo’s bankruptcy proceeding. Moreover, Wells Fargo could seek to elevate the priority of its guarantee obligations relating to its major subsidiaries’ derivatives contracts over its other obligations, so that cross-default and early termination rights under derivatives contracts at its subsidiaries would be stayed under the ISDA Resolution Stay Protocol. This elevation would result in holders of our debt securities incurring losses ahead of the beneficiaries of those guarantee obligations. It is also possible that holders of our debt securities could incur losses ahead of other similarly situated creditors.

If either resolution strategy proved to be unsuccessful, holders of our debt securities may as a consequence be in a worse position than if the strategy had not been implemented. In all cases, any payments to holders of our debt securities are dependent on our ability to make such payments and are therefore subject to our credit risk.

Holders Of Our Senior Debt Securities Have Limited Rights Of Acceleration.

Payment of principal on our senior debt securities may be accelerated only in the case of payment defaults that continue for a period of 30 days or certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or involuntary. If you purchase a series of senior debt securities, you will have no right to accelerate the payment of principal on that series of senior debt securities if we fail in the performance of any of our obligations under that series of senior debt securities, other than the obligations to pay principal and interest on that series of senior debt securities. See “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default.”

Holders Of Our Subordinated Debt Securities Have Even More Limited Rights Of Acceleration.

Payment of principal on our subordinated debt securities may be accelerated only in the case of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or involuntary. If you purchase a series of subordinated debt securities, you will have no right to accelerate the payment of principal on that series of subordinated debt securities if we fail to pay principal or interest on that series of subordinated debt securities or if we fail in the performance of any of our other obligations under that series of subordinated debt securities. Further, if certain payment defaults occur, holders of senior debt securities may be able to accelerate their debt securities so that such debt securities become immediately due and payable while holders of subordinated debt securities will be unable to do so. In such an event, our obligation to repay the accelerated senior debt securities in full could adversely affect our ability to make timely payments on subordinated debt securities thereafter. See “Description of Debt Securities—Subordination.”

If We Become Insolvent, Holders Of Our Senior Debt Securities May Receive More Than Holders Of Our Subordinated Debt Securities.

Any subordinated debt securities we may issue pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement are unsecured and rank junior to our Senior Debt, as defined herein under “Description of Debt Securities—Subordination.” If certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, we will first pay all Senior Debt, including any interest accrued after the events occur, in full before we make any payment or distribution on account of principal of or interest on any subordinated debt securities, and there is no limitation on our ability to incur additional debt senior to or on parity with any subordinated debt securities. If we become insolvent, holders of the Senior Debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities having a claim pursuant to those debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. In addition, holders of our debt securities may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that we enter into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.

 

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Holders Of Our Debt Securities Could Be At Greater Risk For Being Structurally Subordinated If We Convey, Transfer Or Lease All Or Substantially All Of Our Assets To One Or More Of Our Subsidiaries.

Under our indentures, we may convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries. In that event, third-party creditors of our subsidiaries would have additional assets from which to recover on their claims while holders of our debt securities would be structurally subordinated to creditors of our subsidiaries with respect to such assets. See “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale.”

The Securities May Not Be Listed On Any Securities Exchange And An Active Trading Market For The Securities May Not Develop.

Any securities that we issue will constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The securities may not be listed or displayed on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Even if the securities are listed on a securities exchange or automated quotation system, such listing does not guarantee that a trading market will develop. Although underwriters, dealers or agents, as applicable, may purchase our securities from you, they are not obligated to do so and are not required to make a market for our securities. As such, there can be no assurance that a secondary market will develop. Because we do not expect that any market makers will participate in a secondary market for our securities, the price at which you may be able to sell your securities is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which an underwriter, dealer or agent, as applicable, is willing to buy your securities. If a secondary market does exist, it may be limited. Accordingly, there may be a limited number of buyers if you decide to sell your securities, and no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of any trading market for the securities or the price you receive upon a sale of your securities.

One Of Our Affiliates May Act As The Calculation Agent Or Quotation Agent With Respect To Our Securities And, As A Result, Potential Conflicts Of Interest Could Arise.

One of our affiliates may act as the calculation agent or quotation agent with respect to our securities. Although any affiliate will exercise its judgment in good faith when performing its functions, potential conflicts of interest may exist between such affiliate and you.

If The Securities We Issue May Be Redeemed At Our Option, You May Not Be Able To Reinvest The Redemption Price You Receive In A Similar Security.

The terms of our securities may permit us to redeem the securities, subject to any required regulatory approval. Any such redemption may occur at a time when prevailing interest rates are relatively low. As a result, if we redeem our securities, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption price you receive in a similar security.

Foreign Currency Risks

You should consult your financial and legal advisors as to any specific risks entailed by an investment in securities that are denominated or payable in a currency other than the currency of the country in which you are resident or in which you conduct your business, which we refer to as your “ home currency .” These securities are not appropriate investments for investors who are not sophisticated in foreign currency transactions. We disclaim any responsibility to advise prospective purchasers who are residents of countries other than the United States of any matters arising under non-U.S. law that may affect the purchase of or holding of, or the receipt of payments on, these securities. These persons should consult their own legal and financial advisors concerning these matters.

 

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Exchange Rates And Exchange Controls May Affect Securities’ Value Or Return

General Exchange Rate And Exchange Control Risks. An investment in a security that is denominated or payable in currencies other than your home currency entails significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between your home currency and the relevant foreign currencies and the possibility of the imposition or modification of exchange controls by the relevant governmental entities. These risks generally depend on economic and political events over which we have no control.

Exchange Rates Will Affect Your Investment. In recent years, rates of exchange between some currencies have been highly volatile and this volatility may continue in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past are not necessarily indicative, however, of fluctuations that may occur during the term of any security. Depreciation of the currency in which a security is payable against your home currency would result in a decrease in the effective yield of the security below its coupon rate or in the payout of the security and could result in an overall loss to you on a home currency basis.

There May Be Specific Exchange Rate Risks Applicable To Warrants And Purchase Contracts. Fluctuations in the rates of exchange between your home currency and other currency (i) in which the exercise price of a warrant or the purchase price of a purchase contract is payable, (ii) in which the value of the property underlying a warrant or purchase contract is quoted or (iii) to be purchased or sold by exercise of a warrant or pursuant to a purchase contract or in the rates of exchange among any of these currencies may change the value of a warrant, a purchase contract or a unit that includes a warrant or purchase contract. You could lose money on your investment as a result of these fluctuations, even if the spot price of the property underlying the warrant or purchase contract were such that the warrant or purchase contract appeared to be “in the money.”

We Have No Control Over Exchange Rates. Currency exchange rates can either float or be fixed by sovereign governments. Exchange rates of most economically developed nations are permitted to fluctuate in value relative to each other. However, from time to time governments may use a variety of techniques, such as intervention by a country’s central bank, the imposition of regulatory controls or taxes or changes in interest rates to influence the exchange rates of their currencies. Governments may also issue a new currency to replace an existing currency or alter the exchange rate or relative exchange characteristics by a devaluation or revaluation of a currency. These governmental actions could change or interfere with currency valuations and currency fluctuations that would otherwise occur in response to economic forces, as well as in response to the movement of currencies across borders.

As a consequence, these government actions could adversely affect yields or payouts in your home currency for (i) securities denominated or payable in currencies other than your home currency, (ii) warrants or purchase contracts where the exercise price or the purchase price is denominated in a currency differing from your home currency or where the value of the property underlying the warrants or purchase contracts is quoted in a currency other than your home currency and (iii) warrants or purchase contracts to purchase or sell foreign currency.

We will not make any adjustment or change in the terms of the securities in the event that exchange rates should become fixed, or in the event of any devaluation or revaluation or imposition of exchange or other regulatory controls or taxes, or in the event of other developments affecting your home currency or any specified foreign currency. You will bear those risks.

Some Foreign Currencies May Become Unavailable. Governments have imposed from time to time, and may in the future impose, exchange controls that could also affect the availability of a specified currency. Even if there are no actual exchange controls, it is possible that the specified currency for any security would not be available when payments on that security are due.

Alternative Payment Currency Used If Payment Currency Becomes Unavailable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if a payment currency is unavailable, we will make required

 

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payments in U.S. dollars on the basis of the market exchange rate. However, if the specified currency for any security is not available because the euro has been substituted for that currency, we will make the payments in euro. The mechanisms for making payments in these alternative currencies are explained in “Description of Debt Securities—Interest and Principal Payments” below.

Currency Conversions May Affect Payments On Some Securities

The applicable prospectus supplement may provide for (i) payments on a non-U.S. dollar denominated security to be made in U.S. dollars or (ii) payments on a U.S. dollar denominated security to be made in a currency other than U.S. dollars. In these cases, the exchange agent identified in the applicable prospectus supplement will convert the currencies. You will bear the costs of conversion through deductions from those payments.

Exchange Rates May Affect the Value Of A New York Judgment Involving Non-U.S. Dollar Denominated Securities

If the securities are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and a New York court were to enter a judgment in an action on any securities denominated in a foreign currency, such court would either enter a judgment in U.S. dollars based on the prevailing rate of exchange between the foreign currency and the U.S. dollar on the date such judgment is entered or enter judgment in the foreign currency and convert the judgment or decree into U.S. dollars at the prevailing rate of exchange on the date such judgment or decree is entered.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities, which could be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those debt securities.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of February 21, 2017 between us and Citibank, N.A., as senior trustee, referred to herein as the “ senior indenture ,” and the subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of February 23, 2017 between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as subordinated trustee, referred to herein as the “ subordinated indenture .”

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the senior and subordinated indentures in this section. We have also filed each of these indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the applicable indenture for additional information before you buy any debt securities. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of these indentures so that you can more easily locate these provisions.

General

The debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. Neither of the indentures limits the amount of debt securities that we may issue. Both indentures permit us to issue debt securities from time to time and debt securities issued under an indenture will be issued as part of a series that has been established by us under such indenture. (Section 301)

The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other subordinated debt securities and, together with such other subordinated debt securities, will be subordinated to all of our existing and future Senior Debt. See “—Subordination” below. Holders of our debt securities may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that we enter into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.

The debt securities are our unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, as the case may be, but our assets consist primarily of equity in our subsidiaries. We are a separate and distinct legal entity from our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make payments on our debt securities depends on our receipt of dividends, loan payments and other funds from our subsidiaries. Various federal and state statutes and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our banking and other subsidiaries may pay us without regulatory approval. In addition, if any of our subsidiaries becomes insolvent, the direct creditors of that subsidiary will have a prior claim on its assets. Our rights and the rights of our creditors, including your rights as an owner of our debt securities, will be subject to that prior claim, unless we are also a direct creditor of that subsidiary. This subordination of creditors of a parent company to prior claims of creditors of its subsidiaries is commonly referred to as structural subordination.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, without the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities, issue additional debt securities of that series having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity date and other terms (except for the price to public and issue date) as such debt securities. Any such additional debt securities, together with the initial debt securities, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture. No additional debt securities of a series may be issued if an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to that series of debt securities.

 

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A prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. (Section 301) These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

    the title and type of the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities of that series;

 

    the price at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

    the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities will be payable;

 

    the maturity date or dates of the debt securities or the method by which those dates can be determined;

 

    if the debt securities will bear interest:

 

    the interest rate on the debt securities or the method by which the interest rate may be determined;

 

    the date from which interest will accrue;

 

    the record and interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

    the first interest payment date; and

 

    any circumstances under which we may defer interest payments;

 

    if the amount of principal or interest payable on the debt securities will be determined by reference to one or more securities, indices, exchange traded funds, commodities or currencies, or baskets comprised of any of the foregoing, or any other market measure, information as to such market measures;

 

    any terms on which the debt securities may be optionally or mandatorily converted or exchanged into or for stock or other securities of an entity unaffiliated with us, any specific terms relating to the adjustment of the conversion or exchange feature and the period during which the holders may make the conversion or the exchange;

 

    the place or places where:

 

    we can make payments on the debt securities;

 

    the debt securities can be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and

 

    notices and demands can be given to us relating to the debt securities and under the applicable indenture;

 

    any optional provisions that would permit us to elect redemption of the debt securities, or the holders of the debt securities to elect repayment of the debt securities, before their final maturity;

 

    any sinking fund provisions that would obligate us to redeem the debt securities before their final maturity;

 

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    whether the debt securities will be convertible into shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or depositary shares and, if so, the terms and conditions of any such conversion, and, if convertible into shares of preferred stock or depositary shares, the terms of such preferred stock or depositary shares;

 

    if the debt securities will be issued in bearer form, the terms and provisions contained in the bearer securities and in the applicable indenture specifically relating to the bearer securities;

 

    the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and payable, if other than U.S. dollars and, if a composite currency, any special provisions relating thereto;

 

    any circumstances under which the debt securities may be paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated and any provisions relating thereto;

 

    whether the provisions described below under the heading “—Defeasance” will not apply to the debt securities;

 

    any events of default and, in the case of senior debt securities, covenant breaches, which will apply to the debt securities in addition to those contained in the applicable indenture;

 

    any additions or changes to the covenants contained in the applicable indenture and the ability, if any, of the holders to waive our compliance with those additional or changed covenants;

 

    the identity of the security registrar and paying agent for the debt securities if other than Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., one of our affiliates;

 

    any special tax implications of the debt securities;

 

    any special provisions relating to the payment of any additional amounts on the debt securities;

 

    the terms of any securities being offered together with or separately from the debt securities; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities.

When we use the term “ holder ” in this prospectus with respect to a registered debt security, we mean the person in whose name such debt security is registered in the security register. (Section 101) A “ global security ” is a debt security that we issue in accordance with the applicable indenture to represent all or part of a series of debt securities.

Exchange and Transfer

Any debt securities of a series can be exchanged for other debt securities of that series so long as the other debt securities are denominated in authorized denominations and have the same aggregate principal amount and same terms as the debt securities that were surrendered for exchange. The debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of transfer, at the office or agency maintained by us for that purpose in Minneapolis, Minnesota or any other place of payment. However, holders of global securities may transfer and exchange global securities only in the manner and to the extent set forth under “—Book Entry, Delivery and Form” below. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange of the debt securities. (Sections 305, 1002) If the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any office or agency, in addition to the security registrar,

 

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initially designated by us where holders can surrender the debt securities for registration of transfer or exchange, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such office or agency or approve a change in the location. However, we will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for that series. (Section 1002)

We will not be required to:

 

    register the transfer of or exchange debt securities to be redeemed for a period of fifteen calendar days preceding the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or

 

    register the transfer of or exchange any registered debt security selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpaid portion of that registered debt security being redeemed in part. (Section 305)

Interest and Principal Payments

Payments. Holders may present debt securities for payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, register the transfer of the debt securities and exchange the debt securities at the agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota maintained by us for that purpose. On the date of this prospectus, the paying agent for the debt securities issued under the indentures is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., acting through its corporate trust office at 600 South 4 th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415. We refer to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., acting in this capacity for the debt securities, as the “ paying agent .”

Any money that we pay to the paying agent for the purpose of making payments on the debt securities and that remains unclaimed two years after the payments were due will, at our request, be returned to us and after that time any holder of a debt security can only look to us for the payments on the debt security. (Section 1003)

Although we anticipate making payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on most debt securities in U.S. dollars, some debt securities may be payable in foreign currencies as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Currently, few facilities exist in the United States to convert U.S. dollars into foreign currencies and vice versa. In addition, most U.S. banks do not offer non-U.S. dollar denominated checking or savings account facilities. Accordingly, unless alternative arrangements are made, we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities that are payable in a foreign currency to an account at a bank outside the United States, which, in the case of a debt security payable in euro, will be made by credit or transfer to a euro account specified by the payee in a country for which the euro is the lawful currency.

Recipients of Payments. The paying agent will pay interest to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the applicable record date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the “ record date ” for any interest payment date is the date 15 calendar days prior to that interest payment date, whether or not that day is a business day. However, upon maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will pay any interest due to the person to whom it pays the principal of the debt security. The paying agent will make the payment on the date of maturity, redemption or repayment, whether or not that date is an interest payment date. The paying agent will make the initial interest payment on a debt security on the first interest payment date falling after the date of issuance, unless the date of issuance is less than 15 calendar days before an interest payment date. In that case, the paying agent will pay interest or, in the case of an amortizing debt security, principal and interest, on the next succeeding interest payment date to the holder of record on the record date corresponding to the succeeding interest payment date. An “ interest payment date ” for any debt security means a date on which, under the terms of that debt security, regularly scheduled interest is payable.

Book-Entry Debt Securities. The paying agent will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the account of The Depository Trust Company, referred to herein as “ DTC ,” or other

 

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depositary specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as holder of book-entry debt securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment, will immediately credit its participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by the depositary’s participants to owners of beneficial interests in the book-entry debt securities will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of those participants.

Certificated Debt Securities. Except as indicated below for payments of interest at maturity, redemption or repayment, the paying agent will make U.S. dollar payments of interest either:

 

    by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to payment as shown on the security register; or

 

    by wire transfer to an account designated by a holder, if the holder has given written notice not later than 10 calendar days prior to the applicable interest payment date. (Section 307)

U.S. dollar payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, upon maturity, redemption or repayment on a debt security will be made in immediately available funds against presentation and surrender of the debt security at the office of the paying agent.

Unavailability of Foreign Currency . The relevant specified currency may not be available to us for making payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt security. This could occur due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control or if the specified currency is no longer used by the government of the country issuing that currency or by public institutions within the international banking community for the settlement of transactions. If the specified currency is unavailable, we may satisfy our obligations to holders of the debt securities by making those payments on the date of payment in U.S. dollars on the basis of the noon dollar buying rate in New York, New York for cable transfers of the currency or currencies in which a payment on any debt security was to be made, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which we refer to as the “ market exchange rate .” If that rate of exchange is not then available or is not published for a particular payment currency, the market exchange rate will be based on the highest bid quotation in New York, New York received by the exchange rate agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding the applicable payment date from three recognized foreign exchange dealers for the purchase by the quoting dealer:

 

    of the specified currency for U.S. dollars for settlement on the payment date;

 

    in the aggregate amount of the specified currency payable to those holders or beneficial owners of debt securities; and

 

    at which the applicable dealer commits to execute a contract.

One of the dealers providing quotations may be the exchange rate agent appointed by us unless the exchange rate agent is our affiliate. If those bid quotations are not available, the exchange rate agent will determine the market exchange rate at its sole discretion.

These provisions do not apply if a specified currency is unavailable because it has been replaced by the euro. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, if the euro has been substituted for a specified currency, the debt securities will be redenominated in euro on a date determined by us, with a principal amount for each debt security equal to the principal amount of that debt security in the specified currency, converted into euro at the established rate (as defined below); provided that, if we determine after consultation with the paying agent that the then-current market practice in respect of redenomination into euro of internationally offered securities is different from the provisions specified above, such provisions will be deemed

 

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to be amended so as to comply with such market practice and we will promptly notify the applicable trustee and the paying agent of such deemed amendment. The “ established rate ” means the rate for the conversion of the specified currency (including compliance with rules relating to rounding in accordance with applicable European Union regulations) into euro established by the Council of European Union pursuant to the Treaty establishing the European Communities, as amended by the Treaty on European Union. We will give 30 days’ notice of the redenomination date to the paying agent and the applicable trustee.

Any payment made in U.S. dollars or in euro as described above where the required payment is in an unavailable specified currency will not constitute an event of default under the applicable indenture.

Discount Debt Securities. Some debt securities may be considered to be issued with original issue discount, which in most cases must be included in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes at a constant yield. We refer to these debt securities as “ discount notes .” See the discussion under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” below. In the event of a redemption or repayment of any discount note or if the principal of any debt security that is considered to be issued with original issue discount is declared to be due and payable immediately as described under “—Events of Default” below, the amount of principal due and payable on that debt security will be limited to:

 

    the aggregate principal amount of the debt security multiplied by the sum of

 

    its issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount, plus

 

    the original issue discount amortized from the date of issue to the date of declaration, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount.

For purposes of determining the amount of original issue discount that has accrued as of any date on which a redemption, repayment or acceleration of maturity occurs for a discount note, original issue discount will be accrued using a constant yield method. The constant yield will be calculated using a 30-day month, 360-day year convention, a compounding period that, except for the initial period (as defined below), corresponds to the shortest period between interest payment dates for the applicable discount note (with ratable accruals within a compounding period), and an assumption that the maturity of a discount note will not be accelerated. If the period from the date of issue to the first interest payment date for a discount note (the “ initial period ”) is shorter than the compounding period for the discount note, a proportionate amount of the yield for an entire compounding period will be accrued. If the initial period is longer than the compounding period, then the period will be divided into a regular compounding period and a short period with the short period being treated as provided in the proceeding sentence. The accrual of the applicable original issue discount discussed above may differ from the accrual of original issue discount for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), certain discount notes may not be treated as having original issue discount within the meaning of the Code, and debt securities other than discount notes may be treated as issued with original issue discount for federal income tax purposes. See the discussion under “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” below. In addition, see the applicable prospectus supplement for any additional considerations applicable to these debt securities.

Certain Definitions. The following are definitions of certain terms we use in this prospectus when discussing principal and interest payments on the debt securities:

A “ business day ” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, (i) that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close (a) in New York, New York, (b) for debt securities denominated in a specified currency other than U.S. dollars, euro or Australian dollars, in the principal financial center of the country of the specified currency, or (c) for debt securities denominated in Australian dollars, in Sydney, Australia, (ii) for debt securities denominated in euro, that is also a TARGET Settlement Day and (iii) for debt securities with a base rate of LIBOR, that is also a London banking day.

 

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The “ depositary ” means the depositary for global securities issued under an indenture and, unless provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, means DTC.

Euro LIBOR debt securities ” means LIBOR debt securities for which the index currency is euros.

London banking day ” means any day on which commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments in London.

TARGET Settlement Day ” means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System is open.

References in this prospectus to “ U.S. dollar ,” or “ U.S.$ ” or “ $ ” are to the currency of the United States of America. References in this prospectus to “ euro ” are to the single currency introduced at the commencement of the third stage of the European Economic and Monetary Union pursuant to the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended. References in this prospectus to “ £ ,” “ pounds sterling ” or “ sterling ” are to the currency of the United Kingdom.

Fixed Rate Debt Securities

Each fixed rate debt security will bear interest from the date of issuance at the annual rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to fixed rate debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

How Interest Is Calculated. Interest on fixed rate debt securities will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

How Interest Accrues. Interest on fixed rate debt securities will accrue from and including the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from and including the issue date or any other date specified in a prospectus supplement on which interest begins to accrue. Interest will accrue to but excluding the next interest payment date or, if earlier, the date on which the principal has been paid or duly made available for payment, except as described below under “—If A Payment Date Is Not A Business Day.”

When Interest Is Paid. Payments of interest on fixed rate debt securities will be made on the interest payment dates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, if the first interest payment date is less than 15 days after the issue date, interest will not be paid on the first interest payment date, but will be paid on the second interest payment date.

Amount Of Interest Payable. Interest payments for fixed rate debt securities will include accrued interest from and including the issue date or from and including the last interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding the relevant interest payment date or date of maturity or earlier redemption or repayment, as the case may be.

If A Payment Date Is Not A Business Day. If any scheduled interest payment date is not a business day, we will pay interest on the next business day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled interest payment date. If the scheduled maturity date or date of redemption or repayment is not a business day, we may pay interest, if any, and principal and premium, if any, on the next business day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the scheduled maturity date or date of redemption or repayment.

Amortizing Debt Securities. A fixed rate debt security may pay a level amount in respect of both interest and principal amortized over the life of the debt security. Payments of principal and interest on amortizing debt

 

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securities will be made on the interest payment dates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, and at maturity or upon any earlier redemption or repayment. Payments on amortizing debt securities will be applied first to interest due and payable and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount. We will provide to the original purchaser, and will furnish to subsequent holders upon request to us, a table setting forth repayment information for each amortizing debt security.

Floating Rate Debt Securities

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to floating rate debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

Each floating rate debt security will mature on the date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Each floating rate debt security will bear interest at a floating rate determined by reference to an interest rate or interest rate formula, which we refer to as the “ base rate .” The base rate may be one or more of the following:

 

    the commercial paper rate;

 

    EURIBOR;

 

    the federal funds rate;

 

    the federal funds (open) rate;

 

    LIBOR;

 

    the prime rate;

 

    the Treasury rate;

 

    the CMT rate; or

 

    any other rate or interest rate formula specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Formula For Interest Rates . The interest rate on each floating rate debt security will be calculated by reference to:

 

    the specified base rate based on the index maturity;

 

    plus or minus the spread, if any; and/or

 

    multiplied by the spread multiplier, if any.

For any floating rate debt security, “ index maturity ” means the period of maturity of the instrument or obligation from which the base rate is calculated and will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The “ spread ” is the number of basis points (one one-hundredth of a percentage point) specified in the applicable prospectus supplement to be added to or subtracted from the base rate for a floating rate debt security. The “ spread multiplier ” is the percentage that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement to be applied to the base rate for a floating rate debt security. The interest rate on any inverse floating rate debt security will also be calculated by reference to a fixed rate.

 

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Limitations On Interest Rate. A floating rate debt security may also have either or both of the following limitations on the interest rate:

 

    a maximum limitation, or ceiling, on the rate of interest which may accrue during any interest reset period, which we refer to as the “ maximum interest rate ”; and/or

 

    a minimum limitation, or floor, on the rate of interest that may accrue during any interest reset period, which we refer to as the “ minimum interest rate .”

Any applicable maximum interest rate or minimum interest rate will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

New York State law governs the indentures under which the debt securities will be issued. New York has usury laws that limit the amount of interest that can be charged and paid on loans, which includes floating rate debt securities. Under present New York usury law, the maximum permissible rate of interest, subject to some exceptions, is 16% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which less than $250,000 has been invested and 25% per annum on a simple interest basis for debt securities in which $250,000 or more has been invested. This limit may not apply to floating rate debt securities in which $2,500,000 or more has been invested.

How Floating Interest Rates Are Reset . The interest rate in effect from the issue date to the first interest reset date for a floating rate debt security will be the initial interest rate specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to this rate as the “ initial interest rate .” The interest rate on each floating rate debt security may be reset daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. This period is the “ interest reset period ” and the first day of each interest reset period is the “ interest reset date .” The “ interest determination date ” for any interest reset date is the day the calculation agent will refer to when determining the new interest rate at which a floating rate will reset, and is applicable as follows:

 

    for federal funds rate debt securities, federal funds (open) rate debt securities and prime rate debt securities, the interest determination date will be on the business day prior to the interest reset date;

 

    for commercial paper rate debt securities and CMT rate debt securities, the interest determination date will be the second business day prior to the interest reset date;

 

    for EURIBOR debt securities or Euro LIBOR debt securities, the interest determination date will be the second TARGET Settlement Day prior to the interest reset date;

 

    for LIBOR debt securities (other than Euro LIBOR debt securities), the interest determination date will be the second London banking day prior to the interest reset date, except that the interest determination date pertaining to the interest reset date for a LIBOR debt security for which the index currency is pounds sterling will be the interest reset date;

 

    for Treasury rate debt securities, the interest determination date will be the day of the week in which the interest reset date falls on which Treasury bills would normally be auctioned. Treasury bills are normally sold at auction on Monday of each week, unless that day is a legal holiday, in which case the auction is normally held on the following Tuesday, except that the auction may be held on the preceding Friday; provided, however, that if an auction is held on the Friday of the week preceding the interest reset date, the interest determination date will be that preceding Friday; and provided, further, that if Treasury bills are sold at an auction that falls on a day that is an interest reset date, that interest reset date will be the following business day; and

 

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    for debt securities with two or more base rates, the interest determination date will be the latest business day that is at least two business days before the applicable interest reset date on which each base rate is determinable.

The interest reset dates will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If an interest reset date for any floating rate debt security falls on a day that is not business day, it will be postponed to the following business day, except that, in the case of a EURIBOR debt security or a LIBOR debt security, if that business day is in the next calendar month, the interest reset date will be the immediately preceding business day.

In the detailed descriptions of the various base rates which follow, the “ calculation date ” pertaining to an interest determination date means the earlier of (i) the tenth calendar day after that interest determination date or, if that day is not a business day, the next business day, or (ii) the business day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date or maturity date or, for any principal amount to be redeemed or repaid, any redemption or repayment date.

The interest rate in effect for the ten calendar days immediately prior to maturity, redemption or repayment will be the one in effect on the tenth calendar day preceding the maturity, redemption or repayment date.

How Interest Is Calculated . Interest on floating rate debt securities will accrue from and including the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from and including the issue date or any other date specified in a prospectus supplement on which interest begins to accrue. Interest will accrue to but excluding the next interest payment date or, if earlier, the date on which the principal has been paid or duly made available for payment, except as described below under “—If A Payment Date Is Not A Business Day.”

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the calculation agent for any issue of floating rate debt securities will be Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., one of our affiliates. We may appoint a successor calculation agent with the written consent of the paying agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Upon the request of the holder of any floating rate debt security, the calculation agent will provide the interest rate then in effect and, if determined, the interest rate that will become effective on the next interest reset date for the floating rate debt security. The calculation agent will notify the paying agent of each determination of the interest rate applicable to any floating rate debt security promptly after the determination is made.

For a floating rate debt security, accrued interest will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the floating rate debt security by an accrued interest factor. This accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day:

 

    by 360, in the case of commercial paper rate debt securities, EURIBOR debt securities, federal funds rate debt securities, federal funds (open) rate debt securities, LIBOR debt securities, except for LIBOR debt securities denominated in pounds sterling, and prime rate debt securities;

 

    by 365 (or 366 if the last day of the interest period falls in a leap year), in the case of LIBOR debt securities denominated in pounds sterling; or

 

    by the actual number of days in the year, in the case of Treasury rate debt securities and CMT rate debt securities.

For these calculations, the interest rate in effect on any interest reset date will be the applicable rate as reset on that date. The interest rate applicable to any other day is the interest rate from the immediately preceding interest reset date or, if none, the initial interest rate.

 

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All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of the rate of interest on a floating rate debt security will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005% rounded up to 0.00001%, and all U.S. dollar amounts used in or resulting from these calculations on floating rate debt securities will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent rounded upward. All Japanese Yen amounts used in or resulting from these calculations will be rounded downward to the next lower whole Japanese Yen amount. All amounts denominated in any other currency used in or resulting from these calculations will be rounded to the nearest two decimal places in that currency, with 0.005 rounded up to 0.01.

When Interest Is Paid. We will pay interest on floating rate debt securities on the interest payment dates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, if the first interest payment date is less than 15 days after the issue date, interest will not be paid on the first interest payment date, but will be paid on the second interest payment date.

If A Payment Date Is Not A Business Day. If any interest payment date, other than the maturity date or any earlier redemption or repayment date, for any floating rate debt security falls on a day that is not a business day, it will be postponed to the following business day, except that, in the case of a EURIBOR debt security or a LIBOR debt security, if that business day would fall in the next calendar month, the interest payment date will be the immediately preceding business day. If the maturity date or any earlier redemption or repayment date of a floating rate debt security falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be made on the next business day, but interest on that payment will not accrue during the period from and after the maturity, redemption or repayment date, as the case may be.

Base Rates.

Commercial Paper Rate Debt Securities . Commercial paper rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those interest rates will be based on the commercial paper rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ commercial paper rate ” means, for any interest determination date, the money market yield, calculated as described below, of the rate on that date for U.S. dollar commercial paper having the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as that rate is published in H.15(519), under the heading “Commercial Paper—Nonfinancial” or “Commercial Paper Financial,” as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following procedures will be followed if the commercial paper rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, then the commercial paper rate will be the money market yield of the rate on that interest determination date for commercial paper of the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement as published in the H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the heading “Commercial Paper—Nonfinancial” or “Commercial Paper Financial,” as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

   

If by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on that calculation date the rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, then the calculation agent will determine the commercial paper rate to be the money market yield of the arithmetic mean of the offered rates as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on that interest determination date of three leading dealers of U.S. dollar commercial paper in New York, New York, which may include the

 

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  underwriters or agents for the debt securities or their affiliates, selected by the calculation agent, after consultation with us, for commercial paper of the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, placed for an industrial issuer whose bond rating is “Aa,” or the equivalent, from a nationally recognized statistical rating agency.

 

  If the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, the commercial paper rate for the interest determination date will remain the commercial paper rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

The “ money market yield ” will be a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula:

 

  money market yield =              D x 360                x 100   
     360 – (D x M)        

where “ D ” refers to the applicable per year rate for commercial paper quoted on a bank discount basis and expressed as a decimal and “ M ” refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.

EURIBOR Debt Securities . EURIBOR debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. That interest rate will be based on EURIBOR and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

EURIBOR ” means, for any interest determination date, the rate for deposits in euros as sponsored, calculated and published jointly by the European Banking Federation and ACI – The Financial Market Association, or any company established by the joint sponsors for purposes of compiling and publishing those rates, for the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement as that rate appears on the display on Reuters 3000 Xtra Service (“ Reuters ”), or any successor service, on page EURIBOR01 or any other page as may replace page EURIBOR01 on that service, which is commonly referred to as “ Reuters Page EURIBOR01 ,” as of 11:00 a.m., Brussels time.

The following procedures will be followed if EURIBOR cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate does not appear on Reuters Page EURIBOR01 on an interest determination date at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, the calculation agent will request the principal Euro-Zone office of each of four major banks in the Euro-Zone interbank market, as selected by the calculation agent, after consultation with us, to provide the calculation agent with its offered rate for deposits in euros, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on the interest determination date, to prime banks in the Euro-Zone interbank market for the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement commencing on the applicable interest reset date, and in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of €1 million that is representative of a single transaction in euro, in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, EURIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations.

 

    If fewer than two quotations are provided, then the calculation agent, after consultation with us, will select four major banks in the Euro-Zone interbank market to provide a quotation of the rate offered by them, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Brussels time, on the applicable interest determination date for loans in euro to leading European banks for a period of time equivalent to the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement commencing on that interest reset date in a principal amount not less than the equivalent of €1 million. EURIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations.

 

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    If at least three quotations are not provided, EURIBOR for that interest determination date will remain EURIBOR for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

Euro-Zone ” means the region comprising member states of the European Union that have adopted the single currency in accordance with the relevant treaty of the European Union, as amended.

Federal Funds Rate Debt Securities . Federal funds rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those interest rates will be based on the federal funds rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ federal funds rate ” means, for any interest determination date, the rate on that date for U.S. dollar federal funds as published in H.15(519) under the heading “Federal Funds (Effective)” as displayed on Reuters, or any successor service, on page FEDFUNDS1 or any other page as may replace the applicable page on that service, which is commonly referred to as “ Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1 .”

The following procedures will be followed if the federal funds rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate is not published in H.15(519) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, or does not appear on Reuters Page FEDFUNDS1, the federal funds rate will be the rate on that interest determination date as published in the H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the heading “Federal Funds (Effective).”

 

    If the above rate is not yet published in either H.15(519) or the H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the calculation agent will determine the federal funds rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day following that interest determination date, by each of three leading brokers of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in New York, New York, which may include the underwriters or agents for the debt securities or their affiliates, selected by the calculation agent, after consultation with us.

 

    If fewer than three brokers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, the federal funds rate for that interest determination date will remain the federal funds rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

Federal Funds (Open) Rate Debt Securities . Federal funds (open) rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those interest rates will be based on the federal funds (open) rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ federal funds (open) rate ” means, for any interest determination date, the federal funds rate on that date set forth opposite the caption “Open” as displayed on Reuters, or any successor service, on page 5 or any other page as may replace the applicable page on that service, which is commonly referred to as “ Reuters Page 5 .”

 

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The following procedures will be followed if the federal funds (open) rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the federal funds (open) rate will be the rate on that interest determination date displayed on FFPREBON Index Page on Bloomberg L.P. (“ Bloomberg ”), which is the Fed Funds Opening Rate as reported by Prebon Yamane, or any successor service, on Bloomberg.

 

    If the above rate is not displayed on the FFPREBON Index Page on Bloomberg, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the calculation agent will determine the federal funds (open) rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates for the last transaction in overnight U.S. dollar federal funds prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on that interest determination date, by each of three leading brokers of U.S. dollar federal funds transactions in New York, New York, which may include the underwriters or agents for the debt securities and their affiliates, selected by the calculation agent, after consultation with us.

 

    If fewer than three brokers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, the federal funds (open) rate for that interest determination date will remain the federal funds (open) rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

LIBOR Debt Securities . LIBOR debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. That interest rate will be based on London Interbank Offered Rate, which is commonly referred to as “ LIBOR ,” and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The calculation agent will determine LIBOR for each interest determination date as follows:

 

    “LIBOR” means, for any interest determination date, the arithmetic mean of the offered rates for deposits in the index currency having the index maturity designated in the applicable prospectus supplement, commencing on the second London banking day immediately following that interest determination date or, if pounds sterling is the index currency, commencing on that interest determination date, that appear on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on that interest determination date, if at least two offered rates appear on the Designated LIBOR Page, provided that if the specified Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, that single rate will be used.

 

    If (i) fewer than two offered rates appear or (ii) no rate appears and the Designated LIBOR Page by its terms provides only for a single rate, then the calculation agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major banks in the London Interbank market, as selected by the calculation agent, to provide the calculation agent with its offered quotation for deposits in the index currency for the period of the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement commencing on the second London banking day immediately following the interest determination date or, if pounds sterling is the index currency, commencing on that interest determination date, to prime banks in the London Interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that interest determination date and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in that index currency in that market at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, LIBOR determined on that interest determination date will be the arithmetic mean of those quotations.

 

   

If fewer than two quotations are provided, LIBOR will be determined for the applicable interest reset date as the arithmetic mean of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., or

 

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  some other time specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in the applicable principal financial center for the country of the index currency on that interest determination date, by three major banks in that principal financial center selected by the calculation agent for loans in the index currency to leading European banks, having the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and in a principal amount that is representative of a single transaction in that index currency in that market at that time.

 

  If the banks so selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, LIBOR for that interest determination date will remain LIBOR for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

The “ index currency ” means the currency specified in the applicable prospectus supplement as the currency for which LIBOR will be calculated or, if the euro is substituted for that currency, the index currency will be the euro. If that currency is not specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the index currency will be U.S. dollars.

Designated LIBOR Page ” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page LIBOR01, or any other page as may replace that page on that service, for the purpose of displaying the London Interbank rates for the applicable index currency.

Prime Rate Debt Securities . Prime rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. That interest rate will be based on the prime rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier, and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ prime rate ” means, for any interest determination date, the rate on that date as published in H.15 (519) prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, under the heading “Bank Prime Loan.”

The following procedures will be followed if the prime rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate is not published in H.15 (519) prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, then the prime rate will be the rate on that interest determination date as published in H.15 Daily Update, or any other recognized electronic source used for the purposes of displaying the applicable rate, under the heading “Bank Prime Loan.”

 

    If the rate is not published in either H.15 (519) or the H.15 Daily Update or another recognized electronic source by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, then the calculation agent will determine the prime rate to be the arithmetic mean of the rates of interest publicly announced by each bank that appears on the Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page, as defined below, as that bank’s prime rate or base lending rate as in effect as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time, for that interest determination date.

 

    If fewer than four rates for that interest determination date appear on the Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the calculation agent will determine the prime rate to be the arithmetic mean of the prime rates quoted or base lending rates furnished in New York City by three substitute major banks or trust companies (all organized under the laws of the United States or any of its states and having total equity capital of at least $500,000,000), selected by the calculation agent, after consultation with us.

 

    If the banks selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, the prime rate for that interest determination date will remain the prime rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

 

29


Reuters Screen USPRIME 1 Page ” means the display designated as page “USPRIME 1” on the Reuters Monitor Money Rate Service, or any successor service, or any other page as may replace the USPRIME 1 Page on that service for the purpose of displaying prime rates or base lending rates of major U.S. banks.

Treasury Rate Debt Securities . Treasury rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. That interest rate will be based on the Treasury rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ Treasury rate ” means:

 

    the rate from the auction held on the applicable interest determination date, which we refer to as the “ auction ,” of direct obligations of the United States, which are commonly referred to as “ Treasury Bills ,” having the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement as that rate appears under the caption “INVESTMENT RATE” on the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on page USAUCTION 10 or any other page as may replace page USAUCTION 10 on that service, which we refer to as “ Reuters Page USAUCTION 10 ,” or page USAUCTION 11 or any other page as may replace page USAUCTION 11 on that service, which we refer to as “ Reuters Page USAUCTION 11 ”; or

 

    if the rate described in the first bullet point is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the calculation date, the bond equivalent yield of the rate for the applicable Treasury Bills as published in the H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Auction High”; or

 

    if the rate described in the second bullet point is not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the bond equivalent yield of the auction rate of the applicable Treasury Bills, announced by the United States Department of the Treasury; or

 

    if the rate referred to in the third bullet point is not announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, or if the auction is not held, the bond equivalent yield of the rate on the applicable interest determination date of Treasury Bills having the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement published in H.15(519) under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”; or

 

    if the rate referred to in the fourth bullet point is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable interest determination date of the applicable Treasury Bills as published in H.15 Daily Update, or other recognized electronic source used for the purpose of displaying the applicable rate, under the caption “U.S. Government Securities/Treasury Bills/Secondary Market”; or

 

    if the rate referred to in the fifth bullet point is not so published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, the rate on the applicable interest determination date calculated by the calculation agent as the bond equivalent yield of the arithmetic mean of the secondary market bid rates, as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable interest determination date, of three primary U.S. government securities dealers, which may include the underwriters or agents for the debt securities or their affiliates, selected by the calculation agent after consultation with us, for the issue of Treasury Bills with a remaining maturity closest to the index maturity specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; or

 

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    if the dealers selected by the calculation agent are not quoting as set forth above, the Treasury rate for that interest determination date will remain the Treasury rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

The “ bond equivalent yield ” means a yield calculated in accordance with the following formula and expressed as a percentage:

 

   bond equivalent yield =                       D x N                           x 100   
     360 – (D x M)        

where “ D ” refers to the applicable per annum rate for Treasury Bills quoted on a bank discount basis, “ N ” refers to 365 or 366, as the case may be, and “ M ” refers to the actual number of days in the interest period for which interest is being calculated.

CMT Rate Debt Securities . CMT rate debt securities will bear interest at the interest rates specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. That interest rate will be based on the CMT rate and any spread and/or spread multiplier and will be subject to the minimum interest rate and the maximum interest rate, if any.

The “ CMT rate ” means, for any interest determination date, the rate displayed on the Designated CMT Reuters Page, as defined below, under the caption “… Treasury Constant Maturities … Federal Reserve Board Release H.15… Mondays Approximately 3:45 p.m.,” under the column for the Designated CMT Maturity Index, as defined below, for:

 

    the rate on that interest determination date, if the Designated CMT Reuters Page is FRBCMT; and

 

    the week or the month, as applicable, ended immediately preceding the week in which the related interest determination date occurs, if the Designated CMT Reuters Page is FEDCMT.

The following procedures will be followed if the CMT rate cannot be determined as described above:

 

    If the above rate is no longer displayed on the relevant page, or if not displayed by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, then the CMT rate will be the Treasury Constant Maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index as published in the relevant H.15(519).

 

    If the above rate described in the first bullet point is no longer published, or if not published by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, then the CMT rate will be the Treasury Constant Maturity rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index or other U.S. Treasury rate for the Designated CMT Maturity Index on the interest determination date as may then be published by either the FRB or the United States Department of the Treasury that the calculation agent determines to be comparable to the rate formerly displayed on the Designated CMT Reuters Page and published in the relevant H.15(519).

 

   

If the information described in the second bullet point is not provided by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the related calculation date, then the calculation agent will determine the CMT rate to be a yield to maturity, based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market closing offer side prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the interest determination date, reported, according to their written records, by three leading primary U.S. government securities dealers, which we refer to as a “ reference dealer ,” in New York, New York, which may include the underwriters or agents for the debt securities or their affiliates,

 

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  selected by the calculation agent as described in the following sentence. The calculation agent will select five reference dealers, after consultation with us, and will eliminate the highest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the highest, and the lowest quotation or, in the event of equality, one of the lowest, for the most recently issued direct noncallable fixed rate obligations of the United States, which are commonly referred to as “ Treasury notes ,” with an original maturity of approximately the Designated CMT Maturity Index, a remaining term to maturity of no more than 1 year shorter than that Designated CMT Maturity Index and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in that market at that time. If two Treasury notes with an original maturity as described above have remaining terms to maturity equally close to the Designated CMT Maturity Index, the quotes for the Treasury note with the shorter remaining term to maturity will be used.

 

  If the calculation agent cannot obtain three Treasury notes quotations as described in the immediately preceding bullet point, the calculation agent will determine the CMT rate to be a yield to maturity based on the arithmetic mean of the secondary market offer side prices as of approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the interest determination date of three reference dealers in New York, New York, selected using the same method described in the immediately preceding bullet point, for Treasury notes with an original maturity equal to the number of years closest to but not less than the Designated CMT Maturity Index and a remaining term to maturity closest to the Designated CMT Maturity Index and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in the securities in that market at that time.

 

  If three or four, and not five, of the reference dealers are quoting as described above, then the CMT rate will be based on the arithmetic mean of the offer prices obtained and neither the highest nor the lowest of those quotes will be eliminated.

 

  If fewer than three reference dealers selected by the calculation agent are quoting as described above, the CMT rate for that interest determination date will remain the CMT rate for the immediately preceding interest reset period, or, if none, the rate of interest payable will be the initial interest rate.

Designated CMT Reuters Page ” means the display on Reuters, or any successor service, on the page designated in the applicable prospectus supplement or any other page as may replace that page on that service for the purpose of displaying Treasury Constant Maturities as reported in H.15(519). If no page is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Designated CMT Reuters Page will be FEDCMT, for the most recent week.

Designated CMT Maturity Index ” means the original period to maturity of the U.S. Treasury securities, which is either 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20 or 30 years, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, for which the CMT rate will be calculated. If no maturity is specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the Designated CMT Maturity Index will be two years.

Redemption and Repayment

General.

Any redemption by us of debt securities may be subject to the prior approval of the FRB or other appropriate federal banking agency.

Optional Redemption By Us. If applicable, the prospectus supplement will indicate the terms of our option to redeem the debt securities. We will mail by first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice of redemption to

 

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each holder or, in the case of global securities, we will provide such notice to the depositary, as holder of the global securities, pursuant to the applicable procedures of the depositary, at least 15 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, or within the redemption notice period designated in the applicable prospectus supplement, to the address of each holder as that address appears upon the books maintained by the security registrar. The debt securities, except for amortizing debt securities, will not be subject to any sinking fund.

A partial redemption of the debt securities may be effected by such method as the applicable trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of debt securities held by a holder equal to an authorized denomination. If we redeem less than all of the debt securities and the debt securities are then held in book-entry form, the redemption will be made in accordance with the depositary’s customary procedures. We have been advised that it is DTC’s practice to determine by lot the amount of each participant in the debt securities to be redeemed.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities called for redemption.

Optional Make-Whole Redemption of Debt Securities. If the applicable prospectus supplement provides that a series of debt securities is redeemable at our option and also provides for the payment of a redemption premium, the following provisions will apply unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon redemption of such debt securities, we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date:

 

    100% of the principal amount of the debt securities to be redeemed, and

 

    the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments.

In determining the present values of the remaining scheduled payments, we will discount such payments to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using a discount rate equal to the treasury rate plus the spread specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following terms are relevant to the determination of the redemption price:

Treasury rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the comparable treasury issue. In determining this rate, we will assume a price for the comparable treasury issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the comparable treasury price for such redemption date.

Comparable treasury issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by the quotation agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the debt securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such debt securities.

Quotation agent ” means Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or if that firm is unwilling or unable to select the comparable treasury issue, an investment banking institution of national standing appointed by us.

Comparable treasury price ” means (A) the arithmetic average of the reference treasury dealer quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest reference treasury dealer quotations, or (B) if the quotation agent obtains fewer than three reference treasury dealer quotations, the arithmetic average of all reference treasury dealer quotations for such redemption date.

 

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Reference treasury dealer quotations ” means, with respect to each reference treasury dealer and any redemption date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the quotation agent, of the bid and asked prices for the comparable treasury issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the quotation agent by such reference treasury dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Reference treasury dealer ” means primary U.S. Government securities dealers in New York City (“ primary treasury dealers ”) selected by the quotation agent after consultation with us.

Remaining scheduled payments ” means, with respect to any debt security to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such debt security, the amount of the next scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.

The quotation agent is our affiliate and, as such, the economic interests of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC may be adverse to your interests as a holder of debt securities subject to our redemption, including with respect to certain determinations and judgments it must make as quotation agent in the event we redeem such debt securities before their maturity. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is obligated to carry out its duties and functions as quotation agent in good faith.

Repayment At Option Of Holder. If applicable, the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will indicate that the holder has the option to have us repay the debt security on a date or dates specified prior to its stated maturity date. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the repayment price will be equal 100% of the principal amount of the debt security, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date of repayment. For debt securities issued with original issue discount, the prospectus supplement will specify the amount payable upon repayment.

For us to repay a debt security, the paying agent must receive at least 30 days but not more than 45 days prior to the repayment date:

 

    the debt security with the form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of debt security duly completed; or

 

    a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth the name of the holder of the debt security, the principal amount of the debt security, the principal amount of the debt security to be repaid, the certificate number or a description of the tenor and terms of the debt security, a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised and a guarantee that the debt security to be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the debt security, will be received by the paying agent not later than the fifth business day after the date of the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter. However, the telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter will only be effective if that debt security and form duly completed are received by the paying agent by the fifth business day after the date of that telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter.

Exercise of the repayment option by the holder of a debt security will be irrevocable. The holder may exercise the repayment option for less than the entire principal amount of the debt security but, in that event, the principal amount of the debt security remaining outstanding after repayment must be an authorized denomination.

 

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If a debt security is represented by a global security, the depositary or the depositary’s nominee will be the holder of the debt security and therefore will be the only entity that can exercise a right to repayment. In order to ensure that the depositary’s nominee will timely exercise a right to repayment of a particular debt security, the beneficial owner of the debt security must instruct the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in the debt security to notify the depositary of its desire to exercise a right to repayment. Different firms have different cut-off times for accepting instructions from their customers and, accordingly, each beneficial owner should consult the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which it holds an interest in a debt security in order to ascertain the cut-off time by which an instruction must be given in order for timely notice to be delivered to the depositary.

We may purchase debt securities at any price in the open market or otherwise. Debt securities so purchased by us may, at our discretion, be held or resold or surrendered to the applicable trustee for cancellation.

Denominations

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 each and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Bearer Debt Securities

If we ever issue bearer debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of the special terms and provisions of debt securities in bearer form, and the extent to which those special terms and provisions are different from the terms and provisions which are described in this prospectus, which generally apply to debt securities in registered form, and will summarize provisions of the applicable indenture that relate specifically to bearer debt securities.

Original Issue Discount

Debt securities may be issued under the indentures as original issue discount securities and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If a debt security is an original issue discount security, that means that an amount less than the principal amount of the debt security will be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt security under the applicable indenture. (Section 101) See “—Interest and Principal Payments—Discount Debt Securities” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for the federal income tax consequences and other special factors you should consider before purchasing any original issue discount securities.

Covenants Contained in Indentures

Except as otherwise set forth in the next sentence, the senior indenture:

 

    prohibits us and our subsidiaries from selling, pledging, assigning or otherwise disposing of shares of capital stock, or securities convertible into capital stock, of any Principal Subsidiary Bank or of any subsidiary owning, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank; and

 

    prohibits any Principal Subsidiary Bank from issuing any shares of its capital stock or securities convertible into its capital stock.

This restriction does not apply to:

 

    sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances of directors’ qualifying shares;

 

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    sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances, so long as, after giving effect to the disposition and to the issuance of any shares issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities convertible or exchangeable into capital stock, we would own directly or through one or more of our subsidiaries not less than 80% of the shares of each class of capital stock of the applicable Principal Subsidiary Bank;

 

    sales, pledges, assignments or other dispositions or issuances made in compliance with an order or direction of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction; or

 

    sales of capital stock by any Principal Subsidiary Bank to its stockholders so long as before the sale we own directly or indirectly shares of the same class and the sale does not reduce the percentage of the shares of that class of capital stock owned by us. (Section 1005 of the senior indenture)

When we use the term “ subsidiary ” in this section and in “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale” below, we mean any corporation of which we own more than 50% of the outstanding shares of voting stock, except for directors’ qualifying shares, directly or indirectly through one or more of our other subsidiaries. Voting stock is stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled in the ordinary course to vote for the election of a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of a corporation and does not include stock (or the equivalent thereof) that is entitled to so vote only as a result of the happening of certain events, and references to “corporation” refer to corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business trusts.

When we use the term “ Principal Subsidiary Bank ” above, we mean any commercial bank or trust company organized in the United States under Federal or state law of which we own at least a majority of the shares of voting stock directly or indirectly through one or more of our subsidiaries if such commercial bank or trust company has total assets, as set forth in its most recent statement of condition, equal to more than 10% of our total consolidated assets, as set forth in our most recent financial statements filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. (Section 101 of the senior indenture) As of the date hereof, our only Principal Subsidiary Bank is Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The subordinated indenture does not contain the restriction described above.

Except as expressly set forth above, neither of the indentures contains restrictions on our ability to:

 

    incur, assume or become liable for any type of debt or other obligation;

 

    create liens on our property for any purpose; or

 

    pay dividends or make distributions on our capital stock or repurchase or redeem our capital stock.

The indentures do not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth or liquidity. In addition, the indentures do not contain any provisions which would require us to repurchase or redeem or modify the terms of any of the debt securities upon a change of control or other event involving us which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the debt securities.

 

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Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Each of the indentures generally permits a consolidation or merger between us and another entity. They also permit the conveyance, transfer or lease by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. These transactions, if a transaction other than a conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of our subsidiaries, are permitted if:

 

    the resulting or acquiring entity, if other than us, is organized and existing under the laws of a domestic jurisdiction and assumes all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the applicable indenture, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the applicable indenture; and

 

    immediately after the transaction, and giving effect to the transaction, no covenant breach (as defined below) under the senior indenture or event of default under the applicable indenture exists. (Section 801)

If we consolidate or merge with or into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets in accordance with the requirements of the indentures, the resulting or acquiring entity will be substituted for us in the indentures with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indentures. As a result, such successor entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indentures, in our name and, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all of our properties, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indentures and under the debt securities. (Section 802) Each of the indentures permits us to convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries without any restriction and, in that event, those subsidiaries would not be required under either indenture to assume our liabilities and obligations under the indentures and the debt securities.

Modification and Waiver

Under each of the indentures, certain of our rights and obligations and certain of the rights of holders of the debt securities may be modified or amended with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by the modification or amendment, acting as one class. However, the following modifications and amendments will not be effective against any holder without its consent:

 

    a change in the stated maturity date of any payment of principal or interest;

 

    a reduction in payments due on the debt securities;

 

    a change in the place of payment or currency in which any payment on the debt securities is payable;

 

    a limitation of a holder’s right to sue us for the enforcement of payments due on the debt securities;

 

    a reduction in the percentage of outstanding debt securities required to consent to a modification or amendment of the applicable indenture or required to consent to a waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults under the applicable indenture;

 

    a reduction in the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting;

 

    a limitation of a holder’s right, if any, to repayment of debt securities at the holder’s option;

 

    in the case of subordinated debt securities convertible into common stock, a limitation of any right to convert the subordinated debt securities; and

 

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    a modification of any of the foregoing requirements contained in the applicable indenture. (Section 902)

Under each of the indentures, the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of debt securities affected by a particular covenant or condition, acting as one class, may, on behalf of all holders of such series of debt securities, waive compliance by us with any covenant or condition contained in the applicable indenture unless we specify that such covenant or condition cannot be so waived at the time we establish the series. The senior indenture provides that compliance with the covenant relating to Principal Subsidiary Banks described above under “—Covenants Contained in Indentures” can be waived in this manner. (Section 1008 of the senior indenture, Section 1005 of the subordinated indenture)

In addition, under each of the indentures, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series of debt securities may, on behalf of all holders of that series, waive any past default under the applicable indenture, except:

 

    a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of that series; or

 

    a default under any provision of the applicable indenture which itself cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders of each outstanding debt security of that series. (Section 513)

Events of Default and Covenant Breaches

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “ event of default ,” when used in the senior indenture with respect to any series of senior debt securities, means any of the following:

 

  (1) failure to pay interest on any senior debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due;

 

  (2) failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any senior debt security of that series for 30 days after the payment is due;

 

  (3) the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging Wells Fargo a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking receivership, insolvency or liquidation of or in respect of Wells Fargo under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of Wells Fargo, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

 

  (4) the commencement by Wells Fargo of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, the appointment of a receiver for Wells Fargo under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo to such appointment, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation or similar law following Wells Fargo’s consent to such decree or order; or

 

  (5) any other event of default that may be specified for the senior debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 501 of the senior indenture)

 

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If an event of default for any series of senior debt securities occurs and continues, the senior trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the senior debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for a particular offering of senior debt securities, the holders of our senior debt securities will not have the right to accelerate the payment of principal of the senior debt securities as a result of a covenant breach or our failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the senior debt securities or the senior indenture other than the obligations to pay principal and interest on the senior debt securities. (Sections 502, 513)

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an “ event of default ,” when used in the subordinated indenture with respect to any series of subordinated debt securities, means any of the following:

 

  (1) the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of Wells Fargo in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or (B) a decree or order appointing a receiver for Wells Fargo, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

  (2) the commencement by Wells Fargo of a voluntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law following Wells Fargo’s consent to such a decree or order, or the appointment of a receiver for Wells Fargo under any applicable Federal bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo; or

 

  (3) any other event of default that may be specified for the subordinated debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 501 of the subordinated indenture)

If an event of default for any series of subordinated debt securities occurs and continues, the subordinated trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of all the subordinated debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If such a declaration occurs, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series can, subject to conditions, rescind the declaration. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for a particular offering of subordinated debt securities, the holders of our subordinated debt securities will not have the right to accelerate the payment of principal of the subordinated debt securities as a result of our failure to pay principal or interest on the subordinated debt securities or to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the subordinated debt securities or the subordinated indenture. (Sections 502, 513)

The holders of subordinated debt securities have more limited acceleration rights than holders of senior debt securities. As discussed in the preceding paragraph, holders of our subordinated debt securities may accelerate the maturity of subordinated debt securities only upon certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency.

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities which are original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions that relate to the acceleration of maturity of a portion of the principal amount of the series when an event of default occurs and continues.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, a “ covenant breach ,” when used in the senior indenture with respect to any series of senior debt securities, means any of the following:

 

  (1) failure to perform any of the covenants regarding capital stock of Principal Subsidiary Banks described above under “—Covenants Contained in Indentures”;

 

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  (2) failure to perform any other covenant in the senior indenture that applies to senior debt securities of that series for 90 days after Wells Fargo has received written notice of the failure to perform in the manner specified in the senior indenture; or

 

  (3) any other covenant breach that may be specified for the senior debt securities of that series when that series is created. (Section 101 of the senior indenture)

A covenant breach shall not be an event of default, and neither the senior trustee nor any holder of senior debt securities will have any acceleration rights if a covenant breach occurs or continues.

The subordinated indenture does not contain the provision described in the preceding paragraph.

Each of the indentures requires us to file an officers’ certificate with the applicable trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the certifying officer, whether or not any defaults exist under the terms of the applicable indenture. (Section 1007 of the senior indenture, Section 1004 of the subordinated indenture). The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any sinking fund installment, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. For purposes of this paragraph, “ default ” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a covenant breach under the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities of a series or an event of default under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series. (Section 602)

Other than its duties in the case of a covenant breach (in the case of senior debt securities) or event of default, a trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer that trustee indemnification. (Sections 601, 603) If indemnification is provided, then, subject to other rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, with respect to the debt securities of that series, direct 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. (Sections 512, 603)

The holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to begin any proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy only if:

 

    the holder has previously given the trustee written notice of a continuing covenant breach (in the case of senior debt securities) or event of default with respect to that series;

 

    the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request of, and offered indemnification to, the trustee to begin such proceeding with respect to such covenant breach (in the case of senior debt securities) or event of default;

 

    the trustee has not started such proceeding within 60 days after receiving the request; and

 

    the trustee has not received directions inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series during those 60 days. (Section 507)

However, the holder of any senior debt security will have an absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the senior debt security when due and to institute suit to enforce this payment, and the holder of any subordinated debt security will have, subject to the subordination provisions discussed below

 

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under “—Subordination,” the absolute right to receive payment of principal of and any premium and interest on the subordinated debt security when due in accordance with the subordinated indenture and to institute suit to enforce the payment. (Section 508)

Defeasance

Defeasance and Discharge. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the defeasance and discharge provisions of the applicable indenture, and we will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of that series if:

 

    we deposit with the applicable trustee, in trust, sufficient money or, if the debt securities of that series are denominated and payable in U.S. dollars only, Eligible Instruments, to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the dates the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities;

 

    we deliver to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel that states that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if no deposit had been made; and

 

    if the debt securities of that series are listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, the debt securities will not be delisted as a result of the deposit. (Section 403)

When we use the term “ Eligible Instruments ” in this section, we mean monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest, including:

 

    direct obligations of the United States backed by the full faith and credit of the United States; or

 

    any obligation of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States if the timely payment of the obligation is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States. (Section 101)

In the event that we deposit money and/or Eligible Instruments in trust and discharge our obligations under a series of debt securities as described above, then:

 

    the applicable indenture, including, in the case of subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions contained in the subordinated indenture, will no longer apply to the debt securities of that series; however, certain obligations to compensate, reimburse and indemnify the trustee, to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities, to replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and the trust funds and to pay additional amounts, if any, required as a result of U.S. withholding taxes imposed on payments to non-U.S. persons will continue to apply; and

 

    holders of debt securities of that series can only look to the trust fund for payment of principal, any premium and any interest on the debt securities of that series. (Section 403)

 

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Defeasance of Certain Covenants. At the time that we establish a series of debt securities under the applicable indenture, we can provide that the debt securities of that series are subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of that indenture. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities offered thereby will be subject to the covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture, and if we make the deposit and deliver the opinion of counsel described above in this section under the heading “—Defeasance and Discharge” we will not have to comply with the following restrictive covenants contained in the applicable indenture:

 

    Restrictions Upon Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Certain Subsidiary Banks (Section 1005 of the senior indenture) discussed above under “—Covenants Contained in Indentures”; and

 

    any other covenant we designate when we establish the series of debt securities.

In the event of a covenant defeasance, our obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities, other than with respect to the covenants specifically referred to above, will remain in effect. (Section 1501 of the senior indenture, Section 1701 of the subordinated indenture)

If we exercise our option not to comply with the covenants listed above and the debt securities of the series become immediately due and payable because an event of default has occurred, other than as a result of an event of default specifically referred to above, the amount of money and/or Eligible Instruments on deposit with the applicable trustee will be sufficient to pay the principal, any interest, any premium and any other sums, due on the debt securities of that series, such as sinking fund payments, on the date the payments are due under the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities, but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due at the time of acceleration. However, we would remain liable for the balance of the payments. (Section 1501 of the senior indenture, Section 1701 of the subordinated indenture)

Subordination

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate to all of our existing and future Senior Debt, as defined below. Our “ Senior Debt ” includes the senior debt securities and means

 

    any of our indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments,

 

    our obligations under letters of credit,

 

    any of our indebtedness or other obligations with respect to commodity contracts, interest rate and currency swap agreements, cap, floor and collar agreements, currency spot and forward contracts, and other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates, and

 

    any guarantees, endorsements (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business) or other similar contingent obligations in respect of obligations of others of a type described above, whether or not such obligation is classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,

whether outstanding on the date of execution of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred, other than obligations expressly on a parity with or junior to the subordinated debt securities. Our junior subordinated debt securities, and guarantees in respect of trust preferred securities related to those debt securities, rank and will rank junior to the subordinated debt securities.

 

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If certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, we will first pay all Senior Debt, including any interest accrued after the events occur, in full before we make any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, on account of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In such an event, we will pay or deliver directly to the holders of Senior Debt any payment or distribution otherwise payable or deliverable to holders of the subordinated debt securities. We will make the payments to the holders of Senior Debt according to priorities existing among those holders until we have paid all Senior Debt, including accrued interest, in full. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, we may make payments or distributions on the subordinated debt securities so long as:

 

    the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan or reorganization or readjustment; and

 

    payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt securities. (Section 1801 of the subordinated indenture)

If such events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, after we have paid in full all amounts owed on Senior Debt:

 

    the holders of subordinated debt securities,

 

    together with the holders of any of our other obligations ranking equal with those subordinated debt securities,

will be entitled to receive from our remaining assets any principal, premium or interest due at that time on the subordinated debt securities and such other obligations before we make any payment or other distribution on account of any of our capital stock or obligations ranking junior to those subordinated debt securities.

If we violate the subordinated indenture by making a payment or distribution to holders of the subordinated debt securities before we have paid all of the Senior Debt in full, then such holders of the subordinated debt securities will be deemed to have received the payments or distributions in trust for the benefit of, and will have to pay or transfer the payments or distributions to, the holders of the Senior Debt outstanding at the time. The payment or transfer to the holders of the Senior Debt will be made according to the priorities existing among those holders. Notwithstanding the subordination provisions discussed in this paragraph, holders of subordinated debt securities will not be required to pay, or transfer payments or distributions to, holders of Senior Debt so long as:

 

    the payments or distributions consist of securities issued by us or another company in connection with a plan of reorganization or readjustment; and

 

    payment on those securities is subordinate to outstanding Senior Debt and any securities issued with respect to Senior Debt under such plan of reorganization or readjustment at least to the same extent provided in the subordination provisions of those subordinated debt securities. (Section 1801 of the subordinated indenture)

Because of the subordination, if we become insolvent, holders of Senior Debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities having a claim pursuant to those securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. Holders of our subordinated debt securities may also be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that we enter into a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding.

 

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We may modify or amend the subordinated indenture as provided under “—Modification and Waiver” above. However, the modification or amendment may not, without the consent of the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding, modify any of the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities in a manner that would adversely affect the holders of Senior Debt. (Section 902 of the subordinated indenture)

Payment of Additional Amounts

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not pay any additional amounts on the debt securities offered thereby to compensate any beneficial owner for any United States tax withheld from payments on such debt securities.

If we specify that we will pay additional amounts in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, subject to the exemptions and limitations set forth below, pay additional amounts on the debt securities with respect to any beneficial owner of the debt securities that is a Non-U.S. Holder to ensure that each net payment to that Non-U.S. Holder on debt securities that it beneficially owns will not be less, due to the payment of United States withholding tax, than the amount then otherwise due and payable. In no event will we be obligated to pay additional amounts that exceed the amount required to do so. For this purpose, a “ net payment ” on a debt security means a payment by us, or any paying agent, including payment of principal and interest, after deduction for any present or future tax, assessment, or other governmental charge of the United States. If paid, these additional amounts will constitute additional interest on the debt securities. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for the definition of “Non-U.S. Holder.” “ United States ” means the United States of America, including each state of the United States and the District of Columbia, its territories, its possessions, and other areas within its jurisdiction.

Even if we specify that we will pay additional amounts in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be required to pay additional amounts to a Non-U.S. Holder in any of the circumstances described in items (1) through (14) below.

(1) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner:

 

    having a relationship with the United States as a citizen, resident, or otherwise;

 

    having had such a relationship in the past; or

 

    being considered as having had such a relationship.

(2) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner:

 

    being treated as present in or engaged in a trade or business in the United States;

 

    being treated as having been present in or engaged in a trade or business in the United States in the past;

 

    having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States; or

 

    having or having had a qualified business unit which has the U.S. dollar as its functional currency.

 

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(3) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner being or having been a (as each term is defined in the Code):

 

    personal holding company;

 

    foreign personal holding company;

 

    foreign private foundation or other foreign exempt organization;

 

    passive foreign investment company;

 

    controlled foreign corporation; or

 

    corporation which has accumulated taxable income to avoid U.S. federal income tax.

(4) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner owning or having owned, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote.

(5) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld solely by reason of the beneficial owner being a bank that has invested in the debt securities as an extension of credit in the ordinary course of business.

For purposes of items (1) through (5) above, “ beneficial owner ” includes a fiduciary, settlor, partner, member, shareholder, or beneficiary of the holder if the holder is an estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or other entity, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder.

(6) Additional amounts will not be payable to any beneficial owner of a note that is:

 

    a fiduciary;

 

    a partnership;

 

    a limited liability company;

 

    another fiscally transparent entity; or

 

    not the sole beneficial owner of the debt security, or any portion of the debt security.

However, this exception to the obligation to pay additional amounts will apply only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor in relation to the fiduciary, or a beneficial owner, partner, or member of the partnership, limited liability company, or other fiscally transparent entity, would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner, partner, or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment.

(7) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the failure of the beneficial owner or any other person to comply with applicable certification, identification, documentation, or other information reporting requirements.

 

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(8) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is collected or imposed by any method other than by withholding from a payment on the debt securities by us or the paying agent.

(9) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of a change in law, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later.

(10) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge that is imposed or withheld by reason of the presentation by the beneficial owner for payment more than 30 days after the date on which such payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later.

(11) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any:

 

    estate tax;

 

    inheritance tax;

 

    gift tax;

 

    sales tax;

 

    excise tax;

 

    transfer tax;

 

    wealth tax;

 

    personal property tax; or

 

    any similar tax, assessment, withholding, deduction or other governmental charge.

(12) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from a payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities if that payment can be made without such withholding by any other paying agent.

(13) Additional amounts will not be payable if payment on a debt security or in respect to a debt security is reduced as a result of any tax, withholding, assessment or other governmental charge that is required to be paid or withheld from any payment under Code sections 1471 through 1474 (or any amended or successor provisions) and any regulations or official interpretations thereof or any law, agreement or regulations implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto.

(14) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on a debt security is reduced as a result of any withholding, deduction, tax, duty assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for a failure by the holder or beneficial owner of a debt security (or any financial institution through which the holder or beneficial owner holds the debt security or through which payment on the debt security is

 

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made) to comply with any applicable certification, documentation, information or other reporting requirement or agreement concerning accounts maintained by the holder or beneficial owner (or any such financial institution), or concerning ownership of the holder or beneficial owner, or any substantially similar requirement or agreement.

(15) Additional amounts will not be payable if a payment on the debt securities is reduced as a result of any combination of items (1) through (14) above.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement modifies the provisions set forth above under “—Payment of Additional Amounts,” we will not be required to make any payment of any tax, assessment, or other governmental charge imposed by any government, political subdivision, or taxing authority of that government other than as specifically provided herein.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligation to pay additional amounts will allow for the redemption by us of the debt securities. See “—Tax Redemption.”

Tax Redemption

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, at our option, we may redeem the debt securities, in whole, but not in part, in the event we become or will become obligated to pay any additional amounts as described in “—Payment of Additional Amounts.” The redemption price shall be 100% of the principal amount of the redeemed debt securities, plus any accrued but unpaid interest on the redeemed debt securities to the redemption date. Any redemption of the debt securities may be subject to the prior approval of the FRB or other appropriate federal banking agency. Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 15 days before the redemption date to each holder of debt securities to be redeemed.

Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities called for redemption.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC, Clearstream Banking, société anonyme , or “ Clearstream ,” and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, or “ Euroclear ,” and the book-entry system and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued as fully-registered global securities which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers. Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the United States) or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries (collectively the “ U.S. Depositories ”), which in turn will hold these interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.

 

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Debt securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:

 

    DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint a qualified successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice;

 

    at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that DTC has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency;

 

    we in our sole discretion determine that such global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form or elect to terminate the book-entry system through DTC and notify the applicable trustee of our decision; or

 

    an event of default with respect to the debt securities represented by that global security has occurred and is continuing.

A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.

We will make principal and interest payments on all debt securities represented by a global security to the paying agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, we, the applicable trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for:

 

    any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a debt security represented by a global security;

 

    any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or

 

    the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

DTC’s current practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTC’s records, upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters or agents for the debt securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in “street name,” and will be the sole responsibility of those participants, and not of DTC or its nominee, the applicable trustee, any agent of ours, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note.

DTC

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by that global

 

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security for all purposes of the debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of debt securities under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their debt securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owner’s account.

We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the applicable indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York banking law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“ DTCC ”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries.

DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of which, and/or their representatives, own DTCC. Banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and others that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly, also have access to DTC’s book-entry system. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC has indicated that the above information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Clearstream

Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as an international clearing system. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations, or “ Clearstream Participants ,” and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of

 

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certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Clearstream’s U.S. Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.

Euroclear

Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear, or “ Euroclear Participants ,” and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the “ Euroclear Operator ,” under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not Euroclear plc. Euroclear plc establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly. Euroclear is an indirect participant in DTC.

The Euroclear Operator is a Belgian bank. As such it is regulated by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, which we will refer to herein as the “ Terms and Conditions .” The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.

Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the Euroclear Operator.

Euroclear has further advised us that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with such intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.

 

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Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving debt securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of debt securities received through Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

If the debt securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices, and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers, and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

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Conversion and Exchange

If any offered debt securities are convertible into preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock at the option of the holders or exchangeable for preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock at our option, the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities will include the terms and conditions governing any conversions and exchanges.

The Trustees

From time to time, Wells Fargo and certain of its subsidiaries maintain deposit accounts and conduct other banking transactions, including lending transactions, with the senior trustee and the subordinated trustee in the ordinary course of business.

Notices

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any notices required to be given to the holders of the debt securities in global form will be given to the depositary.

Governing Law

The indentures are, and the debt securities will be, governed by and will be construed in accordance with New York law.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock and preference stock that may be offered by this prospectus. Unless we specifically note otherwise, we will generally refer to our preferred stock and preference stock collectively in this prospectus as “ preferred stock .” The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the series of the preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to that series of preferred stock.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the preferred stock in this section. We have also filed our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and the form of certificate of designations of powers, preferences and rights of preferred stock, which we will refer to as the “ certificate of designation ,” as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read our restated certificate of incorporation and the certificate of designations relating to the applicable series of the preferred stock for additional information before you buy any preferred stock.

General

Pursuant to our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our board of directors has the authority, without further stockholder action, to issue a maximum of 24,000,000 shares of preferred stock, consisting of a maximum of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock and a maximum of 4,000,000 shares of preference stock, including shares issued or reserved for issuance. As of September 30, 2016 we had 11,575,603 issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock. As of September 30, 2016, there were no shares of preference stock outstanding. The board of directors has the authority to determine or fix the following terms with respect to shares of any series of preferred stock:

 

    the number of shares and designation or title of the shares;

 

    dividend rights;

 

    whether and upon what terms the shares will be redeemable;

 

    the rights of the holders upon our dissolution or upon the distribution of our assets;

 

    whether and upon what terms the shares will have a purchase, retirement or sinking fund;

 

    whether and upon what terms the shares will be convertible;

 

    the voting rights, if any, which will apply; provided, however, that holders of preference stock will not be entitled to more than 1 vote per share; and

 

    any other preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the series.

If we purchase, redeem or convert shares of preferred stock, we will retire and cancel them and restore them to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock or preference stock, as the case may be. Those shares will not be part of any particular series of preferred stock and may be reissued by us.

As described under “Description of Depositary Shares” below, we may elect to offer depositary shares represented by depositary receipts. If we so elect, each depositary share will represent a fractional interest, to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in a share of preferred stock. If we issue depositary shares representing interests in preferred stock, those shares of preferred stock will be deposited with a depositary.

Under regulations of the FRB, our preferred stock may be deemed a “class of voting securities” for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act because the holders of our preferred stock are entitled to vote for the

 

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election of directors if we do not pay preferred stock dividends. Any holder of more than 25% of a class of our voting securities, or less than 25% if the holder otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, would be regulated as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act. In addition, an existing bank holding company would need to obtain the FRB’s approval before acquiring more than 5% of any class of our voting securities. Separately, under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, any “person,” including an individual or company other than a bank holding company, may need to obtain the FRB’s approval before acquiring 10% or more of any class of our voting securities. All series of our preferred stock are considered a single “class of voting shares” under the Bank Holding Company Act because they generally vote together on all matters as described below under “—Voting Rights.”

The preferred stock will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting and conversion rights described in this section unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock it offers for specific terms, including:

 

    the title, stated value and liquidation preference of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

 

    the initial public offering price at which we will issue the preferred stock;

 

    the dividend rate or rates, or method of calculation of dividends, the dividend periods, the dates on which dividends will be payable and whether the dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which the dividends will start to cumulate;

 

    any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

 

    any conversion provisions;

 

    whether we have elected to offer depositary shares as described under “Description of Depositary Shares” below; and

 

    any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions.

When we issue shares of preferred stock, they will be fully paid and non-assessable. This means you will have paid the full purchase price for your shares of preferred stock and you will not be assessed any additional amount for your stock. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise:

 

    each series of preferred stock will rank equally in all respects with the outstanding shares of preferred stock and each other series of preferred stock offered under this prospectus;

 

    the preferred stock will have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities which we may issue in the future, which means that the holders of shares of preferred stock will have no right, as holders of shares of preferred stock, to buy any portion of those issued securities; and

 

    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will be the transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock and any depositary shares.

Dividends

The holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive cash dividends, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or its duly authorized committee, out of our assets that we can legally use to

 

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pay dividends. The applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock will describe the dividend rates and dates on which dividends will be payable. The rates may be fixed or variable or both. If the dividend rate is variable, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the formula used to determine the dividend rate for each dividend period. We will pay dividends to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on the record dates fixed by our board of directors or its duly authorized committee.

We are incorporated in Delaware and are governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law, or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared and for the preceding fiscal year. However, under Delaware law, we cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after we pay the dividend, our capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of our assets.

The applicable prospectus supplement will also state whether the dividends on any series of the preferred stock are cumulative or non-cumulative. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any non-cumulative series of preferred stock, then the holders of that series will not be entitled to receive a dividend for that dividend period and we will not be obligated to pay the dividend for that dividend period even if our board declares a dividend on that series payable in the future.

Our board will not declare and pay a dividend on any of our stock ranking, as to dividends, equal with or junior to the preferred stock unless full dividends on the preferred stock have been declared and paid, or declared and sufficient money is set aside for payment. Until full dividends are paid, or declared and payment is set aside, on all preferred stock ranking equal as to dividends, then:

 

    we will declare any dividends pro rata among the shares of preferred stock of each series offered under this prospectus and any other series of preferred stock ranking equal to such series of preferred stock offered under this prospectus as to dividends, which means that the dividends we declare per share on each series of such preferred stock will bear the same relationship to each other that the full accrued dividends per share on each such series of the preferred stock bear to each other;

 

    other than the above-described pro rata dividends, we will not declare or pay any dividends or declare or make any distributions upon any security ranking junior to or equal with the preferred stock offered under this prospectus as to dividends or upon liquidation, except dividends or distributions paid for with securities ranking junior to the preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation; and

 

    we will not redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, or set aside money for a sinking fund for, any securities ranking junior to or equal with the preferred stock offered under this prospectus as to dividends or upon liquidation, except by conversion into or exchange for stock junior to the preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation.

We will not owe any interest, or any money in lieu of interest, on any dividend payment(s) on any series of the preferred stock which may be past due.

Redemption

Subject to receipt of prior approval by the FRB, if required, we may redeem all or part of a series of the preferred stock and that series may be subject to mandatory redemption under a sinking fund or otherwise, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Redeemed shares of preferred stock will become authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock or preference stock, as the case may be, that we may issue in the future.

 

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If a series of the preferred stock is subject to mandatory redemption, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify the number of shares that we will redeem each year and the redemption price. If shares of preferred stock are redeemed, we will pay all accrued and unpaid dividends on those shares to, but excluding, the redemption date. The prospectus supplement will also specify whether the redemption price will be paid in cash or other property. If we are only permitted to pay the redemption price for a series of preferred stock from the proceeds of a capital stock issuance, and the proceeds from the issuance are insufficient or no such issuance has occurred, then the terms of that series may provide that the preferred stock will automatically and mandatorily be converted into that capital stock.

If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of any series of the preferred stock are to be redeemed, our board of directors will determine the number of shares to be redeemed. We will redeem the shares pro rata from the holders of record in proportion to the number of shares held by them, with adjustments to avoid redemption of fractional shares.

Even though the terms of a series of preferred stock may permit redemption of all or a part of the preferred stock, if any dividends, including accumulated dividends, on that series are past due:

 

    we will not redeem any preferred stock of that series unless we simultaneously redeem all outstanding preferred stock of that series; and

 

    we will not purchase or otherwise acquire any preferred stock of that series.

The prohibition discussed in the prior sentence will not prohibit us from purchasing or acquiring preferred stock of that series under a purchase or exchange offer if we make the offer on the same terms to all holders of that series.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, we will give notice of a redemption by mailing a notice to each record holder of the shares to be redeemed, between 30 to 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, unless we issue depositary shares representing interests in shares of preferred stock, in which case we will send a notice to the depositary between 40 to 70 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. We will mail the notices to the holders’ addresses as they appear on our stock records. Each notice will state:

 

    the redemption date;

 

    the number of shares and the series of the preferred stock to be redeemed;

 

    the redemption price;

 

    the place or places where holders can surrender the certificates for the preferred stock for payment of the redemption price;

 

    that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date; and

 

    the date when the holders’ conversion rights, if any, will terminate.

If we redeem fewer than all shares of any series of the preferred stock held by any holder, we will also specify the number of shares to be redeemed from the holder in the notice.

If we have given notice of the redemption and have provided the funds for the payment of the redemption price, then beginning on the redemption date:

 

    the dividends on the preferred stock called for redemption will no longer accrue;

 

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    those shares will no longer be considered outstanding; and

 

    the holders will no longer have any rights as stockholders except to receive the redemption price.

When the holder properly surrenders the redeemed shares, the redemption price will be paid out of the funds provided by us. If we redeem fewer than all of the shares represented by any certificate, we will issue a new certificate representing the unredeemed shares without cost to the holder.

If a redemption described above is deemed to be a “tender offer” within the meaning of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, we will comply with all applicable provisions of the Exchange Act.

Conversion or Exchange

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of convertible preferred stock will describe the terms on which shares of that series are convertible into shares of common stock or a different series of preferred stock or exchangeable for debt securities.

Rights Upon Liquidation

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, if we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, the holders of shares of each series of the preferred stock offered under this prospectus and any preferred stock ranking equal to the preferred stock offered under this prospectus will be entitled to receive:

 

    liquidation distributions in the amount stated in the applicable prospectus supplement; and

 

    all accrued and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

We will pay these amounts to the holders of shares of each series of the preferred stock, and all amounts owing on any preferred stock ranking equally with such series of preferred stock as to distributions upon liquidation, out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders before any distribution is made to holders of any securities ranking junior to the series of preferred stock upon liquidation. Shares of our preferred stock may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding under the “orderly liquidation authority” of Dodd-Frank Act.

The sale of all or substantially all of our property and assets, our merger into or consolidation with any other corporation or the merger of any other corporation into us will not be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our business.

We will make pro rata distributions to the holders of a series of preferred stock and any other shares of our stock ranking equal to that series of preferred stock as to distributions upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our business if

 

    we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, and

 

    we do not have enough assets available for distribution to the holders of such series of preferred stock and any other shares of our stock ranking equal with such series as to any such distribution to pay all amounts to which the holders are entitled.

This means the distributions we pay to the holders of all shares ranking equal as to distributions upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our business will bear the same relationship to each other that the full distributable amounts for which those holders are respectively entitled upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of our business bear to each other.

 

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After we pay the full amount of the liquidation distribution to which the holders of a series of the preferred stock are entitled, those holders will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

Voting Rights

Except as described in this section or in the applicable prospectus supplement, or except as expressly required by applicable law, the holders of the preferred stock will not be entitled to vote. If the holders of a series of preferred stock are entitled to vote and the applicable prospectus supplement does not state otherwise, then each share of preferred stock will have one vote; provided, however, that under no circumstances will the holders of preference stock have more than one vote per share. As more fully described under “Description of Depositary Shares” below, if we issue depositary shares representing fractional interests in a share of preferred stock, the holders of each depositary share will be entitled to a fraction of a vote.

For any series of preferred stock having one vote per share, the voting power of the series, on matters on which holders of that series and holders of any other series of preferred stock are entitled to vote as a single class, will solely depend on the total number of shares in that series and not the aggregate liquidation preference or initial offering price.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, if we have not declared and paid dividends on any series of preferred stock offered under this prospectus for more than six quarterly periods or their equivalent, the holders of that series, together with the holders of outstanding shares of all other series of preferred stock ranking equally to that series as to distribution upon liquidation and having similar voting rights which are then exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors at the next annual meeting of our stockholders. If the holders of a series of preferred stock are entitled to elect two additional directors, then each share of preferred stock will have the number of votes specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. In such case, the size of our board of directors will increase by two directors. After we pay the full amount of dividends to which the holders of the series of preferred stock are entitled, those holders will no longer have a vote for the election of two additional directors.

Unless we receive the consent of the holders of an outstanding series of preferred stock and the outstanding shares of all other series of preferred stock which

 

    rank equal with that series either as to dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, and

 

    have voting rights that are exercisable and that are similar to those of that series, we will not:

 

    authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of stock ranking prior to that outstanding preferred stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business; or

 

    amend, alter or repeal, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, the provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or of the resolutions contained in a certificate of designation creating that series of the preferred stock in a way that materially and adversely affects any right, preference, privilege or voting power of that outstanding preferred stock.

This consent must be given by the holders of at least 66  2 3 % of all outstanding preferred stock described in the preceding sentence, voting together as a single class. However, we will not be required to obtain this consent with respect to any amendment, alteration or repeal affecting the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of preferred stock of the type described above, if we only:

 

    increase the amount of the authorized preferred stock;

 

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    create and issue another series of preferred stock; or

 

    increase the amount of authorized shares of any series of preferred stock;

so long as that preferred stock in each case ranks equal with or junior to the shares of preferred stock offered under this prospectus with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business.

Outstanding Preferred Stock

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock offered by this prospectus will rank equally in all respects with our outstanding preferred stock. Our common stock, including the common stock that may be issued upon conversion of preferred stock or in exchange for, or upon conversion of, debt securities or upon exercise of securities warrants, will be subject to any prior rights of the preferred stock then outstanding. Therefore, the rights of the outstanding preferred stock described below and any preferred stock that may be issued after the date hereof, may limit the rights of the holders of the common stock. At September 30, 2016, we had outstanding:

 

    17,714 shares of 2008 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2008 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    90,775 shares of 2010 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2010 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    149,301 shares of 2011 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2011 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    144,072 shares of 2012 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2012 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    222,558 shares of 2013 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2013 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    255,413 shares of 2014 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2014 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    200,820 shares of 2015 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2015 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    401,419 shares of 2016 ESOP cumulative convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ 2016 ESOP preferred stock ”;

 

    96,546 shares of our Dividend Equalization Preferred Shares, which we refer to as our “ DEP Shares ”;

 

    25,010 shares of our Class A Preferred Stock, Series I, which we refer to as our “ Series I preferred stock ”;

 

    2,150,375 shares of our 8.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series J, which we refer to as our “ Series J preferred stock ” (as represented by 86,015,000 shares of our Series J depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series J depositary shares ”);

 

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    3,352,000 shares of our Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series K, which we refer to as our “ Series K preferred stock ”;

 

    3,968,000 shares of our 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Class A Preferred Stock, Series L, which we refer to as our “ Series L preferred stock ”;

 

    30,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series N, which we refer to as our “ Series N preferred stock ” (as represented by 30,000,000 shares of our Series N depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series N depositary shares ”);

 

    26,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series O, which we refer to as our “ Series O preferred stock ” (as represented by 26,000,000 shares of our Series O depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series O depositary shares ”);

 

    25,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series P, which we refer to as our “ Series P preferred stock ” (as represented by 25,000,000 shares of our Series P depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series P depositary shares ”);

 

    69,000 shares of our 5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series Q, which we refer to as our “ Series Q preferred stock ” (as represented by 69,000,000 shares of our Series Q depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series Q depositary shares ”);

 

    33,600 shares of our 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series R, which we refer to as our “ Series R preferred stock ” (as represented by 33,600,000 shares of our Series R depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series R depositary shares ”);

 

    80,000 shares of our 5.90% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series S, which we refer to as our “ Series S preferred stock ” (as represented by 2,000,000 shares of our Series S depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series S depositary shares ”);

 

    32,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series T, which we refer to as our “ Series T preferred stock ” (as represented by 32,000,000 shares of our Series T depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series T depositary shares ”);

 

    80,000 shares of our 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series U, which we refer to as our “ Series U preferred stock ” (as represented by 2,000,000 shares of our Series U depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series U depositary shares ”);

 

    40,000 shares of our on-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V, which we refer to as our “ Series V preferred stock ” (as represented by 40,000,000 shares of our Series V depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series V depositary shares ”);

 

    40,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series W, which we refer to as our “ Series W preferred stock ” (as represented by 40,000,000 shares of our Series W depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series W depositary shares ”); and

 

    46,000 shares of our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series X, which we refer to as our “ Series X preferred stock ” (as represented by 46,000,000 shares of our Series X depositary shares, which we refer to as our “ Series X depositary shares ”).

 

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2008 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2008 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2008 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $105.00, $110.00 or $115.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2008 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2008 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Wells Fargo & Company 401(k) Plan (the “ Plan ”). The 2008 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2008 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2008 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2008 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2008 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2008 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2008 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2008 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2008 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2008 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2008 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2008 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2008 ESOP preferred stock.

2010 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2010 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2010 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $95.00, $100.00 or $105.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2010 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2010 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2010 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2010 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2010 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

 

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The 2010 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2010 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2010 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2010 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2010 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2010 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2010 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2010 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2010 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2010 ESOP preferred stock.

2011 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2011 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2011 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $90.00, $95.00 or $100.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2011 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2011 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2011 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2011 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2011 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2011 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2011 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2011 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2011 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2011 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2011 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

 

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In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2011 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2011 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2011 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2011 ESOP preferred stock.

2012 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2012 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2012 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $100.00, $105.00 or $110.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2012 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2012 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2012 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2012 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2012 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2012 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2012 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2012 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2012 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2012 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2012 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2012 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2012 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2012 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2012 ESOP preferred stock.

2013 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2013 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2013 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $85.00, $90.00 or $95.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2013

 

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ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2013 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2013 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2013 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2013 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2013 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2013 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2013 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2013 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2013 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2013 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2013 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2013 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2013 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2013 ESOP preferred stock.

2014 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2014 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2014 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $87.00, $92.00 or $97.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2014 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2014 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2014 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2014 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2014 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2014 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2014 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2014 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2014 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

 

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In addition, a holder of 2014 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2014 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2014 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2014 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2014 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2014 ESOP preferred stock.

2015 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2015 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2015 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $89.00, $94.00 or $99.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2015 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2015 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2015 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2015 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2015 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2015 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2015 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2015 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2015 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2015 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2015 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2015 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2015 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2015 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2015 ESOP preferred stock.

 

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2016 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2016 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2016 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $93.00, $98.00 or $103.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2016 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2016 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2016 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2016 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2016 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

The 2016 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2016 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2016 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2016 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2016 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2016 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2016 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2016 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2016 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2016 ESOP preferred stock.

2017 ESOP Preferred Stock . The 2017 ESOP preferred stock has a stated value of $1,000.00 per share. The 2017 ESOP preferred stock provides for cumulative quarterly dividends at the annual rate of $70.00, $75.00 or $80.00 based on the Current Market Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2017 ESOP preferred stock, of one share of common stock as of a fixed trading date. All outstanding shares of 2017 ESOP preferred stock are held of record by a trustee acting on behalf of the Plan. The 2017 ESOP preferred stock is subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at our option, at a price equal to the higher of:

 

    $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption; and

 

    the Fair Market Value per share of 2017 ESOP preferred stock, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2017 ESOP preferred stock, on the date fixed for redemption.

 

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The 2017 ESOP preferred stock is mandatorily convertible, without any further action on our part or on the part of the holder, into common stock at the applicable Conversion Price, as that term is used in the certificate of designations for the 2017 ESOP preferred stock, when:

 

    the 2017 ESOP preferred stock is released from the unallocated reserve of the Plan in accordance with the terms of the Plan; or

 

    when record ownership of the shares of 2017 ESOP preferred stock is transferred to any person other than a successor trustee under the Plan.

In addition, a holder of 2017 ESOP preferred stock is entitled, at any time before the date fixed for redemption, to convert shares of 2017 ESOP preferred stock held by that holder into shares of common stock at the then-applicable Conversion Price.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, the holders of 2017 ESOP preferred stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of common stock, $1,000.00 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends.

Except as required by law, the holders of 2017 ESOP preferred stock are not entitled to vote, except under the limited circumstances described above under “—Voting Rights”. The 2017 ESOP preferred stock does not have preemptive rights and is not subject to any sinking fund and we are not otherwise obligated to repurchase or redeem the 2017 ESOP preferred stock.

Dividend Equalization Preferred (“ DEP ”) Shares . With regard to distributions upon liquidation or dissolution, our DEP Shares rank junior to any other class or series of our preferred stock issued in exchange for preferred stock established by the Wachovia Corporation (“ Wachovia ”) board of directors after September 1, 2001 and each class or series of preferred stock established by our board of directors following the issuance of the DEP Shares, and rank senior to the common stock for the $10.00 liquidation preference described below.

Holders of our DEP Shares are not entitled to receive any dividends, and the DEP Shares are not convertible or exchangeable. The DEP Shares are redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option after December 31, 2021, for an amount equal to $10.00 per DEP Share. We must provide no less than 30 and no more than 60 days’ notice prior to any date specified for redemption of the DEP Shares. If we redeem less than all of the outstanding DEP Shares, then we must redeem all DEP Shares held by holders of fewer than one-tenth of a share, or by holders that would hold fewer than one-tenth of a share following the redemption.

In the event of liquidation, holders of our DEP Shares are entitled to receive, before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock or any other junior stock, but after any distribution to any other class or series of our preferred stock issued in exchange for preferred stock established by the Wachovia board of directors after September 1, 2001, an amount equal to $10.00 per DEP Share. The holders of DEP Shares have no other right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Each one one-thousandth of a DEP Share has a corresponding liquidation preference of $0.01.

Holders our DEP Shares do not have voting rights, except those required by applicable law or the rules of a securities exchange on which the DEP Shares may be listed.

Series G Preferred Stock. Our Class A Preferred Stock, Series G, which we refer to as our “ Series G preferred stock ,” will be issuable in exchange for Series A Preferred Securities issued by Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp., an indirect subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, only at the direction of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “ OCC ”) under the following specified circumstances:

 

    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. becomes undercapitalized under the OCC’s “prompt corrective action” regulations, or

 

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    Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is placed into conservatorship or receivership, or

 

    the OCC, in its sole discretion, anticipates that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. may become undercapitalized in the near term, or takes supervisory action that limits the payment of dividends by Wachovia Preferred Funding Corp. and in connection therewith directs an exchange.

The Series G preferred stock, if and when issued, will be represented by depositary shares issued by us, each representing one six-hundredth of a share of our Series G preferred stock. If and when issued, our depositary shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable. The holders of the Series G preferred stock will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of our capital stock or any of our other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock. The Series G preferred stock will be perpetual and will not be convertible into shares of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock, and will not be subject to any sinking fund or other obligation for their repurchase or retirement.

The Series G preferred stock would rank senior to our common stock and to any other securities which we may issue in the future that are subordinate to the Series G preferred stock. We may authorize and issue additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on parity with or senior to the Series G preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up, or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Series G preferred stock.

Holders of the Series G preferred stock will be entitled to receive, if, when, and as declared by our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7.25% per annum of the liquidation preference, which will be $15,000.00 per share of the Series G preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will receive one six-hundredth of any such dividend and one six-hundredth of any such liquidation preference. If authorized and declared, dividends on the Series G preferred stock will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year or, if any such day is not a business day, on the next business day without interest, unless the next business day falls in a different calendar year, in which case the dividend will be paid on the preceding business day. We refer to each such quarter of a calendar year as a “ dividend period ”. Dividends in each quarterly period will accrue from the first day of such period. The record date for payment of dividends on the Series G preferred stock and related depositary shares will be the 15th calendar day of the last calendar month of the applicable dividend period. No interest will be paid on any dividend payment of depositary shares representing the Series G preferred stock.

The right of holders of the Series G preferred stock to receive dividends will be non-cumulative. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend on the Series G preferred stock or declares less than a full dividend in respect of any dividend period, the holders of the Series G preferred stock will have no right to receive any dividend or a full dividend, as the case may be, for that dividend period, and we will have no obligation to pay a dividend or to pay full dividends for that dividend period, whether or not dividends are declared and paid for any future dividend period with respect to the Series G preferred stock or our common stock or any other class or series of our preferred stock.

Unless full dividend payments on the Series G preferred stock have been declared and paid for the immediately preceding dividend period: no cash dividend or distribution may be paid by us on stock junior to the Series G preferred stock, other than distributions or dividends payable in such junior stock, no such junior stock may be redeemed by us for any consideration, and no monies shall be paid by us or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of such junior stock.

Except for certain limited circumstances described below, the Series G preferred stock will not be redeemable prior to December 31, 2022. On or after such date, we may redeem the Series G preferred stock for cash, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at its option at the redemption price of $15,000.00 per share, plus authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the current dividend period, if any, to the date of redemption. Prior to December 31, 2022, the Series G preferred stock may be redeemed in whole, but not in part,

 

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at the redemption price of $15,000.00 per share, plus authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the current dividend period, if any, to the date of redemption, at our discretion in the event that we receive a letter or opinion of counsel which states that there is a significant risk that the Series G preferred stock will no longer constitute Tier 1 capital for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve as a result of any changes in applicable laws, related regulations, official interpretations or policies, any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations. For redemptions after December 31, 2022, if our board of directors determines that we should redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Series G preferred stock, the securities to be redeemed will be determined by lot, pro rata, or by such other method as our board of directors in its sole discretion determines to be equitable.

Dividends will cease to accrue on the Series G preferred stock called for redemption on and as of the date fixed for redemption and such Series G preferred stock will be deemed to cease to be outstanding, provided, that the redemption price, including any authorized and declared but unpaid dividends for the current dividend period, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, has been duly paid or provision has been made for such payment. Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to any redemption date to each holder of the Series G preferred stock to be redeemed at such holder’s registered address.

In the event we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve, or wind up, the holders of the Series G preferred stock at the time outstanding will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions in the amount of $15,000.00 per share, or $25.00 per depositary share representing a one-six hundredth interest in the Series G preferred stock, plus any authorized, declared, and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series G preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on a parity with the Series G preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and our series of securities ranking senior to or on a parity with the Series G preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and creditors. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of the Series G preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. In the event that, upon any such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidation distributions on all outstanding shares of Series G preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on any other securities of equal ranking, then the holders of the Series G preferred stock and any other securities of equal ranking will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

For such purposes, our consolidation or merger with or into any other entity, the consolidation or merger of any other entity with or into us, or the sale of all or substantially all of our property or business, will not be deemed to constitute our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Holders of our Series G preferred stock will not have any voting rights, except as required by law, and will not be entitled to elect any directors.

Series  G Depositary Shares . Each Series G depositary share issued by us, which we refer to as our “ Series  G depositary shares ,” will represent a one six-hundredth interest in one share of our Series G preferred stock. The Series G depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts. The shares of our Series G preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will, upon issuance, be deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary, under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and all holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued by the depositary thereunder. We do not intend to list or quote the Series G depositary shares or the Series G preferred stock on any national securities exchange or national quotation system. Accordingly, there will be no public trading market for the depositary shares or the Series G preferred stock.

Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of the Series G depositary shares will be entitled, through the depositary, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of a fractional share of the Series G preferred stock.

 

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The depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series G depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts will be administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series G depositary shares may be held either directly or indirectly through a broker or other financial institution. If the Series G depositary shares are held directly, by having such Series G depositary shares registered in such holder’s name on the books of the depositary, such holder will be a depositary receipt holder. If the Series G depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends, dividends paid in Series G depositary shares representing fully paid and non-assessable shares of our Series G preferred stock or other cash distributions received in respect of the Series G preferred stock to the record holders of the Series G depositary shares representing such Series G preferred stock in proportion to the number of such Series G depositary shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of the Series G depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, after consultation with us, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

If the Series G preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are redeemed, the Series G depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such Series G preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series G depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to such Series G preferred stock. If less than all the Series G depositary shares are to be redeemed, the Series G depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata, in our sole discretion.

After the date fixed for redemption (which will be the same date as the redemption date, if any, for the Series G preferred stock), the Series G depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the Series G depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the money payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such Series G depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing such Series G depositary shares.

Series  I Preferred Stock . In February 2006, Wachovia Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust, issued 5.80% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Normal Wachovia Income Trust Securities (the “ WITS ”) which were guaranteed by Wachovia. The WITS included 1/100th interests in stock purchase contracts between the trust and Wachovia under which the trust agreed to purchase, and Wachovia agreed to sell, shares of Wachovia Class A Preferred Stock, Series I. We assumed all obligations of Wachovia with respect to the WITS and, on March 15, 2011, we issued and sold our Class A Preferred Stock Series I, which we refer to as our “ Series I preferred stock ,” to the trust as contemplated by the WITS.

The Series I preferred stock ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are subordinate to the Series I preferred stock. We may authorize and issue additional shares of preferred stock that may rank junior to, on parity with or senior to the Series I preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, winding up, or dissolution without the consent of the holders of the Series I preferred stock.

Dividends on shares of our Series I preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series I preferred stock are entitled to receive, if, when, and as declared by our board of directors out of legally available assets,

 

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non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference, which is $100,000 per share of Series I preferred stock. These dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. Dividends accrue on the Series I preferred stock at a rate per annum equal to the greater of (x) three-month LIBOR for the related dividend period plus 0.93% and (y) 5.56975%. The right of holders of our Series I preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative.

When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series I preferred stock and any other parity stock, dividends upon that stock will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the current dividend period per share on the Series I preferred stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations on such voting parity stock, bear to each other. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

So long as full dividends on all outstanding shares of our Series I preferred stock for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, we, at the option of our board of directors, may redeem the Series I preferred stock in whole or in part on any dividend payment date at any time after March 15, 2011. Any such redemption shall be at the redemption price of $1,000 per share plus dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date, without interest.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series I preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $100,000 per share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series I preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series I preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series I preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law.

Series J Preferred Stock . Our Series J preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ Series  J preferred stock ,” ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are subordinate to the Series J preferred stock.

Dividends on shares of our Series J preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series J preferred stock are entitled to receive, if, when, and as declared by our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference, which is $1,000 per share of Series J preferred stock. These dividends are payable at a rate per annum equal to 8.00%, quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series J preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative.

When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series J preferred stock and any other parity stock, dividends upon that stock will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the current dividend period per share on the Series J preferred stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations on such parity stock, bear to each other. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

So long as full dividends on all outstanding shares of our Series J preferred stock for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, we, at the option of our board of directors, may redeem the Series J preferred stock in whole or in part on any dividend payment date on or after December 15, 2017. Any such redemption shall be at the redemption price of $1,000 per share plus dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date, without interest.

 

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In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series J preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series J preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series J preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series J preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

If we fail to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Series J preferred stock or any other class or series of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of our board of directors will be increased by two directors. The holders of our Series J preferred stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of all outstanding voting parity stock, will have the right to elect two directors, by a plurality of votes cast, in addition to the directors then in office at our next annual meeting of stockholders. It shall be a qualification for election for any such director that the election of such director shall not cause us to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which our securities may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors, and provided further that the board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of voting parity stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). When dividends have been paid in full on the Series J preferred stock and any and all voting parity stock for at least four consecutive dividend periods or their equivalent, then the right of the holders of our Series J preferred stock to elect directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of holders of our Series J preferred stock and voting parity stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders under this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

So long as any shares of our Series J preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % of the shares of our Series J preferred stock at the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of preferred stock ranking equal with the Series J preferred stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to the Series J preferred stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designations creating the Series J preferred stock) or our by-laws so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the holders of the Series J preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series J preferred stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or Wells Fargo’s winding up; or

 

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    the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series J preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of the Series J preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if in each case (i) the Series J preferred stock remains outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Series J preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series J preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series J preferred stock or any class or series of parity stock or junior stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of parity stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such parity stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or junior stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series J preferred stock, and holders of the Series J preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series J preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Series  J Depositary Shares. Each Series J depositary share issued by us represents a 1/40th interest in one share of our Series J preferred stock. The shares of our Series J preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series J depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series J depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series J depositary shares may be held either directly or indirectly through a broker or other financial institution. If the Series J depositary shares are held directly, by having depositary shares registered in such holder’s name on the books of the depositary, the holder is a depositary receipt holder. If the Series J depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the Series J preferred stock to the record holders of Series J depositary shares in proportion to the number of such depositary shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of the Series J depositary shares entitled thereto, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution after consultation with us, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series J depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series J preferred stock.

 

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The amounts distributed to holders of the Series J depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series J preferred stock underlying the Series J depositary shares is redeemed, in whole or in part, a corresponding number of Series J depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series J preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series J depositary share will be equal to 1/40th of the applicable redemption price per share payable in respect of such Series J preferred stock. If less than all the Series J preferred stock is redeemed, the Series J depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as determined by the depositary.

After the date fixed for any redemption (which would be the same date as the redemption date for the Series J preferred stock), the Series J depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the Series J depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the money payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such Series J depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing such Series J depositary shares.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series J preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the Series J depositary shares relating to the Series J preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series J depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series J preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series J preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series J depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will try to vote the amount of the Series J preferred stock represented by the Series J depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series J depositary shares representing the Series J preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series J preferred stock represented by such Series J depositary shares.

Series K Preferred Stock . Our Series K preferred stock, which we refer to as our “ Series K preferred stock ,” ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are subordinate to the Series K preferred stock.

Dividends on our Series K preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of the Series K preferred stock are entitled to receive, if, when, and as declared by our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference, which is equal to $1,000 per share of Series K preferred stock. These dividends will be payable (i) semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15, at a rate per annum equal to 7.98% to but excluding March 15, 2018 and (ii) quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR for the related dividend period plus 3.77%, beginning on June 15, 2018.

When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series K preferred stock and any other parity stock, dividends upon such stock will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the current dividend period per share on the Series K preferred stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations on such voting parity stock, bear to each other. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

So long as full dividends on all outstanding shares our Series K preferred stock for the then-current dividend period have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside, we may, at the option of our board of directors, redeem the Series K preferred stock in whole or in part on any Dividend Payment Date (as such term is defined in the certificate of designations for the Series K preferred stock) on or after March 15, 2018. Any such redemption shall be at the redemption price of $1,000 per share plus dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date, without interest.

 

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In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of the Series K preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series K preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series K preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series K preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and as further described below.

If we fail to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Series K preferred stock or any other class or series of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their equivalent, the authorized number of our board of directors will be increased by two. The holders of the Series K preferred stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of all outstanding voting parity stock, will have the right to elect two directors, by a plurality of votes cast, in addition to the directors then in office at our next annual meeting of stockholders. It shall be a qualification for election for any such director that the election of such director shall not cause us to violate the corporate governance requirement of the New York Stock Exchange (or any other securities exchange or other trading facility on which our securities may then be listed or traded) that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors, and provided further that the board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors (including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of voting parity stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights). When dividends have been paid in full on the Series K preferred stock and any and all voting parity stock for at least four consecutive dividend periods or their equivalent, then the right of the holders of Series K preferred stock to elect directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of holders of our Series K preferred stock and voting parity stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders under this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

So long as any shares of our Series K preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % of the shares of our Series K preferred stock at the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of preferred stock ranking equal with the Series K preferred stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to the Series K preferred stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation creating the Series K preferred stock) or our by-laws that would alter or change the voting powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the holders of our Series K preferred stock so as to affect them adversely;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking prior to the Series K preferred stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

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    the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series K preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of our Series K preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if in each case (i) the Series K preferred stock remains outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Series K preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series K preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series K preferred stock or any class or series of parity stock or junior stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of parity stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such parity stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or junior stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series K preferred stock, and holders of the Series K preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, share exchange, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series K preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Series L Preferred Stock . Our Series L preferred ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are subordinate to the Series L preferred stock.

Dividends on shares of our Series L preferred stock are not cumulative. Holders of the Series L preferred stock are entitled to receive, if, as and when declared by our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the Liquidation Preference, which is $1,000 per share of our Series L preferred stock. These dividends are payable at a rate per annum equal to 7.50%, quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, each a “ Dividend Payment Date ”, from and including the date of issuance. The right of holders of our Series L preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative.

When dividends are not paid in full upon the Series L preferred stock and any parity stock, all dividends upon shares of the Series L preferred stock and such parity stock will be declared on a proportional basis, based upon the ratio of the amount of dividends declared on each series to the amount that if declared would be full dividends (including accrued and unpaid dividends as to any parity stock that bears dividends on a cumulative basis) through the next succeeding applicable dividend payment date.

Our Series L preferred stock is not redeemable and is not subject to any sinking fund or other obligation to redeem, repurchase or retire the Series L preferred stock.

Each share of our Series L preferred stock may be converted at any time, at the option of the holder, into 6.3814 shares of our common stock plus cash in lieu of fractional shares, subject to anti-dilution adjustments (such rate or adjusted rate, the “ conversion rate ”).

On or after March 15, 2013, we may, at our option, at any time or from time to time cause some or all of the Series L preferred stock to be converted into shares of our common stock at the then applicable conversion rate if, for 20 trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days, including the last trading day of such period, the closing price of our common stock exceeds 130% of the then applicable conversion price of the Series L preferred stock. We will provide notice of our decision to exercise our right to cause the mandatory conversion within three trading days of the end of the 30 consecutive trading day period. The applicable conversion price at any given time will be computed by dividing $1,000 by the applicable conversion rate at such time.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, no holder of our Series L preferred stock will be entitled to receive shares of our common stock upon conversion to the extent (but only to the extent) that such receipt would cause such converting holder to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of more than 9.9% of the shares of our common stock outstanding at such time. Any purported delivery of shares of our common stock upon conversion of the Series L preferred stock shall be void and have no effect to the extent, but only to the extent, that such delivery would result in the converting holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of our common stock outstanding at such time. If any delivery of shares of our common stock owed to a holder upon conversion of the Series L preferred stock is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this limitation, our obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and we shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting holder gives notice to us that such delivery would not result in it being the beneficial owner of more than 9.9% of the shares of our common stock outstanding at such time. This limitation on beneficial ownership shall not constrain in any event our ability to exercise our right to cause the Series L preferred stock to convert mandatorily.

The following provisions will apply if, prior to the conversion date, one of the following events occur prior to the conversion date for shares of our Series L preferred stock:

 

    a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect ultimate “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock; or

 

    consummation of any consolidation or merger or similar transaction or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of our subsidiaries, in each case pursuant to which our shares of common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than pursuant to a transaction in which the persons that “beneficially owned” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, voting shares immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, voting shares representing a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding classes of voting shares of the continuing or surviving person immediately after the transaction.

These transactions are referred to as “make-whole acquisitions.” However, a make-whole acquisition will not be deemed to have occurred if at least 90% of the consideration (as determined by our board of directors) received by holders of our common stock in the transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or American depositary receipts in respect of common stock that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or a securities exchange in the European Economic Area or that will be traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or on securities exchanges in the European Economic Area when issued or exchanged in connection with a make-whole acquisition.

The phrase “all or substantially all” of our assets is likely to be interpreted by reference to applicable state law at the relevant time, and will be dependent on the facts and circumstances existing at such time. As a result, there may be a degree of uncertainty in ascertaining whether a sale or transfer is of “all or substantially all” of our assets.

Upon a make-whole acquisition, we will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate in respect of any conversions of the Series L preferred stock that occur during the period (make-whole acquisition conversion period) beginning on the effective date of the make-whole acquisition (effective date) and ending on the date that is 30 days after the effective date, by a number of additional shares of our common stock (make-whole shares) as described below.

 

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We will notify holders, at least 20 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such make-whole acquisition, or within two business days of becoming aware of a make-whole acquisition described in the first bullet of the definition of “make-whole acquisition,” of the anticipated effective date of such transaction. The notice will specify the anticipated effective date of the make-whole acquisition and the date by which each holder’s make-whole acquisition conversion right must be exercised, which shall be 30 days after the effective date of the make-whole acquisition. We will also notify holders on the effective date of such make-whole acquisition, or as soon as practicable thereafter, specifying, among other things, the date that is 30 days after the effective date, the number of make-whole shares and the amount of the cash, securities and other consideration receivable by the holder upon conversion. To exercise the make-whole acquisition conversion right, a holder must deliver to the conversion agent, on or before the close of business on the date specified in the notice, the certificate evidencing such holder’s shares of the Series L preferred stock, if the Series L preferred stock is held in certificated form. If a holder’s interest is a beneficial interest in a global certificate representing our Series L preferred stock, in order to convert a holder must comply with certain conversion procedures and comply with the depositary’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global security. The date that the holder complies with these requirements is referred to as the “make-whole conversion date”. If a holder does not elect to exercise the make-whole acquisition conversion right within the specified period, such holder’s shares of the Series L preferred stock will remain outstanding until otherwise converted but will not be eligible to receive make-whole shares.

The following table sets forth the number of make-whole shares per share of our Series L preferred stock for each stock price and effective date set forth below:

 

    Make-Whole Acquisition Stock Price  

Effective Date

  $120.54     $125.57     $138.12     $150.68     $156.71     $175.79     $203.72     $226.02     $251.13     $301.36     $401.81     $502.26  

April 17, 2008

    1.9153        1.8855        1.5191        1.1110        0.9497        0.6471        0.3962        0.2847        0.2091        0.1354        0.0757        0.0458   

March 15, 2009

    1.9153        1.8775        1.5052        1.0951        0.9437        0.6331        0.3763        0.2588        0.1852        0.1175        0.0697        0.0438   

March 15, 2010

    1.9153        1.8397        1.4913        1.0871        0.9378        0.6073        0.3365        0.2210        0.1533        0.0956        0.0577        0.0358   

March 15, 2011

    1.9153        1.7899        1.4694        1.0731        0.9238        0.5794        0.2887        0.1712        0.1075        0.0657        0.0398        0.0259   

March 15, 2012

    1.9153        1.7561        1.4355        1.0652        0.9139        0.5356        0.2051        0.0896        0.0458        0.0299        0.0199        0.0119   

March 15, 2013

    1.9153        1.6704        1.4275        1.0592        0.9119        0.5097        0.0916        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000   

Thereafter

    1.9153        1.6704        1.4275        1.0592        0.9119        0.5097        0.0916        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000   

The number of make-whole shares will be determined by reference to the table above and is based on the effective date and the price (“ stock price ”) paid per share of our common stock in such transaction. If the holders our of common stock receive only cash (in a single per-share amount, other than with respect to appraisal and similar rights) in the make-whole acquisition, the stock price shall be the cash amount paid per share. For purposes of the preceding sentence as applied to a make-whole acquisition described in the first bullet of the definition of that term, a single price per share shall be deemed to have been paid only if the transaction or transactions that caused the person or group to become direct or indirect ultimate beneficial owners of our common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock was a tender offer for more than 50% of our outstanding common stock. Otherwise, the stock price shall be the average of the closing price per share of our common stock on the 10 trading days up to but not including the effective date.

The stock prices set forth in the first row of the table (the column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the conversion rate of the Series L preferred stock is adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is the conversion rate as so adjusted. Each of the number of make-whole shares in the table will be subject to adjustment in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth below in our description of anti-dilution rate adjustments.

 

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In lieu of receiving the make-whole shares, if the reference price (as defined below) in connection with a make-whole acquisition is less than $120.54 (a fundamental change), a holder may elect to convert each share of our Series L preferred stock during the period beginning on the effective date of the fundamental change and ending on the date that is 30 days after the effective date of the fundamental change at an adjusted conversion price equal to the greater of (1) the reference price and (2) $60.27 (base price). The base price will be adjusted as of any date that the conversion rate of the Series L preferred stock is adjusted. The adjusted base price will equal the base price applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the conversion rate adjustment and the denominator of which is the conversion rate as so adjusted. If the reference price is less than the base price, holders will receive a maximum of 16.5916 shares of our common stock per share of our Series L preferred stock, subject to adjustment, which may result in a holder receiving value that is less than the liquidation preference of the Series L preferred stock. In lieu of issuing our common stock upon conversion in the event of a fundamental change, we may at our option, and if we obtain any necessary regulatory approval, make a cash payment equal to the reference price for each share of our common stock otherwise issuable upon conversion. The “reference price” is the “stock price” as defined above.

To exercise the fundamental change conversion right, a holder must comply with certain conversion procedures on or before the date that is 30 days following the effectiveness of the fundamental change and indicate that it is exercising the fundamental change conversion right. If a holder does not elect to exercise the fundamental change conversion right, such holder will not be eligible to convert such holder’s shares at the base price and such holder’s shares of the Series L preferred stock will remain outstanding until otherwise converted.

We will notify holders, at least 20 days prior to the anticipated effective date of a fundamental change, or within two business days of becoming aware of a make-whole acquisition described in the first bullet of the definition of “make-whole acquisition,” of the anticipated effective date of such transaction. The notice will specify the anticipated effective date of the fundamental change and the date by which each holder’s fundamental change conversion right must be exercised. We will also provide notice to holders on the effective date of a fundamental change, or as soon as practicable thereafter, specifying, among other things, the date that is 30 days after the effective date, the adjusted conversion price following the fundamental change and the amount of the cash, securities and other consideration receivable by the holder upon conversion. To exercise the fundamental change conversion right, a holder must comply with certain conversion procedures on or before the date that is 30 days following the effectiveness of the fundamental change and indicate that it is exercising the fundamental change conversion right. If a holder does not elect to exercise the fundamental change conversion right within such period, such holder will not be eligible to convert such holder’s shares at the base price and such holder’s shares of Series L preferred stock will remain outstanding (subject to the holder electing to convert such holder’s shares).

In the event of:

(1) our consolidation or merger with or into another person in each case pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other of our property or another person;

(2) any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to another person of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case pursuant to which our common stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property;

(3) any reclassification of our common stock into securities, including securities other than our common stock; or

(4) any statutory exchange of our securities with another person (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition)

 

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each of which is referred to as a “ reorganization event ,” each share of our Series L preferred stock outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization event will, without the consent of the holders of the Series L preferred stock, become convertible into the types and amounts of securities, cash and other property receivable in such reorganization event by a holder of the shares of our common stock that was not the counterparty to the reorganization event or an affiliate of such other party (such securities, cash and other property, the “ exchange property ”). In the event that holders of our common stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the consideration that the holders of the Series L preferred stock entitled to receive will be deemed to be the types and amounts of consideration received by the majority of the holders of the shares of our common stock that affirmatively make an election. Holders have the right to convert their shares of our Series L preferred stock in the event of certain acquisitions. In connection with certain reorganization events, holders of the Series L preferred stock may have the right to vote as a class.

The conversion rate will be adjusted, without duplication, if certain events occur:

(1) the issuance of our common stock as a dividend or distribution to all holders of our common stock, or a subdivision or combination of our common stock (other than in connection with a transaction constituting a reorganization event), in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x (OS 1 / OS 0 )

Where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the record date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
OS 0   =      the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date prior to giving effect to such event
OS 1   =      the number of shares of our common stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such event

 

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(2) the issuance to all holders of our common stock of certain rights or warrants (other than rights issued pursuant to a shareholder rights plan or rights or warrants issued in connection with a transaction constituting a reorganization event) entitling them for a period expiring 60 days or less from the date of issuance of such rights or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock (or securities convertible into our common stock) at less than (or having a conversion price per share less than) the current market price of our common stock as of the record date, in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [(OS 0 + X) / (OS 0 + Y)]

Where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the record date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
OS 0   =      the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date
X   =      the total number of shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to such rights or warrants (or upon conversion of such securities)
Y   =      the number of shares equal to quotient of the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights or warrants (or the conversion price for such securities paid upon conversion) divided by the average of the volume-weighted average price of our common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price trading days prior to the Business Day immediately preceding the announcement of the issuance of such rights or warrants

(3) the dividend or other distribution to all holders of our common stock of shares of our capital stock (other than common stock) or evidences of our indebtedness or our assets (excluding any dividend, distribution or issuance covered by clauses (1) or (2) above or (4) below, any dividend or distribution in connection with a transaction constituting a reorganization event or any spin-off to which the provisions set forth below in this clause (3) apply) in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [SP 0 / (SP 0  - FMV)]

where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the record date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
SP 0   =      the current market price as of the record date
FMV   =      the fair market value (as determined by our board of directors) on the record date of the shares of capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets so distributed, applicable to one share of our common stock

 

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However, if the transaction that gives rise to an adjustment pursuant to this clause (3) is one pursuant to which the payment of a dividend or other distribution on our common stock consists of shares of capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, one of our subsidiaries or one of our other business units (i.e., a spin-off) that are, or, when issued, will be, traded or quoted on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national or regional securities exchange or market, then the conversion rate will instead be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [(FMV 0 + MP 0 ) / MP 0 ]

where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the record date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
FMV 0   =      the average of the volume-weighted average price of the capital stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of our common stock applicable to one share of our common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price trading days commencing on and including the third volume-weighted average price trading day after the date on which “ex-distribution trading” commences for such dividend or distribution on the New York Stock Exchange or such other national or regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market or if not so traded or quoted, the fair market value of the capital stock or similar equity interests distributed to holders of our common stock applicable to one share of our common stock as determined by our board of directors
MP 0   =      the average of the volume-weighted average price of our common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price trading days commencing on and including the third volume-weighted average price trading day after the date on which “ex-distribution trading” commences for such dividend or distribution on the New York Stock Exchange or such other national or regional exchange or association or over-the-counter market on which our common stock is then traded or quoted

(4) We make a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of our common stock, excluding (a) any regular cash dividend on our common stock to the extent that the aggregate regular cash dividend per share of our common stock does not exceed $0.375 / 0.1991 in any fiscal quarter (the dividend threshold amount) and (b) any consideration payable in connection with a tender or exchange offer made by us or any of its subsidiaries referred to in clause (5) below, in which event, the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [SP 0 / (SP 0  - C)]

where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the record date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the record date
SP 0   =      the current market price as of the record date
C   =      the amount in cash per share equal to (1) in the case of a regular quarterly dividend, the amount we distribute to holders or pay, less the dividend threshold amount or (2) in any other case, the amount we distributes to holders or pay

 

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The dividend threshold amount is subject to adjustment on an inversely proportional basis whenever the conversion rate is adjusted, provided that no adjustment will be made to the dividend threshold amount for any adjustment made to the conversion rate pursuant to this clause (4).

(5) We or one or more of our subsidiaries make purchases of our common stock pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer by us or one of our subsidiaries for our common stock to the extent that the cash and value (as determined by our board of directors) of any other consideration included in the payment per share of our common stock validly tendered or exchanged exceeds the volume-weighted average price per share of our common stock on the volume-weighted average price trading day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (expiration date), in which event the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

CR 1 = CR 0 x [(FMV + (SP 1 x OS 1 ) / (SP 1 x OS 0 )]

where,

 

CR 0   =      the conversion rate in effect at the close of business on the expiration date
CR 1   =      the conversion rate in effect immediately after the expiration date
FMV   =      the fair market value (as determined by our board of directors), on the expiration date, of the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration paid or payable for shares validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the expiration date
OS 1   =      the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of the last time tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (expiration time) less any purchased shares
OS 0   =      the number of shares of our common stock outstanding at the expiration time, including any purchased shares
SP 1   =      the average of the volume-weighted average price of common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price trading days commencing with the volume-weighted average price trading day immediately after the expiration date

Record date ” means, for purpose of a conversion rate adjustment, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of our common stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which our common stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of our common stock entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by our board of directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

Current market price ” of our common stock on any day, means the average of the volume-weighted average price of our common stock over each of the ten consecutive volume-weighted average price trading days ending on the earlier of the day in question and the day before the ex-date or other specified date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation, appropriately adjusted to take into account the occurrence during such period of any event described in clauses (1) through (5) above. For purposes of the foregoing, “ex-date” means the first date on which the shares of our common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive an issuance or distribution.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up and liquidation, the holders of the Series L preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus any authorized, declared and unpaid dividends for the then-current dividend

 

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period to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series L preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of securities ranking senior to or on parity with the Series L preferred stock upon liquidation and the rights of our creditors. If the amounts available for distribution upon our dissolution, winding up and liquidation are not sufficient to satisfy the full liquidation rights of all the outstanding Series L preferred stock and all stock ranking equal to the Series L preferred stock, then the holders of each series of our Series L preferred stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amount to which they are entitled. After the full amount of the liquidation preference is paid, the holders of our Series L preferred stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of our assets.

Holders of our Series L preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the special voting rights provided for below.

If we fail to pay, or declare and set aside for payment, full dividends on the Series L preferred stock or any other class or series of voting parity stock for six dividend periods or their equivalent (whether or not consecutive), the authorized number of directors serving on our board of directors will be increased by two. Subject to satisfaction of certain qualifications for persons serving as directors pursuant to regulations of any securities exchange on which our securities are then listed or traded, the holders of our Series L preferred stock, voting together as a single and separate class with the holders of all outstanding voting parity stock on which dividends likewise have not been paid, will have the right to elect two directors in addition to the directors then in office at our next annual meeting of shareholders. When dividends have been paid in full on the Series L preferred stock and any and all voting parity stock for at least four consecutive dividend periods or their equivalent, then the right of the holders of our Series L preferred stock to elect directors shall cease (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future nonpayment of dividends), and, if and when all rights of holders of our Series L preferred stock and voting parity stock to elect directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the directors elected by preferred stock holders under this provision shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the board of directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

So long as any shares of our Series L preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66  2 3 % of the shares of our Series L preferred stock at the time outstanding, voting as a class with all other series of preferred stock ranking equally with the Series L preferred stock and entitled to vote thereon, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary for effecting or validating any of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificates of designations creating the Series L preferred stock) or our by-laws that would alter or change the voting powers, preferences or special rights of the holders of the Series L preferred stock so as to affect them adversely;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, to authorize or create, or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking prior to the Series L preferred stock in the payment of dividends or in the distribution of assets on our liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

   

the consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Series L preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another entity, except holders of our Series L preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision or otherwise under Delaware law if, in each case, (i) the Series L preferred stock remains outstanding or, in the case of any such

 

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merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such Series L preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, has such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series L preferred stock, taken as a whole;

except that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series L preferred stock or any class or series of parity stock or junior stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of parity stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such parity stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or junior stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the holders of the Series L preferred stock, and, notwithstanding any provision of Delaware law, holders of the Series L preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

Series  N Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series N, which refer to as our “ Series  N preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series N preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series N preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series N preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series N preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series N preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series N preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.20%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series N preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series N preferred stock was issued on August 16, 2012, and the first dividend payment date was December 15, 2012.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series N preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series N preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series N preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series N preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series N preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series N preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after September 15, 2017. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series N preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series N preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to September 15, 2017. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

 

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In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series N preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series N preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series N preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series N preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series N preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series N preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series N preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series N preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series N preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series N preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series N preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series N preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series N preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series N preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 / 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series N preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series N preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series N preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series N preferred stock;

 

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    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series N preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series N preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series N preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series N preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series N preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series N preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series N preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series N preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series N preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series N preferred stock, and holders of the Series N preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series N preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series N preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series N preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  N Depositary Shares. Each Series N depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series N preferred stock. The shares of our Series N preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series N depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series N depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series N depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series N depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series N depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

 

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The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series N preferred stock to the holders of record of Series N depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series N depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series N depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series N depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series N preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series N depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series N preferred stock underlying the Series N depositary shares is redeemed (i) after September 15, 2017, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to September 15, 2017 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series N depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series N preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series N depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series N preferred stock (or $25 per Series N depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series N preferred stock is redeemed after September 15, 2017, the Series N depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series N preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series N depositary shares relating to the Series N preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series N depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series N preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series N preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series N depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series N preferred stock represented by the Series N depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series N depositary shares representing the Series N preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series N preferred stock represented by such Series N depositary shares.

Series O Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series O, which refer to as our “ Series O preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series O preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series O preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series O preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series O preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series O preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series O preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.125%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series O preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series O preferred stock was issued on November 20, 2012, and the first dividend payment date was March 15, 2013.

 

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To the extent we declare dividends on the Series O preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series O preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series O preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series O preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series O preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series O preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after December 15, 2017. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series O preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series O preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to December 15, 2017. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series O preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series O preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series O preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series O preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series O preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series O preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series O preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series O preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series O preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series O preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series O preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to

 

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revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series O preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series O preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series O preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series O preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series O preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series O preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series O preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series O preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series O preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series O preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series O preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series O preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series O preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series O preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series O preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series O preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series O preferred stock, and holders of the Series O preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series O preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

 

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Each holder of the Series O preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series O preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  O Depositary Shares. Each Series O depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series O preferred stock. The shares of our Series O preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series O depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series O depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series O depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series O depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series O depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series O preferred stock to the holders of record of Series O depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series O depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series O depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series O depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series O preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series O depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series O preferred stock underlying the Series O depositary shares is redeemed (i) after December 15, 2017, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to December 15, 2017 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series O depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series O preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series O depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series O preferred stock (or $25 per Series O depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series O preferred stock is redeemed after December 15, 2017, the Series O depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series O preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series O depositary

 

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shares relating to the Series O preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series O depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series O preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series O preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series O depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series O preferred stock represented by the Series O depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series O depositary shares representing the Series O preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series O preferred stock represented by such Series O depositary shares.

Series  P Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series P, which refer to as our “ Series  P preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series P preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series P preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series P preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series P preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series P preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series P preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.25%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series P preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series P preferred stock was issued on March 22, 2013, and the first dividend payment date was June 15, 2013.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series P preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series P preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series P preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series P preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series P preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series P preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after June 15, 2018. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series P preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series P preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to June 15, 2018. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series P preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our

 

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stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series P preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series P preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series P preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series P preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series P preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series P preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series P preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series P preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series P preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series P preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series P preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series P preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series P preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series P preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series P preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series P preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series P preferred stock;

 

   

any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any

 

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  securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series P preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

  the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series P preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series P preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series P preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series P preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series P preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series P preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series P preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series P preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series P preferred stock, and holders of the Series P preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series P preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series P preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series P preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  P Depositary Shares. Each Series P depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series P preferred stock. The shares of our Series P preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series P depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series P depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series P depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series P depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series P depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series P preferred stock to the holders of record of Series P depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such

 

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depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series P depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series P depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series P depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series P preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series P depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series P preferred stock underlying the Series P depositary shares is redeemed (i) after June 15, 2018, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to June 15, 2018 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series P depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series P preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series P depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series P preferred stock (or $25 per Series P depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series P preferred stock is redeemed after June 15, 2018, the Series P depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series P preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series P depositary shares relating to the Series P preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series P depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series P preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series P preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series P depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series P preferred stock represented by the Series P depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series P depositary shares representing the Series P preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series P preferred stock represented by such Series P depositary shares.

Series  Q Preferred Stock. Our 5.85% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series Q, which refer to as our “ Series  Q preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series Q preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series Q preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series Q preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series Q preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series Q preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series Q preferred stock. From July 22, 2013 to, but excluding, September 15, 2023 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), these dividends will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to 5.85%, and from, and including, September 15, 2023 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.09%. These dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series Q preferred stock to

 

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receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series Q preferred stock was issued on July 22, 2013, and the first dividend payment date was September 15, 2013. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the calculation agent for purposes of determining three-month LIBOR for dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series Q preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series Q preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series Q preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series Q preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series Q preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series Q preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after September 15, 2023. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series Q preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series Q preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to September 15, 2023. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series Q preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series Q preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series Q preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series Q preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series Q preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series Q preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series Q preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series Q preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series Q preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the

 

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holders of the Series Q preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series Q preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series Q preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series Q preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series Q preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series Q preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series Q preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series Q preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series Q preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series Q preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series Q preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series Q preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series Q preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series Q preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series Q preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series Q preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series Q preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series Q preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series Q preferred stock, and holders of the Series Q preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

 

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If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series Q preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series Q preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series Q preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  Q Depositary Shares. Each Series Q depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series Q preferred stock. The shares of our Series Q preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series Q depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series Q depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series Q depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series Q depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series Q depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series Q preferred stock to the holders of record of Series Q depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series Q depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series Q depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series Q depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series Q preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series Q depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series Q preferred stock underlying the Series Q depositary shares is redeemed (i) after September 15, 2023, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to September 15, 2023 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series Q depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series Q preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series Q depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series Q preferred stock (or $25 per Series Q depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series Q preferred stock is redeemed after September 15, 2023, the Series Q depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

 

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When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series Q preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series Q depositary shares relating to the Series Q preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series Q depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series Q preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series Q preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series Q depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series Q preferred stock represented by the Series Q depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series Q depositary shares representing the Series Q preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series Q preferred stock represented by such Series Q depositary shares.

Series  R Preferred Stock. Our 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series R, which refer to as our “ Series  R preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series R preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series R preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series R preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series R preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series R preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series R preferred stock. From December 18, 2013 to, but excluding, March 15, 2024 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), these dividends will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to 6.625%, and from, and including, March 15, 2024 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.69%. These dividends are payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series R preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series R preferred stock was issued on December 18, 2013, and the first dividend payment date was March 15, 2014. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the calculation agent for purposes of determining three-month LIBOR for dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series R preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series R preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series R preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series R preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series R preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series R preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after March 15, 2024. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series R preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series R preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to March 15, 2024. Any redemption

 

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shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series R preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series R preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series R preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series R preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series R preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series R preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series R preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series R preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series R preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series R preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series R preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series R preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series R preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series R preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series R preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series R preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

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    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series R preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series R preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series R preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series R preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series R preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series R preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series R preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series R preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series R preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series R preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series R preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series R preferred stock, and holders of the Series R preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series R preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series R preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series R preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  R Depositary Shares. Each Series R depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series R preferred stock. The shares of our Series R preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series R depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series R depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series R depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series R depositary

 

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shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series R depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series R preferred stock to the holders of record of Series R depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series R depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series R depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series R depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series R preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series R depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series R preferred stock underlying the Series R depositary shares is redeemed (i) after March 15, 2024, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to March 15, 2024 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series R depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series R preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series R depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series R preferred stock (or $25 per Series R depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series R preferred stock is redeemed after March 15, 2024, the Series R depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series R preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series R depositary shares relating to the Series R preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series R depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series R preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series R preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series R depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series R preferred stock represented by the Series R depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series R depositary shares representing the Series R preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series R preferred stock represented by such Series R depositary shares.

Series  S Preferred Stock. Our 5.90% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series S, which refer to as our “ Series  S preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series S preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series S preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series S preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series S preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series S preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee

 

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of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series S preferred stock. From April 22, 2014 to, but excluding, June 15, 2024 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), these dividends will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to 5.90%, and from, and including, June 15, 2024 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.11%. Dividends are payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15, commencing December 15, 2014 and ending June 15, 2024, and quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing September 15, 2024. The right of holders of our Series S preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series S preferred stock was issued on April 22, 2014, and the first dividend payment date was December 15, 2014. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is the calculation agent for purposes of determining three-month LIBOR for dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series S preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series S preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series S preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series S preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series S preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series S preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after June 15, 2024. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series S preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series S preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to June 15, 2024. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series S preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series S preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series S preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series S preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series S preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series S preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least three semi-annual dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series S preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ;

 

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provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series S preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series S preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series S preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least two semi-annual dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series S preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series S preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series S preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series S preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series S preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series S preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series S preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series S preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series S preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series S preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series S preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series S preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series S preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series S preferred stock, taken as a whole;

 

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provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series S preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series S preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series S preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series S preferred stock, and holders of the Series S preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series S preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series S preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series S preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series  S Depositary Shares. Each Series S depositary share issued by us represents a 1/25th interest in one share of our Series S preferred stock. The shares of our Series S preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series S depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series S depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series S depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series S depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series S depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series S preferred stock to the holders of record of Series S depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series S depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series S depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series S depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series S preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series S depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series S preferred stock underlying the Series S depositary shares is redeemed (i) after June 15, 2024, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to June 15, 2024 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a

 

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Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series S depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series S preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series S depositary share will be equal to 1/25th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series S preferred stock (or $1,000 per Series S depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series S preferred stock is redeemed after June 15, 2024, the Series S depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series S preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series S depositary shares relating to the Series S preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series S depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series S preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series S preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series S depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series S preferred stock represented by the Series S depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series S depositary shares representing the Series S preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series S preferred stock represented by such Series S depositary shares.

Series T Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series T, which refer to as our “ Series T preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series T preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series T preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series T preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series T preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series T preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series T preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 6.00%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series T preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series T preferred stock was issued on July 21, 2014, and the first dividend payment date was September 15, 2014.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series T preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series T preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series T preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series T preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series T preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series T preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any

 

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dividend payment date on or after September 15, 2019. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series T preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series T preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to September 15, 2019. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series T preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series T preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series T preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series T preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series T preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series T preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series T preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series T preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series T preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series T preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series T preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series T preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

 

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In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series T preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series T preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 / 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series T preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series T preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series T preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series T preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series T preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series T preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series T preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series T preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series T preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series T preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series T preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series T preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series T preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series T preferred stock, and holders of the Series T preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series T preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series T preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series T preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

 

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Series T Depositary Shares. Each Series T depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series T preferred stock. The shares of our Series T preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series T depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series T depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series T depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series T depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series T depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series T preferred stock to the holders of record of Series T depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series T depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series T depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series T depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series T preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series T depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series T preferred stock underlying the Series T depositary shares is redeemed (i) after September 15, 2019, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to September 15, 2019 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series T depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series T preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series T depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series T preferred stock (or $25 per Series T depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series T preferred stock is redeemed after September 15, 2019, the Series T depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the NYSE as the depositary may determine to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series T preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series T depositary shares relating to the Series T preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series T depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series T preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series T preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series T depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series T preferred stock represented by the Series T depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that

 

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the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series T depositary shares representing the Series T preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series T preferred stock represented by such Series T depositary shares.

Series U Preferred Stock. Our 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series U, which refer to as our “ Series U preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series U preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series U preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series U preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series U preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series U preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series U preferred stock. From January 23, 2015 to, but excluding, June 15, 2025 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), these dividends will accrue at a fixed rate per annum equal to 5.875%, and from, and including, June 15, 2025 (the “ Floating Rate Period ”), dividends will accrue at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 3.99%. Dividends are payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15, commencing June 15, 2015 and ending June 15, 2025, and quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing September 15, 2025. The right of holders of our Series U preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series U preferred stock was issued on January 23, 2015, and the first dividend payment date was June 15, 2015. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is the calculation agent for purposes of determining three-month LIBOR for dividends payable for the Floating Rate Period.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series U preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series U preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series U preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series U preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series U preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series U preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after June 15, 2025. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series U preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series U preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to June 15, 2025. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series U preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any

 

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undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series U preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series U preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series U preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series U preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series U preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least three semi-annual dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series U preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series U preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series U preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series U preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least two semi-annual dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series U preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series U preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series U preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series U preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 / 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series U preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series U preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series U preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series U preferred stock;

 

   

any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any

 

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  securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series U preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

  the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series U preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series U preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series U preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series U preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series U preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series U preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series U preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series U preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series U preferred stock, and holders of the Series U preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series U preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series U preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series U preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series U Depositary Shares. Each Series U depositary share issued by us represents a 1/25th interest in one share of our Series U preferred stock. The shares of our Series U preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series U depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series U depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series U depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series U depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series U depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series U preferred stock to the holders of record of Series U depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such

 

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depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series U depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series U depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series U depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series U preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series U depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series U preferred stock underlying the Series U depositary shares is redeemed (i) after June 15, 2025, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to June 15, 2025 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series U depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series U preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series U depositary share will be equal to 1/25th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series U preferred stock (or $1,000 per Series U depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series U preferred stock is redeemed after June 15, 2025, the Series U depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner determined by the depositary to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series U preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series U depositary shares relating to the Series U preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series U depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series U preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series U preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series U depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series U preferred stock represented by the Series U depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series U depositary shares representing the Series U preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series U preferred stock represented by such Series U depositary shares.

Series V Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series V, which refer to as our “ Series V preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series V preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series V preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series V preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series V preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series V preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series V preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 6.00%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series V preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series V preferred stock was issued on September 15, 2015, and the first dividend payment date was December 15, 2015.

 

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To the extent we declare dividends on the Series V preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series V preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series V preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series V preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series V preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series V preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after December 15, 2020. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series V preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series V preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to December 15, 2020. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series V preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series V preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series V preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series V preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series V preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series V preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series V preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series V preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series V preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series V preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series V preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to

 

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revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series V preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series V preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series V preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series V preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series V preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series V preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series V preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series V preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series V preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series V preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series V preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series V preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series V preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series V preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series V preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series V preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series V preferred stock, and holders of the Series V preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series V preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

 

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Each holder of the Series V preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series V preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series V Depositary Shares. Each Series V depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series V preferred stock. The shares of our Series V preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series V depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series V depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series V depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series V depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series V depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series V preferred stock to the holders of record of Series V depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series V depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series V depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series V depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series V preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series V depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series V preferred stock underlying the Series V depositary shares is redeemed (i) after December 15, 2020, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to December 15, 2020 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series V depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series V preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series V depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series V preferred stock (or $25 per Series V depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series V preferred stock is redeemed after December 15, 2020, the Series V depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in such other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the NYSE as the depositary may determine to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series V preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information

 

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contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series V depositary shares relating to the Series V preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series V depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series V preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series V preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series V depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series V preferred stock represented by the Series V depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series V depositary shares representing the Series V preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series V preferred stock represented by such Series V depositary shares.

Series W Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series W, which refer to as our “ Series W preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series W preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series W preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series W preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series W preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series W preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series W preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.70%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The right of holders of our Series W preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series W preferred stock was issued on January 29, 2016, and the first dividend payment date was March 15, 2016.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series W preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series W preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series W preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series W preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series W preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series W preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after March 15, 2021. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series W preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series W preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to March 15, 2021. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series W preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus

 

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an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series W preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series W preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series W preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series W preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series W preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series W preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series W preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series W preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the holders of the Series W preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series W preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series W preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series W preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series W preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series W preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series W preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series W preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series W preferred stock;

 

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    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series W preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series W preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series W preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series W preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series W preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series W preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series W preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series W preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series W preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series W preferred stock, and holders of the Series W preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series W preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series W preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series W preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series W Depositary Shares. Each Series W depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series W preferred stock. The shares of our Series W preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series W depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series W depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series W depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series W depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series W depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

 

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The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series W preferred stock to the holders of record of Series W depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series W depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series W depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series W depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series W preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series W depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series W preferred stock underlying the Series W depositary shares is redeemed (i) after March 15, 2021, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to March 15, 2021 in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series W depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series W preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series W depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series W preferred stock (or $25 per Series W depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series W preferred stock is redeemed after March 15, 2021, the Series W depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the NYSE as the depositary may determine to be fair and equitable.

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series W preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series W depositary shares relating to the Series W preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series W depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series W preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series W preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series W depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series W preferred stock represented by the Series W depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series W depositary shares representing the Series W preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series W preferred stock represented by such Series W depositary shares.

Series X Preferred Stock. Our Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class A Preferred Stock, Series X, which refer to as our “ Series X preferred stock ,” with no par value, ranks senior to our common stock and to any other securities that we may issue in the future that are expressly made junior to our Series X preferred stock, as to payment of dividends and/or distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up. The Series X preferred stock ranks equally with our Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series X preferred stock) as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Dividends on shares of our Series X preferred stock are not mandatory. Holders of our Series X preferred stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors out of legally available assets, non-cumulative cash dividends on the liquidation preference amount, which is $25,000 per share of Series X preferred stock. These dividends accrue at a rate per annum equal to 5.50%, payable quarterly in arrears on each March 15, June 15, September 15 and

 

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December 15. The right of holders of our Series X preferred stock to receive dividends is non-cumulative. The Series X preferred stock was issued on June 15, 2016, and the first dividend payment date was September 15, 2016.

To the extent we declare dividends on the Series X preferred stock and on any other Parity Stock but cannot make full payment of those declared dividends, we will allocate the dividend payments on a proportional basis among the holders of shares of Series X preferred stock and the holders of any Parity Stock then outstanding where the terms of such Parity Stock provide similar dividend rights. No interest will be payable in respect of any dividend payment that may be in arrears.

We cannot pay dividends on our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the Series X preferred stock or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of our common stock, other securities ranking junior to the Series X preferred stock or Parity Stock, subject to certain exceptions, unless the full dividends for the then-current period on all outstanding shares of Series X preferred stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of those dividends has been set aside.

We, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of our board of directors, may redeem, subject to the prior approval of the FRB, the Series X preferred stock, in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date on or after September 15, 2021. In addition, within 90 days of our good faith determination that a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series X preferred stock), we, at the option of our board of directors or any duly authorized committee of the board of directors, may, subject to approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, redeem in whole, but not in part, the shares of Series X preferred stock at the time outstanding prior to September 15, 2021. Any redemption shall be at the redemption price of $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not paid to the redemption date without accumulation of any undeclared dividends.

In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our Series X preferred stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution in the amount of $25,000 per share, plus an amount equal to any dividends that have been declared but not yet paid, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, to the date of liquidation, out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders, before any distribution is made to holders of our common stock or any securities ranking junior to the Series X preferred stock and subject to the rights of the holders of Parity Stock or any of our stock ranking senior to the Series X preferred stock as to such distribution and the rights of our depositors and other creditors.

Holders of our Series X preferred stock do not have any voting rights and are not entitled to elect any directors, except as required by law and except for the voting rights provided for below.

Whenever dividends payable on any shares of Series X preferred stock or any class or series of Voting Parity Stock (as such term is defined in the certificate of designation for the Series X preferred stock) have not been declared and paid in an aggregate amount equal to, as to any class or series, at least six quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, the holders of our Series X preferred stock, voting together as a class with holders of Voting Parity Stock whose voting rights are exercisable, will be entitled to vote for the election of two additional directors of our board of directors at our next annual meeting of stockholders and at each subsequent meeting of stockholders, by a plurality of votes cast ; provided that our board of directors shall at no time include more than two such directors and including, for purposes of this limitation, all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to like voting rights. Upon the vesting of such right of such holders, the maximum authorized number of members of our board of directors shall automatically be increased by two and the two vacancies so created shall be filled by vote of the holders of the outstanding Series X preferred stock (together with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock). At elections for such directors, each holder of Series X preferred stock shall be entitled to 25 votes for each share held (the holders of shares of any other series of Voting Parity Stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of such stock as may be granted to them). The right of the

 

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holders of the Series X preferred stock (voting together as a class with the holders of shares of any one or more other series of Voting Parity Stock) to elect such directors shall continue until such time as we have paid in full dividends for the equivalent of at least four quarterly dividend periods or their equivalent, at which time such right with respect to the Series X preferred stock shall terminate, except as provided by law, and subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent nonpayment of dividends. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of all shares of Series X preferred stock and Voting Parity Stock to vote for directors, the term of office of all such directors then in office elected by only those holders voting as a class shall terminate immediately. Whenever the term of office of the directors elected by such holders voting as a class shall end and the special voting powers vested in such holders shall have expired, the number of directors shall be such number as may be provided for in our by-laws.

In addition to any other vote required by law or our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, so long as any shares of our Series X preferred stock are outstanding, the vote or consent of the holders of the outstanding shares of our Series X preferred stock and outstanding shares of all other series of Voting Parity Stock entitled to vote on the matter, by a vote of at least 66  2 3 % in voting power of all such outstanding Series X preferred stock and such Voting Parity stock, voting together as a class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or at any meeting called for the purpose, will be necessary to permit, effect or validate any one or more of the following actions, whether or not such approval is required by Delaware law:

 

    the issuance of any series of preferred stock or preference stock ranking senior to the Series X preferred stock with respect to either the payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up;

 

    any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (including the certificate of designation relating to the Series X preferred stock) or our by-laws that would adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series X preferred stock;

 

    any amendment or alteration of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws to authorize, create or increase the authorized amount of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into shares of, any class or series of our capital stock ranking senior to the Series X preferred stock with respect to either payment of dividends or the distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up; or

 

    the consummation of a reclassification involving the Series X preferred stock or a merger or consolidation with another corporation or other entity, except holders of the Series X preferred stock will have no right to vote under this provision if in each case (i) the shares of Series X preferred stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which we are not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (ii) such shares of Series X preferred stock remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Series X preferred stock, taken as a whole;

provided, however , that any authorization, creation or increase in the authorized amount of or issuance of our Series X preferred stock or any class or series of Parity Stock or securities ranking junior to the Series X preferred stock or any securities convertible into any class or series of Parity Stock (whether dividends payable in respect of such Parity Stock are cumulative or non-cumulative) or securities ranking junior to the Series X preferred stock will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Series X preferred stock, and holders of the Series X preferred stock shall have no right to vote thereon.

 

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If an amendment, alteration, repeal, reclassification, merger or consolidation described above would adversely affect one or more but not all series of voting preferred stock (including the Series X preferred stock for this purpose), then only those series affected and entitled to vote shall vote as a class in lieu of all such series of preferred stock.

Each holder of the Series X preferred stock will have 25 votes per share on any matter on which holders of the Series X preferred stock are entitled to vote, whether separately or together with any other series of our stock (the holders of any shares of any other series of stock being entitled to such number of votes, if any, for each share of stock as may be granted to them), pursuant to Delaware law or otherwise, including by written consent.

Series X Depositary Shares. Each Series X depositary share issued by us represents a 1/1,000th interest in one share of our Series X preferred stock. The shares of our Series X preferred stock are deposited with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as depositary. Pursuant to the deposit agreement, the depositary issued Series X depository shares, which are evidenced by depositary receipts.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. acts as transfer agent and registrar and paying agent with respect to the Series X depositary shares.

The depositary’s office at which the depositary receipts are administered is located at Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120.

The Series X depositary shares were issued in book-entry form through DTC. This means that actual depositary receipts will not be issued, except in limited circumstances. This means that the Series X depositary shares will be in the form of a single global depositary receipt deposited with a DTC nominee. Each beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of DTC and if the Series X depositary shares are held through a broker or financial institution nominee, the beneficial holder must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of a depositary receipt holder described in this section.

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received on the Series X preferred stock to the holders of record of Series X depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares owned by each holder. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the holders of record of the Series X depositary shares in proportion to the number of Series X depositary shares held by each holder, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt a method of distribution that it deems practicable, including the sale of such property and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Record dates for the payment of dividends and other matters relating to the Series X depositary shares are the same as the corresponding record dates for the Series X preferred stock.

The amounts distributed to holders of the Series X depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

If the Series X preferred stock underlying the Series X depositary shares is redeemed (i) after September 15, 2021, in whole or in part, or (ii) prior to September 15, 2021, in whole, but not in part, due to the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, Series X depositary shares will be redeemed with the proceeds received by the depositary from the redemption of the Series X preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per Series X depositary share will be equal to 1/1,000th of the applicable redemption price per share payable with respect of such Series X preferred stock (or $25 per Series X depositary share), plus an amount equal to any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. If less than all the Series X preferred stock is redeemed after September 15, 2021, the Series X depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, or in any other manner consistent with the rules and policies of the NYSE as the depositary may determine to be fair and equitable.

 

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When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series X preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail, or otherwise transmit by an authorized method, the information contained in the notice and any accompanying proxy material to the record holders of the Series X depositary shares relating to the Series X preferred stock. Each record holder of the Series X depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the Series X preferred stock, may instruct the depositary to vote the amount of the Series X preferred stock represented by the holder’s Series X depositary shares. To the extent possible, the depositary will vote the amount of the Series X preferred stock represented by the Series X depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the depositary determines are necessary to enable the depositary to vote as instructed. If the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any Series X depositary shares representing the Series X preferred stock, it will not vote the amount of Series X preferred stock represented by such Series X depositary shares.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the depositary shares. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary shares offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those depositary shares.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the deposit agreement, the depositary shares and the depositary receipts in this section. We have also filed the form of deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt relating to a series of preferred stock for additional information before you buy any depositary shares that represent preferred stock of that series.

General

We may offer fractional interests in preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million, which we refer to in this section as the “ depositary .” We will name the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will have a fractional interest in all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary share. Those rights include any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. If you purchase fractional interests in shares of the related series of preferred stock, you will receive depositary receipts as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. While the final depositary receipts are being prepared, we may order the depositary to issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to the final depositary receipts although not in final form. The holders of the temporary depositary receipts will be entitled to the same rights as if they held the depositary receipts in final form. Holders of the temporary depositary receipts can exchange them for the final depositary receipts at our expense.

Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, you will not be entitled to receive the whole shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received with respect to the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by the holders on the relevant record date. The depositary will not distribute amounts less than one cent. The depositary will distribute any balance with the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property to the holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of depositary shares.

The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of the preferred stock will be made available to the holders of depositary shares.

 

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Conversion and Exchange

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to conversion or exchange, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the rights or obligations of each record holder of depositary receipts to convert or exchange the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If the series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, all or a part of the depositary shares will be redeemed from the redemption proceeds of that series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The depositary will mail notice of redemption between 30 to 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the record holders of the depositary shares to be redeemed at their addresses appearing in the depositary’s records. The redemption price per depositary share will bear the same relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying preferred stock. Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as determined by the depositary.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will cease, except the right to receive money or other property that the holders of the depositary shares were entitled to receive upon the redemption. Payments will be made when holders surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary.

Voting the Preferred Stock

When the depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock may vote, the depositary will mail information about the meeting contained in the notice, and any accompanying proxy materials, to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the preferred stock. Each record holder of such depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to how the preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares should be voted.

The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions received. We will agree to take all action requested by and deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to vote the preferred stock in that manner. The depositary will not vote any preferred stock for which it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock.

Taxation

Owners of depositary shares will be treated for federal income tax purposes as if they were owners of the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares. Accordingly, for federal income tax purposes they will have the income and deductions to which they would be entitled if they were holders of the preferred stock. In addition:

 

    no gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes upon the withdrawal of preferred stock in exchange for depositary shares as provided in the deposit agreement;

 

    the tax basis of each share of preferred stock to an exchanging owner of depositary shares will, upon the exchange, be the same as the aggregate tax basis of the depositary shares exchanged for such preferred stock; and

 

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    the holding period for the preferred stock, in the hands of an exchanging owner of depositary shares who held the depositary shares as a capital asset at the time of the exchange, will include the period that the owner held the depositary shares.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary at any time. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless approved by the record holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then-outstanding (or, in the case of such amendments relating to or affecting rights to receive dividends or distributions or voting or redemption rights, two-thirds of the holders). A deposit agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary only if:

 

    all outstanding depositary shares relating to the deposit agreement have been redeemed; or

 

    there has been a final distribution on the preferred stock of the relevant series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of the related depositary shares.

Charges of Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay associated charges of the depositary for the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges that are stated to be their responsibility in the deposit agreement.

Miscellaneous

We will forward to the depositary, for distribution to the holders of depositary shares, all reports and communications that we must furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

Neither the depositary nor we will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the depositary’s obligations under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of duties set forth in the deposit agreement. Neither the depositary nor we will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished to us and/or the depositary. We and the depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering notice to us. We may also remove the depositary at any time. Resignations or removals will take effect when a successor depositary is appointed and it accepts the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the common stock offered through that prospectus supplement in connection with the conversion, exchange or exercise of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or securities warrants and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to that common stock.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the common stock in this section. We have also filed our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our by-laws, as amended, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our by-laws, as amended, for additional information before you buy any securities which may be exercised or exchangeable for or converted into common stock.

General

Shares Outstanding . As of September 30, 2016, our authorized common stock was 9,000,000,000 shares. From these authorized shares, we had issued 5,481,811,474 shares, of which 5,023,889,201 shares were outstanding and 457,922,273 shares were held as treasury shares.

Dividends . Holders of common stock may receive dividends if, when and as declared by our board of directors out of our funds that we can legally use to pay dividends. We may pay dividends in cash, stock or other property. In certain cases, holders of common stock may not receive dividends until we have satisfied our obligations to any holders of outstanding preferred stock. Other restrictions on our ability to pay dividends are described below under “—Dividend Restrictions” and above under “Description of Preferred Stock—Outstanding Preferred Stock.”

Voting Rights . Holders of common stock have the exclusive power to vote on all matters presented to our stockholders unless Delaware law or the certificate of designation for an outstanding series of preferred stock gives the holders of that preferred stock the right to vote on certain matters. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share. Holders of common stock have no cumulative voting rights for the election of directors. This means a holder of a single share of common stock cannot cast more than one vote for each position to be filled on our board of directors.

Other Rights . If we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, holders of common stock will receive pro rata, according to shares held by them, any of our remaining assets available for distribution to stockholders after we have provided for payment of all debts and other liabilities, including any liquidation preference for outstanding shares of preferred stock. When we issue securities in the future, holders of common stock have no preemptive rights. This means the holders of common stock have no right, as holders of common stock, to buy any portion of those issued securities. Holders of our common stock have no rights to have their shares of common stock redeemed by us or to convert their shares of common stock into shares of any other class of our capital stock.

Listing . Our outstanding shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WFC.” Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the transfer agent and registrar for the common stock.

Fully Paid . The outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. This means the full purchase price for the outstanding shares of common stock has been paid and the holders of such shares will not be assessed any additional amounts for such shares. Any additional common stock that we may issue in the future upon the conversion or exercise of other securities offered under this prospectus will also be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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Restrictions on Payment of Dividends

We are incorporated in Delaware and are governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law, or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared and for the preceding fiscal year. However, under Delaware law, we cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after we pay the dividend, our capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of our assets.

As a bank holding company, our ability to pay dividends is affected by the ability of our bank and non-bank subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. Various federal laws limit the amount of dividends our national bank subsidiaries can pay to us without regulatory approval. State-chartered banks are subject to state regulations that limit dividends.

The terms of our outstanding junior subordinated debt securities prohibit us from declaring or paying any dividends or distributions on our capital stock, including our common stock, or purchasing, acquiring, or making a liquidation payment on such stock, if an event of default has occurred and is continuing under the applicable indenture, we are in default with respect to a guarantee payment under the guarantee of the related trust preferred securities or we have given notice of our election to defer interest payments but the related deferral period has not yet commenced or a deferral period is continuing. In addition, the terms of each of our outstanding series of preferred stock prohibit us from declaring or paying any dividends or distributions on our common stock unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all completed dividend periods with respect to that preferred stock have been paid.

Anti-takeover Provisions Contained in the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

Certain provisions of Delaware law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or have the effect of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. For example, we are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which would make it more difficult for another party to acquire us without the approval of our board of directors. Certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, may make it less likely that our management would be changed or someone would acquire voting control of our company without our board’s consent. These provisions may delay, deter or prevent tender offers or takeover attempts that stockholders may believe are in their best interests, including tender offers or attempts that might allow stockholders to receive premiums over the market price of their common stock.

Preferred Stock . Our board of directors can at any time, under our restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and without stockholder approval, issue one or more new series of preferred stock. In some cases, the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval could discourage or make more difficult attempts to take control of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. Preferred stock with special voting rights or other features issued to persons favoring our management could stop a takeover by preventing the person trying to take control of our company from acquiring enough voting shares necessary to take control.

Nomination Procedures . In addition to our board of directors, stockholders can nominate candidates for election to our board of directors. However, a stockholder must follow the advance notice procedures described in Section 3.11 of our by-laws, as amended. In general, a stockholder must deliver a written notice of the nomination to our chief executive officer and our corporate secretary at least 90 days but not more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting for consideration at an annual meeting or, for consideration at a special meeting, at least 90 days but not more than 120 days prior to the date of such meeting or, if our first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, then during the 10 days following our public announcement. Subject to all of the terms and conditions specified in the by-laws, an eligible stockholder (or a group of up to 20 eligible stockholders) who has

 

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continuously owned for three years at least three percent of our outstanding shares may also nominate and include in our proxy materials nominees constituting up to the greater of two directors and 20 percent of the board of directors. A stockholder must deliver written notice of the proxy access nomination to our corporate secretary at least 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the filing date of our definitive proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting and no earlier than 150 days prior to such date.

Proposal Procedures. Stockholders can propose that business other than nominations to our board of directors be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders only if a stockholder follows the advance notice procedures described in our by-laws, as amended. In general, a stockholder must submit a written notice of the proposal and the stockholder’s interest in the proposal to our chief executive officer and our corporate secretary at least 90 days but not more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. Stockholders seeking to have a stockholder proposal considered for inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the federal proxy rules.

Stockholder Requested Special Meetings. Our by-laws provide procedures pursuant to which record holders of not less than 25% of the voting power of issued and outstanding shares of our common stock may request that the board of directors call a special meeting of stockholders. Our by-laws impose certain informational and procedural requirements on stockholders requesting such a meeting (including the provision of the same information required by the advance notice procedures described in Section 3.11 of our by-laws), as well as provisions designed to avoid the calling of a special meeting to conduct the same or similar business that was recently addressed or soon will be addressed at another stockholder meeting or that would be held close in time to our annual meeting.

Amendment of By-laws . Under our by-laws and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our board of directors can adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws, subject to limitations under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or in the by-laws, as amended. Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, our stockholders also have the power to change or repeal our by-laws.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the purchase contracts. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the purchase contracts offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those purchase contracts.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the purchase contracts in this section. We have also filed the forms of purchase contracts as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the applicable purchase contract for additional information before you buy any purchase contracts.

General

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more debt securities, for the purchase or sale of:

 

    our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock;

 

    securities of an entity not affiliated with Wells Fargo, a basket of those securities, an index or indices of those securities or any combination of the above;

 

    currencies; or

 

    commodities.

We refer to the property in the above clauses as “ purchase contract property .” In this section, when we refer to a “ unit ” we mean a unit consisting of purchase contracts and one or more debt securities and not any other combination of securities registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Each purchase contract will obligate the holder to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, the purchase contract property at a specified price or prices, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

Purchase Contracts Issued as Part of a Unit

Purchase contracts issued as part of a unit will be governed by the terms and provisions of a unit agreement. See “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement.” The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following:

 

    whether the purchase contract obligates the holder to purchase or sell the purchase contract property;

 

    whether a purchase contract issued as part of a unit may be separated from the other securities constituting part of that unit prior to the purchase contract’s settlement date, except that purchase contracts issued in the United States may not be so separated prior to the 91st day after the issuance of a unit;

 

    the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell the purchase contract property;

 

    any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract; and

 

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    whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a purchase contract included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any debt security included in that unit.

Settlement of Purchase Contracts. Where purchase contracts issued together with debt securities as part of a unit require the holders to buy purchase contract property, the unit agent may apply principal payments from the debt securities in satisfaction of the holders’ obligations under the related purchase contract as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The unit agent will not so apply the principal payments if the holder has delivered cash to meet its obligations under the purchase contract. To settle the purchase contract and receive the purchase contract property, the holder must present and surrender the unit certificates at the office of the unit agent. If a holder settles its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit in cash rather than by delivering the debt security that is part of the unit, that debt security will remain outstanding if the maturity extends beyond the relevant settlement date and, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder will receive that debt security or an interest in the relevant global debt security.

Pledge by Purchase Contract Holders to Secure Performance. To secure the obligations of the purchase contract holders contained in the unit agreement and in the purchase contracts, the holders, acting through the unit agent, as their attorney-in-fact, will grant, sell, convey, assign, transfer and pledge the items in the following sentence, which we refer to as the “ pledge ,” to the collateral agent for our benefit. The pledge is a security interest in and to, and a lien upon and right of set-off against, all of the holders’ right, title and interest in and to:

 

    any debt securities that are part of units that include the purchase contracts, or other property as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, which we refer to as the “ pledged items ”;

 

    all additions to and substitutions for the pledged items as may be permissible, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

    all income, proceeds and collections received or to be received, or derived or to be derived, at any time from or in connection with the pledged items described in the two clauses above; and

 

    all powers and rights owned or thereafter acquired under or with respect to the pledged items.

The pledge constitutes collateral security for the performance when due by each holder of its obligations under the unit agreement and the applicable purchase contract. The collateral agent will forward all payments from the pledged items to us, unless the payments have been released from the pledge in accordance with the unit agreement. We will use the payments received from the pledged items to satisfy the obligations of the holder of the unit under the related purchase contract.

Property Held in Trust by Unit Agent. If a holder fails to settle in cash its obligations under a purchase contract that is part of a unit and fails to present and surrender its unit certificate to the unit agent when required, that holder will not receive the purchase contract property. Instead, the unit agent will hold that holder’s purchase contract property, together with any distributions, as the registered owner in trust for the benefit of the holder until the holder presents and surrenders the certificate or provides satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen. We or the unit agent may require an indemnity from the holder for liabilities related to any destroyed, lost or stolen certificate. If the holder does not present the unit certificate, or provide the necessary evidence of destruction or loss and indemnity, on or before the second anniversary of the settlement date of the related purchase contract, the unit agent will pay to us the amounts it received in trust for that holder. Thereafter, the holder may recover those amounts only from us and not the unit agent. The unit agent will have no obligation to invest or to pay interest on any amounts it holds in trust pending distribution.

 

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General Terms of Units

We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements, each referred to as a “ unit agreement ,” to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as unit agent. We may issue units in one or more series, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the unit agreement below. We have also filed the form of unit agreement as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the unit agreement for additional information before you buy any units.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to units consisting of one or more debt securities and purchase contracts will describe:

 

    the designation and the terms of the units and of the combination of debt securities and purchase contracts constituting the units, including whether and under what circumstances the debt securities or purchase contracts may be traded separately;

 

    any additional terms of the unit agreement;

 

    any additional provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the debt securities or purchase contracts constituting the units; and

 

    any special United States federal income tax consequences.

The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities,” and “Description of Purchase Contracts” and those described below under “—Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement” will apply to each unit and to any debt security or purchase contract included in each unit unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Significant Provisions of the Unit Agreement

Obligations of Unit Holder. Under the terms of the unit agreement, each owner of a unit:

 

    consents to and agrees to be bound by the terms of the unit agreement;

 

    appoints the unit agent as its authorized agent to execute, deliver and perform any purchase contract included in the unit in which that owner has an interest; and

 

    irrevocably agrees to be a party to and be bound by the terms of any purchase contract included in the unit in which that owner has an interest.

Assumption of Obligations by Transferee. Upon the registration of transfer of a unit, the transferee will assume the obligations, if any, of the transferor under any purchase contract included in the unit and under any other security constituting that unit, and the transferor will be released from those obligations. Under the unit agreement, we consent to the transfer of these obligations to the transferee, to the assumption of these obligations by the transferee and to the release of the transferor, if the transfer is made in accordance with the provisions of the unit agreement.

Remedies. Upon the acceleration of the debt securities constituting any units, our obligations and those of the owners under any purchase contracts constituting a part of the units may also be accelerated upon the request of the owners of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts, on behalf of all the owners.

Limitation on Actions by You as an Individual Holder. No owner of any unit will have any right under the unit agreement to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise

 

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regarding the unit agreement, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, unless the owner will have given written notice to the unit agent and to us of the occurrence and continuance of a default thereunder and:

 

    in the case of an event of default under the debt securities or the applicable indenture, unless the procedures, including notice to us and the trustee, described in such indenture have been complied with; and

 

    in the case of a failure by us to observe or perform any of our obligations under the unit agreement relating to any purchase contracts included in the unit, unless:

 

    owners of not less than 25% of the affected purchase contracts have (a) requested the unit agent to institute that action or proceeding in its own name as unit agent under the unit agreement and (b) offered the unit agent reasonable indemnity;

 

    the unit agent has failed to institute that action or proceeding within 60 days of that request by the owners referred to above; and

 

    the owners of a majority of the outstanding affected units have not given directions to the unit agent inconsistent with those of the owners referred to above.

If these conditions have been satisfied, any owner of an affected unit may then, but only then, institute an action or proceeding. Notwithstanding the above, the owner of any unit or purchase contract will have the unconditional right to purchase or sell, as the case may be, purchase contract property under the purchase contract and to institute suit for the enforcement of that right.

Absence of Protections against All Potential Actions of Wells Fargo. There are no covenants or other provisions in the unit agreement providing for a put right or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of units additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control of Wells Fargo or a highly leveraged transaction.

Modification without Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent may amend the unit agreement and the terms of the purchase contracts and the purchase contract certificates without the consent of the holders to:

 

    cure any ambiguity;

 

    correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision;

 

    add to our covenants or the covenants of the unit agent;

 

    change or eliminate any provisions of the unit agreement so long as no units are outstanding or the change does not affect any unit outstanding; or

 

    amend the terms in any other manner which we may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the affected holders in any material respect.

Modification with Consent of Holders. We and the unit agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of all series of outstanding units affected, voting as one class, may modify the rights of the holders of the units of each series so affected or the terms of any purchase contracts included in any of those series of units and the terms of the unit agreement relating to the purchase contracts of each series so affected. However, we and the unit agent may not make any of the following modifications without the consent of the holder of each outstanding unit affected by the modification:

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any purchase contract;

 

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    materially adversely affect the holders’ rights under any purchase contract;

 

    reduce the percentage of purchase contracts constituting part of outstanding units the consent of whose owners is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts or for the waiver of any defaults under the unit agreement relating to those purchase contracts;

 

    materially adversely affect the holders’ units or the terms of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above); or

 

    reduce the percentage of outstanding units the consent of whose owners is required for the modification of the provisions of the unit agreement (other than terms related to the first three clauses above).

Modifications of any debt securities included in units may only be made in accordance with the applicable indenture, as described under “Description of Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver.”

Merger, Consolidation, Sale, Lease or Conveyance . The unit agreement provides that we will not merge or consolidate with any other person and will not sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person unless:

 

    we will be the continuing corporation; or

 

    the successor corporation or person that acquires all or substantially all of our assets:

 

    will be a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, a state of the United States or the District of Columbia; and

 

    will expressly assume all of our obligations under the unit agreement; and

 

    immediately after the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or conveyance, we, that person or that successor corporation will not be in default in the performance of the covenants and conditions of the unit agreement applicable to us.

Replacement of Unit Certificates or Purchase Contract Certificates. We will replace any mutilated certificate evidencing a definitive unit or purchase contract at the expense of the holder upon surrender of that certificate to the unit agent. We will replace certificates that have been destroyed, lost or stolen at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the unit agent of evidence satisfactory to us and the unit agent of the destruction, loss or theft of the certificates. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to the unit agent and to us may be required at the expense of the holder of the units or purchase contracts evidenced by that certificate before a replacement will be issued.

The unit agreement provides that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no replacement certificate need be delivered:

 

    during the period beginning 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption or of any other exercise of any right held by us with respect to the unit or any security constituting the unit evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate and ending on the day of the giving of that notice;

 

    if the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate evidences any security selected or called for redemption or other exercise of a right held by us; or

 

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    at any time on or after the date of settlement or redemption for any purchase contract included in the unit evidenced by the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen certificate, except with respect to any units that remain or will remain outstanding following the date of settlement or redemption.

Unit Agreement Not Qualified under Trust Indenture Act. The unit agreement will not be qualified as an indenture under, and the unit agent will not be required to qualify as a trustee under, the Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, the holders of units and purchase contracts will not have the benefits of the protections of the Trust Indenture Act. However, any debt securities issued as part of a unit will be issued under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and the trustee under that indenture will be qualified as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act.

Title. We, the unit agent, the applicable trustee and any of their agents will treat the registered owner of any unit as its owner, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, for all purposes.

New York Law to Govern. The unit agreement, the units and the purchase contracts constituting part of the units will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the securities warrants. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the securities warrants offered through that prospectus supplement and any general terms outlined in this section that will not apply to those securities warrants.

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock. Securities warrants may be issued alone or together with debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Each series of securities warrants will be issued under a separate securities warrant agreement between us and a bank or trust company, as securities warrant agent, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The securities warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the securities warrants and will not act as an agent or trustee for any holders of securities warrants.

We have summarized the material terms and provisions of the securities warrant agreements and securities warrants in this section. We have also filed the forms of securities warrant agreements and the certificates representing the securities warrants as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the applicable forms of securities warrant agreement and securities warrant certificate for additional information before you buy any securities warrants.

General

If we offer securities warrants, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe their terms. If securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of those securities warrants, including the following if applicable:

 

    the offering price;

 

    the currencies in which the securities warrants are being offered;

 

    the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of the debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises the securities warrants;

 

    the designation and terms of any series of debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares with which the securities warrants are being offered and the number of securities warrants offered with each debt security, share of preferred stock or depositary share;

 

    the date on and after which the holder of the securities warrants can transfer them separately from the related series of debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares;

 

    the principal amount of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises the securities warrant and the price at which and currencies in which the principal amount may be purchased upon exercise;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the securities warrants begins and the date on which the right expires;

 

    whether the securities warrants will be in registered or bearer form;

 

    United States federal income tax consequences; and

 

    any other terms of the securities warrants.

Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities warrants for the purchase of debt securities will be in registered form only.

 

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If securities warrants for the purchase of preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock are offered, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of those securities warrants, including the following where applicable:

 

    the offering price;

 

    the total number of shares that can be purchased if a holder of the securities warrants exercises them and, in the case of securities warrants for preferred stock or depositary shares, the designation, total number and terms of the series of preferred stock that can be purchased upon exercise or that are underlying the depositary shares that can be purchased upon exercise;

 

    the designation and terms of the series of debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares with which the securities warrants are being offered and the number of securities warrants being offered with each debt security, share of preferred stock or depositary share;

 

    the date on and after which the holder of the securities warrants can transfer them separately from the related series of debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares;

 

    the number of shares of preferred stock, depositary shares or shares of common stock that can be purchased if a holder exercises the securities warrant and the price at which the preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock may be purchased upon each exercise;

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the securities warrants begins and the date on which the right expires;

 

    any special United States federal income tax consequences; and

 

    any other terms of the securities warrants.

Securities warrants for the purchase of preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock will be in registered form only.

A holder of securities warrant certificates may exchange them for new certificates of different denominations, present them for registration of transfer, and exercise them at the corporate trust office of the securities warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Until any securities warrants to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of such securities warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any right to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture. Until any securities warrants to purchase preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock are exercised, holders of such securities warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock, including any right to receive dividends or to exercise any voting rights.

Exercise of Securities Warrants

Each holder of a securities warrant is entitled to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or number of shares of preferred stock, depositary shares or shares of common stock, as the case may be, at the exercise price described in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise terminates, or a later date if we extend the time for exercise, unexercised securities warrants will become void.

 

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A holder of securities warrants may exercise them by following the general procedure outlined below:

 

    delivering to the securities warrant agent the payment required by the applicable prospectus supplement to purchase the underlying security;

 

    properly completing and signing the reverse side of the securities warrant certificate representing the securities warrants; and

 

    delivering the securities warrant certificate representing the securities warrants to the securities warrant agent, or other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, within five business days of the securities warrant agent receiving payment of the exercise price.

If you comply with the procedures described above, your securities warrants will be considered to have been exercised when the securities warrant agent receives payment of the exercise price. After you have completed those procedures, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver to you the debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock that you purchased upon exercise. If you exercise fewer than all of the securities warrants represented by a securities warrant certificate, the securities warrant agent will issue to you a new securities warrant certificate for the unexercised amount of securities warrants. Holders of securities warrants will be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with transferring the underlying securities in connection with the exercise of the securities warrants.

Amendments and Supplements to Securities Warrant Agreements

We may amend or supplement a securities warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable securities warrants if the changes are not inconsistent with the provisions of the securities warrants and do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the securities warrants. We, along with the securities warrant agent, may also modify or amend a securities warrant agreement and the terms of the securities warrants if a majority of the then-outstanding unexercised securities warrants affected by the modification or amendment consent. However, no modification or amendment that accelerates the expiration date, increases the exercise price, reduces the majority consent requirement for any such modification or amendment, or otherwise materially adversely affects the rights of the holders of the securities warrants may be made without the consent of each holder affected by the modification or amendment.

Common Stock Warrant Adjustments

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of shares of common stock covered by, a warrant for common stock will be adjusted in the manner set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement if certain events occur, including:

 

    if we issue capital stock as a dividend or distribution on the common stock;

 

    if we subdivide, reclassify or combine the common stock;

 

    if we issue rights or warrants to all holders of common stock entitling them, for a period expiring 45 days after the date fixed for determining the stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, to purchase common stock at less than the current market price, as defined in the warrant agreement for such series of common stock warrants; or

 

    if we distribute to all holders of common stock evidences of our indebtedness or our assets, excluding certain cash dividends and distributions, or if we distribute to all holders of common stock rights or warrants, excluding those referred to in the bullet point above.

 

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Except as stated above, the exercise price and number of shares of common stock covered by a common stock warrant will not be adjusted if we issue common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, or securities carrying the right to purchase common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock.

Holders of common stock warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:

 

    a reclassification or change of the common stock;

 

    a consolidation or merger involving our company; or

 

    a sale or conveyance to another corporation of all or substantially all of our property and assets.

If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our common stock are entitled to receive stock, securities, other property or assets, including cash, with respect to or in exchange for common stock, the holders of the common stock warrants then outstanding will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their common stock warrants the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property that they would have received upon the reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance if they had exercised their common stock warrants immediately before the transaction.

Outstanding Warrants

In connection with our participation in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“ TARP ”) Capital Purchase Program, we issued to the U.S. Treasury Department warrants to purchase 110,261,688 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $34.01 per share expiring on October 28, 2018. The terms of the warrants require the exercise price to be adjusted under certain circumstances when our quarterly common stock dividend exceeds $0.34 per share, which began occurring in second quarter 2014. Accordingly, with each quarterly common stock dividend above $0.34 per share, we must calculate whether an adjustment to the exercise price is required by the terms of the warrants, including whether certain minimum thresholds have been met to trigger an adjustment, and notify the holders of any such change. Our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $1 billion of the warrants. At September 30, 2016, there were 33,137,573 warrants outstanding, exercisable at $33.840 per share, and $452 million of unused warrant repurchase authority.

 

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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS

Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan to which Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ ERISA ”) applies (a “ plan ”), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the plan’s particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the offered securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan. When we use the term “ holder ” in this section, we are referring to a beneficial owner of the offered securities and not the record holder.

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit plans, as well as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans to which Section 4975 of the Code applies (also “ plans ”), from engaging in specified transactions involving “plan assets” with persons who are “parties in interest” under ERISA or “disqualified persons” under the Code (collectively, “ parties in interest ”) with respect to such plan. A violation of those “prohibited transaction” rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. Therefore, a fiduciary of a plan should also consider whether an investment in the offered securities might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.

Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, certain church plans, as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA, and foreign plans, as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, are not subject to the requirements of ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to other legal restrictions (“ similar laws ”).

We and our affiliates may each be considered a party in interest with respect to many plans. Special caution should be exercised, therefore, before the offered securities are purchased by a plan. In particular, the fiduciary of the plan should consider whether statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions (“ PTCEs ”) that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the offered securities. Those class exemptions are:

 

    PTCE 96-23, for specified transactions determined by in-house asset managers;

 

    PTCE 95-60, for specified transactions involving insurance company general accounts;

 

    PTCE 91-38, for specified transactions involving bank collective investment funds;

 

    PTCE 90-1, for specified transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and

 

    PTCE 84-14, for specified transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers.

In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide an exemption for transactions between a plan and a person who is a party in interest (other than a fiduciary who has or exercises any discretionary authority or control with respect to investment of the plan assets involved in the transaction or renders investment advice with respect thereto) solely by reason of providing services to the plan (or by reason of a relationship to such a service provider), if in connection with the transaction the plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than “adequate consideration” (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA).

The foregoing list of exemptions is not exhaustive. Other statutory or administrative class exemptions may be applicable. In addition, a purchaser or holder may obtain an individual administrative exemption.

 

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Any purchaser or holder of the offered securities or any interest in the offered securities will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding that either:

 

    no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or holder to acquire or purchase the offered securities constitutes assets of any plan or plan subject to similar law; or

 

    the purchase and holding of the offered securities by such purchaser or holder will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under similar law.

Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the offered securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” of any plan consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences under ERISA, the Code, and any applicable similar law, of the acquisition of the offered securities and the availability of exemptive relief under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

Purchasers of the offered securities have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase, holding and subsequent disposition of the offered securities does not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or similar law, and we are not advising any potential purchaser or holder of the offered securities to avail themselves of any exemption described above or any other exemption that may be available under ERISA, the Code, or any similar law.

 

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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, beneficial ownership and disposition of the debt securities, common stock and preferred stock offered by this prospectus. The material U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the purchase, beneficial ownership and disposition of warrants, purchase contracts and units offered by this prospectus will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. This summary is based on the Code, as amended, current or proposed Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“ Treasury Regulations ”), administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change and to different interpretations. Changes to any of the foregoing authorities could apply on a retroactive basis, and could affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below. We will not seek a ruling from the IRS with respect to the matters discussed in this section and we cannot assure you that the IRS will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described below.

This summary does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor’s circumstances, and does not discuss any aspect of U.S. federal tax law other than income taxation or any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities, common stock and preferred stock. This summary addresses only debt securities purchased at initial issuance and debt securities, shares of common and shares of preferred stock held as capital assets within the meaning of the Code (generally, property held for investment) and does not address U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

    securities dealers or brokers, or traders in securities electing mark-to-market treatment;

 

    banks, thrifts, or other financial institutions;

 

    insurance companies;

 

    regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts;

 

    common trust funds;

 

    tax-exempt organizations;

 

    retirement plans;

 

    persons holding our debt securities or shares, as applicable, as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “synthetic security,” “constructive sale transaction” or “conversion transaction” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or as part of some other integrated investment;

 

    partnerships or other pass-through entities;

 

    persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

    certain former citizens or residents of the United States;

 

    foreign corporations that are classified as “passive foreign investment companies” or “controlled foreign corporations” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

    “U.S. Holders” (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

 

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In addition, with respect to a particular offering of debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock, the discussion below must be read with the discussion of material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may appear in the applicable prospectus supplement for that offering. When we use the term “ holder ” in this section, we are referring to a beneficial holder of the debt securities, common stock or preferred stock.

As used herein, a “ U.S. Holder ” is a beneficial owner of debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock, as the case may be, that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or any other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (A) a United States court has the authority to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons (as defined under the Code) are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. An individual may, subject to certain exceptions, be deemed to be a resident of the United States by reason of being present in the United States for at least 31 days in the calendar year and for an aggregate of at least 183 days during a three-year period ending in the current calendar year (counting for such purposes all of the days present in the current year, one-third of the days present in the immediately preceding year and one-sixth of the days present in the second preceding year).

A “ Non-U.S. Holder ” is any beneficial owner of a debt security or shares of common or preferred stock, as the case may be, that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is not a U.S. Holder and that is not a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership holding debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock, and partners in such a partnership, should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock by the partnership.

THE DISCUSSION OF THE MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES, COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, NOR SHOULD IT BE CONSTRUED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY PARTICULAR PERSON. ACCORDINGLY, ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES, COMMON STOCK OR PREFERRED STOCK BASED ON THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

Debt Securities

Payments of Interest . Except as set forth below, interest on debt securities generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income from domestic sources at the time that such interest is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Original Issue Discount. Special tax accounting rules apply to debt securities issued with “original issue discount” (“ OID ”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“ OID debt securities ”). In general, debt securities will be treated as issued with OID if the “issue price” of the debt securities is less than their “stated redemption price at maturity” unless the amount of such difference is de minimis (less than 0.25% of the stated redemption price at

 

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maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity). Regardless of the regular method of accounting used by a U.S. Holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, OID generally must be accrued into gross income on a constant yield basis, in advance of the receipt of some or all of the cash attributable to such OID.

The “ issue price ” of debt securities will be the initial offering price to the public at which a substantial amount of the debt securities is sold for cash (ignoring sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers). The “ stated redemption price at maturity ” of debt securities is the sum of all payments to be made on the debt securities other than “qualified stated interest” payments. A “ qualified stated interest ” payment is stated interest that is unconditionally payable at least annually at a single fixed rate (appropriately taking into account the length of the interval between payments).

For OID debt securities having a term of more than one year, the amount of OID includible in gross income by a U.S. Holder of the OID debt securities is the sum of the “daily portions” of OID with respect to the OID debt securities for each day during the taxable year in which such U.S. Holder held the OID debt securities. The daily portion is determined by allocating to each day in any “accrual period” a pro rata portion of the OID allocable to such accrual period.

The amount of OID allocable to any accrual period is generally equal to the excess (if any) of (i) the product of the “adjusted issue price” of the OID debt securities at the beginning of such accrual period and the yield to maturity of the OID debt securities, as determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and properly adjusted for the length of the accrual period, over (ii) the sum of any qualified stated interest payments allocable to the accrual period. For this purpose, accrual periods may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the OID debt securities provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs at the beginning or the end of an accrual period.

The adjusted issue price of OID debt securities at the start of any accrual period is generally equal to the issue price, increased by the accrued OID for each prior accrual period, and reduced by certain prior payments with respect to the OID debt securities that were not qualified stated interest payments.

Under the constant yield method for accruing OID, a U.S. Holder generally will have to include in gross income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods.

Debt securities may contain provisions allowing the debt securities to be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at our option or at the option of holders. For purposes of determining yield and maturity, debt securities that may be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at the option of the issuer generally will be treated from the time of issuance as having a maturity date for U.S. federal income tax purposes on such redemption date if such redemption would result in a lower yield to maturity. Conversely, debt securities that may be redeemed prior to their stated maturity date at the option of the holder generally will be treated from the time of issuance as having a maturity date for U.S. federal income tax purposes on such redemption date if such redemption would result in a higher yield to maturity. If the exercise of such an option does not occur, contrary to the assumptions made as of the issue date, then solely for purposes of the accrual of OID, the debt securities will be treated as reissued on the date of the change in circumstances for an amount equal to their adjusted issue price.

We are required to report to the IRS the amount of OID accrued in respect of OID debt securities held by persons other than exempt holders.

Short-Term Debt Securities. In the case of debt securities that have a fixed maturity of one year or less (“ short-term debt securities ”), all payments, including all payments of stated interest, will be included in the stated redemption price at maturity. The short-term debt securities will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as having been issued with OID in the amount of the difference between their issue price and stated

 

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redemption price at maturity. In general, U.S. Holders that use the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and certain other U.S. Holders are required to accrue OID in respect of short-term debt securities into gross income either on a ratable basis or, if a U.S. Holder so elects, on a constant yield basis using daily compounding. U.S. Holders that are individuals and certain other U.S. Holders that use the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes are not required to accrue OID on short-term debt securities in advance of the receipt of payment unless they elect to do so. If such a U.S. Holder does not elect to accrue OID on short-term debt securities into gross income, then gain subsequently recognized upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of the short-term debt securities generally will be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of the OID that has accrued through the date of such disposition. Furthermore, a non-electing U.S. Holder of short-term debt securities may be required to defer deductions for a portion of the U.S. Holder’s interest expense with respect to any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry the short-term debt securities.

Variable Rate Debt Securities . Treasury regulations prescribe special rules for “variable rate debt instruments” that provide for the payment of interest based on certain floating or objective rates. In general, debt securities will qualify as variable rate debt instruments (“ variable rate debt securities ”) if (i) the issue price of the debt securities does not exceed the total non-contingent principal payments due in respect of the debt securities by more than an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 0.015 multiplied by the product of the total non-contingent principal payments and the number of complete years to maturity from the issue date or (B) 15% of the total non-contingent principal payments, and (ii) the debt securities provide for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at “current values” of (A) one or more “qualified floating rates,” (B) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, (C) a single “objective rate,” or (D) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a “qualified inverse floating rate.” A current value of a rate is the value of the rate on any date that is no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day.

A “ qualified floating rate ” is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the variable rate debt securities are denominated. Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate generally will not itself constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35 can constitute a qualified floating rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than 0.65 but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In addition, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the variable rate debt securities ( e.g. , two or more qualified floating rates with values within 25 basis points of each other as determined on the issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a variable rate that would otherwise constitute a qualified floating rate but which is subject to one or more restrictions such as a maximum stated interest rate ( i.e. , a cap), a minimum stated interest rate ( i.e. , a floor) or a restriction on the amount of increase or decrease in the stated interest ( i.e. , a governor) may, under certain circumstances, fail to be treated as a qualified floating rate unless such restrictions are fixed throughout the term of the variable rate debt securities or are reasonably expected to not have a significant effect on the yield of the variable rate debt securities.

An “ objective rate ” is a rate that is not itself a qualified floating rate but which is determined using a single fixed formula and that is based on objective financial or economic information. A rate will not qualify as an objective rate if it is based on information that is within the control of the issuer (or a related party) or that is unique to the circumstances of the issuer (or a related party), such as dividends, profits, or the value of the issuer’s stock (although a rate does not fail to be an objective rate merely because it is based on the credit quality of the issuer). An objective rate is a “qualified inverse floating rate” if the rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating rate. If debt securities provide for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an

 

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objective rate and if the variable rate on the issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate ( e.g. , the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 0.25%), then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate or objective rate, as the case may be.

If variable rate debt securities provide for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout their term, and such interest is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually, then all stated interest on such variable rate debt securities will constitute qualified stated interest that is included in gross income by U.S. Holders as received or accrued in accordance with their regular methods of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, such variable rate debt securities generally will not be treated as having been issued with OID unless the variable rate securities are sold at a discount from their stated principal amount, subject to a de minimis exception. In general, the amount of qualified stated interest and OID, if any, that accrues during an accrual period on such variable rate debt securities is determined under the rules described above by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to (i) in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or (ii) in the case of an objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the variable rate debt securities. The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest that was accrued under the foregoing approach.

For other variable rate debt securities, the timing and amount of OID and qualified stated interest will be determined by converting the variable rate debt securities into “equivalent fixed rate debt instruments.” The conversion of the variable rate debt securities into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments generally involves substituting for any qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the issue date, or substituting for any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate) a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the variable rate debt securities. In the case of variable rate debt securities that provide for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the fixed rate is initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the variable rate debt securities provide for a qualified inverse floating rate). Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the variable rate debt securities as of their issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse rate, the variable rate debt securities are then converted into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments in the manner described above.

Once the variable rate debt securities are converted into equivalent fixed rate debt instruments pursuant to the foregoing rules, the timing and amount of OID and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments by applying the general OID rules to the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments. A U.S. Holder of such variable rate debt securities will account for OID and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments. For each accrual period, appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of qualified stated interest or OID assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the equivalent fixed rate debt instruments in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the variable rate debt securities during the accrual period.

Contingent Payment Debt Securities. If debt securities provide for variable rates of interest or other contingent payments but fail to qualify as variable rate debt securities under the rules described above, then the debt securities may become subject to the Treasury regulations governing “contingent payment debt instruments” (“ contingent payment debt securities ”). Under these Treasury regulations, a U.S. Holder of contingent payment debt securities generally would be required to accrue interest income each taxable year based upon a “comparable yield” for a hypothetical fixed rate debt instrument with no contingent payments but with terms and

 

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conditions otherwise similar to the contingent payment debt securities, but in any event not less than the applicable Federal rate (based on the overall maturity of the debt securities). We would be required to determine the comparable yield and prepare, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a projected payment schedule that includes all non-contingent payments and estimates of the amount and timing of all contingent payments on the debt securities.

If the actual contingent payments made on the contingent payment debt securities in a taxable year differ from the projected contingent payments set forth on the projected payment schedule, adjustments will be made for such differences. A net positive adjustment for the amount by which actual contingent payments during the taxable year exceed the projected contingent payments for such taxable year will be treated as additional interest income. A net negative adjustment for the amount by which actual contingent payments during the taxable year are less than the projected contingent payments for such taxable year (i) first, will reduce the amount of interest required to be accrued in the current taxable year, (ii) second, any negative adjustments that exceed the amount of interest accrued in the current year will be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that the total interest inclusions previously accrued in respect of the contingent payment debt securities exceed the total amount of net negative adjustments treated as ordinary loss in prior taxable years, and (iii) third, any excess adjustments will be treated as a regular negative adjustment in the succeeding taxable year.

Upon the sale, retirement or other disposition of contingent payment debt securities, any gain recognized by a U.S. Holder would be treated as ordinary income. Any loss arising in such a disposition would be treated as an ordinary loss to the extent that the holder’s total interest inclusions exceed the total amount of net negative adjustments treated as ordinary loss. The balance of such loss generally would constitute a capital loss.

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of any debt securities that will be treated as contingent payment debt securities subject to these Treasury regulations will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rules regarding contingent payment debt securities are complex. U.S. Holders should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement for any such debt securities and should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of such debt securities before deciding to purchase such debt securities.

Market Discount. If a U.S. Holder purchases debt securities (other than debt securities purchased at original issue at or above the issue price and other than short-term debt securities) for an amount that is less than their stated redemption price at maturity or, in the case of OID debt securities, their revised issue price, the amount of the difference will be treated as “market discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, unless that difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to treat any payments received in respect of the debt securities, other than payments of qualified stated interest, and any gain derived from the sale, retirement or other disposition of the debt securities, as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that has accrued on the debt securities (on a ratable basis or, at the election of the U.S. Holder, a constant yield basis) but has not previously been included in gross income by the U.S. Holder. In addition, a U.S. Holder may be required to defer until the maturity of the debt securities, or their earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of any interest expense incurred on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry such debt securities.

A U.S. Holder may elect to currently include market discount in gross income as it accrues, under either a ratable or constant yield method, in which case the rules described above regarding characterization of payments and gain as ordinary income and the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. An election to currently include market discount in gross income, once made, applies to all market discount obligations acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first taxable year to which the election applies and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Acquisition Premium . If a U.S. Holder acquires OID debt securities for an amount greater than their adjusted issue price but less than the sum of all amounts (other than qualified stated interest) payable with respect

 

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to the OID debt securities after the date of acquisition, the OID debt securities will be treated as acquired at an acquisition premium. For OID debt securities acquired with acquisition premium, the amount of OID that the U.S. Holder must include in gross income with respect to the OID debt securities for any taxable year will be reduced by the portion of acquisition premium properly allocable to such taxable year.

Amortizable Bond Premium. If a U.S. Holder purchases debt securities for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the debt securities after the purchase date other than payments of qualified stated interest, the U.S. Holder will be considered to have purchased the debt securities at a “premium” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In such case, the U.S. Holder generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the debt securities, on a constant yield method, as an offset to interest includible in gross income with respect to the debt securities, and the U.S. Holder would not be required to include OID, if any, in gross income in respect of the debt securities. In the case of debt securities that provide for alternative payment schedules, the amount of premium generally is determined by assuming that a holder will exercise or not exercise options in a manner that maximizes the holder’s yield, and that the issuer will exercise or not exercise options in a manner that minimizes the holder’s yield. Any election to amortize premium would apply to all debt securities (other than debt securities the interest on which is excludable from gross income) held or subsequently acquired by a U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies and is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Election to Treat All Interest as OID. U.S. Holders may elect to treat all interest in respect of debt securities as OID and to calculate the amount includible in gross income for any taxable year under the constant yield method described above. For purposes of this election, interest includes stated interest, acquisition discount (the difference between an instrument’s stated redemption price at maturity and a holder’s basis), OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium. If a U.S. Holder makes this election for debt securities with amortizable bond premium, the election is treated as an election under the amortizable bond premium rules described above and the electing U.S. Holder will be required to amortize bond premium for all other debt instruments with amortizable bond premium held or subsequently acquired by the U.S. Holder. The election to treat all interest as OID must be made for the taxable year in which the U.S. Holder acquires the debt securities, and the election may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors before making this election.

Sale, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition of Debt Securities. Upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of debt securities, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize U.S. source gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition (other than amounts representing accrued and unpaid qualified stated interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in gross income) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis of the debt securities. In general, the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis of the debt securities will equal the U.S. Holder’s cost for the debt securities, increased by all accrued OID or market discount previously included in gross income and reduced by any amortized premium and certain cash payments previously received in respect of the debt securities other than qualified stated interest payments. Except as described above with respect to certain short-term debt securities, contingent payment debt securities and debt securities acquired at a market discount, and except with respect to gain or loss attributable to changes in exchange rates (as discussed below), such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, retirement or other taxable disposition the debt securities have been held for more than one year. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, are eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income taxation in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.

Foreign Currency Debt Securities. In the case of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency (“ foreign currency debt securities ”), U.S. Holders will need to calculate and convert income into U.S. dollar

 

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values, and may be required to account for gain or loss in respect of exchange rate fluctuations, in accordance with special rules. In general, if an interest payment is made in a foreign currency to a cash-method U.S. Holder, the U.S. Holder will be required to include in gross income the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment, determined by translating the interest payment at the “spot rate” in effect for the foreign currency on the date that payment is received, regardless of whether the payment in fact is converted into U.S. dollars at that time. The U.S. Holder will not recognize any exchange gain or loss with respect to the receipt of the interest payment.

An accrual-method U.S. Holder will be required to include in gross income for each taxable year the U.S. dollar value of the interest that has accrued during such year, determined by translating interest at the average rate of exchange for the period or periods during which interest accrued. Upon receipt of an interest payment on the foreign currency debt securities (or the receipt of payment of sale or other disposition proceeds attributable to unpaid interest that was previously accrued into gross income), such a U.S. Holder will recognize exchange gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the payment, determined by translating the foreign currency received at the spot rate in effect of such foreign currency on the date received, and the U.S. dollar value of the interest income that the U.S. Holder has previously included in gross income with respect to the payment. Any exchange gain or loss generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss, but will not be treated as interest income or expense, except to the extent provided in Treasury regulations or administrative pronouncements of the IRS.

For purposes of translating interest accruals under the foregoing rules, the average rate of exchange for an interest accrual period generally is the simple average of the exchange rates in effect for each business day of the application period (or another average that is reasonably derived and consistently applied by the U.S. Holder). A U.S. Holder may elect, however, to translate interest accruals at the spot rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period (or last day of the taxable year in the case of an accrual period that straddles the U.S. Holder’s taxable year), or on the date that the interest payment is received if that date is within five business days of the end of the accrual period. The election would apply to all foreign currency debt securities held or subsequently acquired by the U.S. Holder on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies and is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS.

The amount of OID on foreign currency debt securities will be determined for any accrual period in the applicable foreign currency and then translated into U.S. dollars in the same manner as interest income accrued by a U.S. Holder using the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as described above. Likewise, a U.S. Holder will recognize exchange gain or loss when payments attributable to the OID are made to the extent of the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the accrued OID (determined in the same manner as for accrued interest) and the U.S. dollar value of the payment (determined by translating any foreign currency received at the spot rate for the foreign currency on the date of payment). For this purpose, all receipts on foreign currency debt securities will be viewed (i) first, as the receipt of any periodic interest payments provided under the terms of the foreign currency debt securities, (ii) second, as the receipt of previously accrued OID (to the extent of such OID), with payments considered made beginning with the earliest accrual periods, and (iii) thereafter, as the receipt of principal.

If a U.S. Holder purchases foreign currency debt securities with previously-owned foreign currency, then the initial tax basis of the foreign currency debt securities will be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency paid, determined at the time of purchase. In the case of foreign currency debt securities that are traded on an established securities market, a cash-method U.S. Holder (or an accrual-method U.S. Holder that so elects) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the cost of the foreign currency debt securities by translating the amount paid at the spot rate in effect on the settlement date of the purchase. A U.S. Holder who purchases foreign currency debt securities with previously owned foreign currency will recognize exchange gain or loss at the time of purchase attributable to the difference at the time of purchase, if any, between the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the foreign currency and the fair market value of the foreign currency debt securities, in U.S. dollars, on the date of purchase. The exchange gain or loss will be ordinary income or loss.

 

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When determining the amount of any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of foreign currency debt securities, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized in the foreign currency (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which generally will be treated as a payment of interest), determined at the time of the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition and in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s applicable method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of foreign currency debt securities that are denominated in a foreign currency and traded on an established securities market, a cash basis U.S. Holder (or an accrual basis U.S. Holder that so elects) will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized by translating at the spot rate in effect on the settlement date of the sale. A U.S. Holder will recognize exchange gain or loss attributable to the movement in exchange rates between the time of purchase and disposition of foreign currency debt securities. Such gain or loss generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss from U.S. sources. The amount of exchange gain or loss will be limited to the amount of overall gain or loss realized on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of the foreign currency debt securities.

A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in foreign currency received as interest on foreign currency debt securities will be the U.S. dollar value of the interest payment at the spot rate in effect on the date that the foreign currency is received. The tax basis in foreign currency received on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of foreign currency debt securities will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency, determined at the time of the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition in the manner described above. Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder on a taxable disposition of the foreign currency will be ordinary income or loss, but will not be treated as interest income or expense, except to the extent provided in Treasury regulations or administrative pronouncements of the IRS.

Special rules apply to foreign currency debt securities that are denominated in one of certain hyperinflationary currencies, denominated in multiple currencies, and contingent payment debt securities denominated in a foreign currency. Prospective investors should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement for any such debt securities and should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of such debt securities before deciding to purchase such debt securities.

Reportable Transactions. Applicable Treasury regulations require taxpayers that participate in “reportable transactions” to disclose their participation to the IRS by attaching Form 8886 to their U.S. federal tax returns and to retain a copy of all documents and records related to the transaction. In addition, “material advisors” with respect to such a transaction are required to file returns and maintain records, including lists identifying investors in the transactions, and to furnish those records to the IRS upon demand. A transaction may be a “reportable transaction” based on any of several criteria, one or more of which may be present with respect to an investment in the debt securities. Whether an investment in the debt securities constitutes a “reportable transaction” for any investor depends on that investor’s particular circumstances. The regulations provide that, in addition to certain other transactions, a “loss transaction” constitutes a “reportable transaction.” A “loss transaction” is any transaction resulting in the taxpayer claiming a loss under Section 165 of the Code in an amount equal to or in excess of certain threshold amounts. The regulations specifically provide that a loss resulting from a “Section 988 transaction” (which includes a transaction payable in a foreign currency) will constitute a Section 165 loss. Therefore, losses realized with respect to foreign currency debt securities may constitute a Section 988 transaction, and a holder of such debt securities that recognizes exchange loss in an amount that exceeds the loss threshold amount applicable to that holder may be required to file Form 8886. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors concerning any possible disclosure obligation they may have with respect to their investment in foreign currency debt securities and should be aware that, should any “material advisor” determine that the return filing or investor list maintenance requirements apply to an offering of such debt securities, they would be required to comply with these requirements.

 

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Common Stock and Preferred Stock

Distributions. A distribution paid by us in respect of common or preferred stock will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. The gross amount of any such dividend to a U.S. Holder will be included in the gross income of the U.S. Holder, as ordinary dividend income from U.S. sources. In general, distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will not be taxable to a U.S. Holder to the extent that such distributions to the U.S. Holder do not exceed the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of common or preferred stock with respect to which the distribution is paid, but rather will reduce the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such common or preferred stock (but not below zero). To the extent that distributions exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits as well as the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common or preferred stock, such distributions generally will be taxable as capital gain realized in respect of the common or preferred stock.

Under current U.S. federal income tax law, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, generally will constitute qualified dividend income eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax, provided certain conditions and requirements are satisfied, such as minimum holding period requirements. U.S. Holders that are corporations may be eligible for a partial dividends-received deduction with respect to dividend distributions that are paid in respect of common or preferred stock, subject to certain conditions and requirements, such as minimum holding period requirements. There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits for distributions in respect of common or preferred stock to qualify as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Holders should be aware that dividends exceeding certain thresholds in relation to such U.S. Holders’ tax basis in the common or preferred stock could be characterized as “extraordinary dividends” (as defined in Section 1059 of the Code). Generally, a corporate U.S. Holder that receives an extraordinary dividend is required to reduce its tax basis in the common or preferred stock by the portion of such dividend that is not taxed because of the dividends received deduction, and is required to recognize taxable gain to the extent such portion of the dividend exceeds the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common or preferred stock. U.S. Holders who are individuals and who receive an “extraordinary dividend” would be required to treat any losses on the sale of the common or preferred stock as long-term capital losses to the extent that the dividends received by them qualified for the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income, as described above. Prospective investors in common or preferred stock should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the potential application of the “extraordinary dividend” rules to an investment in the common or preferred stock.

Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Common or Preferred Stock. In general, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or other taxable disposition of common or preferred stock in an amount equal to the difference between the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such disposition and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common or preferred stock at the time of the disposition. Any such capital gain will be long-term capital gain if the common or preferred stock has been held by the U.S. Holder for more than one year. Under current U.S. federal income tax law, certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) are eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gains. The ability to utilize capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code.

Redemptions of Common Stock or Preferred Stock. A redemption of shares of common or preferred stock generally will be treated under Section 302 of the Code as a distribution unless the redemption satisfies one of the tests set forth in Section 302(b) of the Code and is therefore treated as a sale or exchange of the common or preferred stock that is redeemed. If a redemption of shares of common or preferred stock is treated as a sale or exchange, the redemption will be taxable as described under “—Sale or Other Taxable Dispositions of Common or Preferred Stock” above, except that an amount received in respect of declared but unpaid dividends generally will be taxable as a dividend if we have sufficient current or accumulated earnings and profits, as described above under “—Distributions.”

 

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A redemption will be treated as a sale or exchange if it (i) results in a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest in us, (ii) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a U.S. Holder, or (iii) is not “essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to a U.S. Holder, all within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code. In determining whether any of these tests has been met, shares of common or preferred stock deemed owned by a U.S. Holder by reason of certain constructive ownership rules, as well as shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder, must be taken into account. A redemption of shares of common and preferred stock held by a U.S. Holder generally will qualify for sale or exchange treatment if the U.S. Holder does not own (actually or constructively) any shares of any classes of our common or preferred stock following the redemption, or if the U.S. Holder owns (actually or constructively) only an insubstantial percentage of our common or preferred stock, the redemption has the effect of decreasing such ownership percentage and the U.S. Holder does not participate in our control or management. However, the determination as to whether any of the tests of Section 302(b) of the Code will be satisfied with respect to any particular U.S. Holder depends upon the facts and circumstances at the time of the redemption.

If a redemption of shares of common or preferred stock is treated as a distribution, the entire amount received will be taxable as described under the caption “—Distributions” above. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect of such transaction on the tax basis of any remaining shares of common or preferred stock held by such holder immediately after the redemption.

Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors for purposes of determining the tax consequences resulting from redemption of shares of common or preferred stock in their particular circumstances.

Terms of Preferred Stock. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of preferred stock will depend on a number of factors, including the specific terms of the preferred stock (such as any put or call option or redemption provisions, any conversion or exchange features and the price at which the preferred stock is sold). Prospective investors should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement and should consult their own tax advisors, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences, if any, of the ownership and disposition of preferred stock based upon their particular circumstances and the terms of the preferred stock.

Medicare Tax

A U. S. Holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold. A U.S. Holder’s net investment income will generally include its interest and dividend income and net gain from the disposition of the debt securities and common and preferred stock, unless such income and net gain is derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). Net investment income may, however, be reduced by properly allocable deductions to such income. U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to their income and gains from the debt securities, common stock and preferred stock.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

Debt Securities

Payments of Interest ( including OID ). Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“ FATCA ”), payments of interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities by us or our paying agent to any Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax (including withholding tax), provided that:

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

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    the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership or a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;

 

    the interest is not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (or, if a tax treaty applies, is not attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States);

 

    the interest is not considered contingent interest under Section 871(h)(4)(A) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder; and

 

    the certification requirement has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner, as discussed below.

The certification requirement referred to above will be fulfilled if (i) the beneficial owner of the debt securities certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other successor form, under penalties of perjury, that such beneficial owner is not a U.S. person and provides its name and address, and (ii) the beneficial owner files IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other successor form with the paying agent, or in the case of debt securities held on behalf of the beneficial owner by a securities clearing organization, bank, or other financial institution holding customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business, such financial institution files with the paying agent a statement that it has received the IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other successor form from the beneficial owner and furnishes the paying agent with a copy. With respect to debt securities held by a foreign partnership, unless the foreign partnership has entered into a withholding agreement with the IRS, the foreign partnership generally will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8IMY or other successor form and to associate with such form an appropriate certification or other appropriate documentation from each partner. Prospective investors, including foreign partnerships and their partners, should consult their tax advisors regarding additional reporting possible requirements.

If the requirements are not satisfied, a 30% withholding tax will apply to the gross amount of interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities that is paid to a Non-U.S. Holder, unless either: (a) an applicable income tax treaty reduces or eliminates such tax, and the Non-U.S. Holder claims the benefit of that treaty by providing a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other successor form establishing qualification for benefits under the treaty, or (b) interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and the Non-U.S. Holder provides an appropriate statement to that effect on a properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-8ECI, W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or other successor form. If a Non-U.S. Holder of debt securities is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding sentence, will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on its effectively connected income, generally in the same manner as a U.S. Holder (or in a manner specified by an applicable income tax treaty). See “—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders” above. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty) on its earnings and profits for the taxable year attributable to its effectively connected income, subject to certain adjustments.

Sale, Retirement, or Other Taxable Disposition of Debt Securities.

A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, retirement or other taxable disposition of the debt securities, unless:

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met; or

 

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    the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States).

If the first exception applies, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the amount by which its U.S.-source capital gains exceed its U.S.-source capital losses. If the second exception applies, the non-U.S. holder will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale or other disposition of the debt securities in the same manner as a U.S. Holder. See “—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders” above. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax (unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty) on its earnings and profits for the taxable year attributable to its effectively connected income, subject to certain adjustments.

Common Stock and Preferred Stock

Distributions . Except as described below, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect of common or preferred stock generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty. In order to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder will be required to satisfy applicable certification (for example, IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other applicable or successor form) and other requirements prior to the distribution date. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty and the requirements for claiming any such benefits.

Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States) generally are exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax. Instead, any such dividends generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. Holder, as described above. See “—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders” above. Non-U.S. Holders will be required to comply with certification (for example, IRS Form W-8ECI or other applicable or successor form) and other requirements in order for effectively connected income to be exempt from the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax. A corporate Non-U.S. Holder also may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty) with respect to any effectively connected dividends, subject to certain adjustments.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common or Preferred Stock . A Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of common or preferred stock under the same principles discussed in “—Sale, Retirement, or Other Taxable Disposition of Debt Securities” above as long as we are not and have not been a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the five year period (or shorter period in some situations) ending on the date of the disposition. We have not been, are not and do not anticipate becoming a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

As discussed above under “—U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders—Common Stock and Preferred Stock—Redemptions of Common Stock or Preferred Stock,” the proceeds received from a redemption of shares of common or preferred stock may be treated as a distribution in certain circumstances, in which case, the discussion above under “—Distributions” would be applicable.

Terms of Preferred Stock. The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of preferred stock will depend on a number of factors, including the specific terms of the preferred stock (such as any put or call option or redemption provisions, any conversion or exchange features and the price at which the preferred stock is sold). Prospective investors should carefully examine the applicable prospectus supplement and should consult their own tax advisors, regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences, if any, of the ownership and disposition of preferred stock based upon their particular circumstances and the terms of the preferred stock.

 

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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

U.S. Holders. In general, a U.S. Holder (other than exempt holders) will be subject to information reporting requirements with respect to (i) payments of principal, premium (if any), and interest (including OID) paid in respect of, and the proceeds from a sale, redemption or other disposition of the debt securities, and (ii) dividends and other taxable distributions paid in respect of, and the proceeds from a sale, redemption or other disposition of, the common or preferred stock. In addition, such a U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding on such payments if the U.S. Holder (i) fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number to the payor; (ii) has been notified by the IRS of a failure to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on its U.S. federal income tax returns; or (iii) in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding rules in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Non-U.S. Holders . In general, we or our paying agent must report to the IRS and to a Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest (including OID, if any) on the debt securities, and dividends on the common or preferred stock, paid to the Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of U.S. federal withholding tax, if any, deducted from those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest and dividend payments and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax also may be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty. A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments that we make on the debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock provided that we or our paying agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person (as defined under the Code), and we or our paying agent has received from the Non-U.S. Holder an appropriate certification of non-U.S. status ( i.e. , IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E or other applicable or successor Form W-8). Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding will apply to the payment of the proceeds of a sale of debt securities or shares of common or preferred stock, as the case may be, that is effected within the United States or effected outside the United States through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies under penalty of perjury as to its non-U.S. status, and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis. Non-U.S. Holders of debt securities should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining an exemption, if applicable.

Legislation Affecting the Taxation of Debt Securities, Common Stock and Preferred Stock Held by or through Foreign Entities

FATCA, contained in Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, imposes a 30% withholding tax on withholdable payments (as defined below) made to a foreign financial institution, unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to, among other things, collect and provide to it substantial information regarding such institution’s United States financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with United States owners. The legislation also generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on withholdable payments to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the paying agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial United States owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity. “Withholdable payments” include payments of interest

 

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(including OID) with respect to debt securities and distributions in respect of common or preferred stock from sources within the United States, as well as gross proceeds from the sale of any property of a type which can produce interest or distributions from sources within the United States, unless the payments of interest, distributions or gross proceeds are effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business and taxed as such. Under final Treasury regulations and other administrative guidance, withholding on gross proceeds will be delayed until January 1, 2019. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations, may modify these requirements. Investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the legislation and Treasury regulations to the debt securities.

 

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EU DIRECTIVE ON THE TAXATION OF SAVINGS INCOME

The EC Council Directive 2003/48/EC on the taxation of savings income, as amended (the “ Directive ”), has been repealed from January 1, 2017, in the case of Austria, and from January 1, 2016, in the case of all other EU Member States (subject to on-going requirements to fulfill administrative obligations such as the reporting and exchange of information relating to, and accounting for withholding taxes on, payments made before those dates). The repeal is meant to prevent overlap between the Directive and a new automatic exchange of information regime implemented under Council Directive 2011/16/EU on Administrative Cooperation in the field of Taxation (as amended by Council Directive 2014/107/EU). Council Directive 2011/16/EU (as amended) effectively implements the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s common reporting standard on automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters, requires governments to obtain detailed account information from financial institutions and exchange that information automatically with other jurisdictions annually. Council Directive 2011/16/EU (as amended) is generally broader in scope than the Directive, although it does not impose withholding taxes. The agreements with non-EU countries on the basis of the Directive are being revised to be aligned with Council Directive 2011/16/EU (as amended).

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

We may sell the securities offered under this prospectus through agents, through underwriters or dealers or directly to one or more purchasers. We may also offer the securities in exchange for our outstanding indebtedness.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act of 1933 and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the offered securities by them may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation, including any underwriting discount or commission, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe other terms of the offering, including the initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers or agents and any securities exchanges on which the offered securities may be listed. The maximum discount or commission that may be received by any member of FINRA for sales of securities pursuant to this prospectus, together with the reimbursement of any counsel fees by us, will not exceed 8.00% of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any securities being sold.

The distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus may occur from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

We may determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement how any auction will be conducted to determine the price or any other terms of the securities, how potential investors may participate in the auction and, where applicable, the nature of the underwriters’ obligations with respect to the auction.

If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we will authorize dealers or our agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase offered securities from us under contracts that provide for payment and delivery on a future date. We must approve all institutions, but they may include, among others:

 

    commercial and savings banks;

 

    insurance companies;

 

    pension funds;

 

    investment companies; and

 

    educational and charitable institutions.

The institutional purchaser’s obligations under the contract are only subject to the condition that the purchase of the offered securities at the time of delivery is allowed by the laws that govern the purchaser. The dealers and our agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of the contracts.

One or more of our indirectly, wholly-owned subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC may help place some of the securities offered under this prospectus. If this occurs, the placement will comply with Rule 5121 of FINRA. The underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the sale of securities offered by this prospectus will not confirm sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the customer in accordance with Rule 5121 of FINRA.

 

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This prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, may also be used by our affiliates, including, but not limited to, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, in connection with offers and sales of the offered securities in market-making transactions at negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale. Such affiliates may act as principals or agents in such transactions. None of our affiliates have any obligation to make a market in any of the offered securities and each may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice, at its sole discretion.

The aggregate initial offering price specified on the cover of the applicable supplement will relate to an initial offering of securities, and will not relate to any securities to be sold in market-making transactions. Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, or another of our affiliates, may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction in any of these securities after their initial sale. Information about the trade and settlement dates, as well as the purchase price, for a market-making transaction will be provided to the purchaser in a separate confirmation of sale. The securities to be sold in market-making transactions include securities issued after the date of this prospectus.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers and agents, including our subsidiaries mentioned above, to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make as a result of those certain civil liabilities.

In connection with any offering of the securities offered under this prospectus, underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of such securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by underwriters of a greater number of securities than the underwriters are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.

Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid in any offering of securities offered under this prospectus through a syndicate of underwriters. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the other underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

These activities by underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities offered under this prospectus. As a result, the price of such securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

When we issue the securities offered by this prospectus, except for shares of common stock or debt securities issued upon a reopening of an existing series of debt securities, they may be new securities without an established trading market. If we sell a security offered by this prospectus to an underwriter for public offering and sale, the underwriter may make a market for that security, but the underwriter will not be obligated to do so and could discontinue any market making without notice at any time. Therefore, we cannot give any assurances to you concerning the liquidity of any security offered by this prospectus.

Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may engage in various activities which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Underwriters and agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses. In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and agents and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for

 

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their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters and agents and their affiliates may have a lending relationship with us and hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters, agents or their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the securities offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the securities offered hereby. In addition, in connection with the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus, we may enter into swap or other hedging transactions with, or arranged by, underwriters or agents or their affiliates. These underwriters or agents or their affiliates may receive compensation, trading gain or other benefits from these transactions. The underwriters and agents and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments. The underwriters and agents and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Delivery of the securities will be made against payment therefor on or about the issue date specified in a supplement to this prospectus. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days after the date the securities are priced, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, if the applicable supplement to this prospectus specifies that the issue date is more than three business days after the date on which the securities are priced, purchasers who wish to trade such securities at any time prior to the third business day preceding the issue date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the securities will not settle in T+3, to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement; such purchasers should also consult their own advisors in this regard.

Sales Restrictions

General

Each underwriter will agree that it will, to the best of its knowledge and belief, comply with all applicable securities laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction in which it purchases, offers, sells or delivers our securities or possesses or distributes this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement or any other offering material and will obtain any required consent, approval or permission for its purchase, offer, sale or delivery of such securities under the laws and regulations in force in any jurisdiction to which it is subject or in which it makes purchases, offers, sales or deliveries. We will not have any responsibility for an underwriter’s compliance with applicable securities laws.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “ Relevant Member State ”), each underwriter will represent and agree, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “ Relevant Implementation Date ”), that it has not made and will not make an offer of the securities to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date make an offer of the securities to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

 

    to any legal entity that is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

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    to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the issuer; or

 

    in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive or any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “ offer of the securities to the public ” in relation to any securities in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means, presenting sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered, so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to the securities, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression “ Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (including by the 2010 PD Amending Directive), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that all offers of the securities in any Member State of the European Economic Area will be made pursuant to an exemption under Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in that Relevant Member State, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the securities. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer of the securities in that Relevant Member State may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us, our affiliates or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Directive for such offer. Neither we nor any underwriter will authorize the making of any offer of the securities in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Directive for such offer.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom, each underwriter will represent and agree with respect to the securities offered or sold by it, that:

 

    in relation to any securities, which have a maturity of less than one year, (1) it and each of its affiliates is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (2) it and each of its affiliates has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any securities other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the securities would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the “ FSMA ”) by us;

 

    it and each of its affiliates has complied, and will comply, with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and

 

    it and each of its affiliates has only communicated, or caused to be communicated, and will only communicate, or cause to be communicated, an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to it, its affiliates or us.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The securities may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the securities may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “ SFA ”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an individual who is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such securities of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further, for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) when the transfer is by operation of law.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the “ Financial Instruments and Exchange Law ”) and each underwriter will represent and agree that it will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any securities in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Purchasers of our securities may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges in accordance with the laws and practices of the country of purchase in addition to the price to public disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP will issue an opinion about the legality of the securities offered by this prospectus. Jeannine E. Zahn, who is our Senior Counsel, or another of our lawyers, will issue an opinion to the underwriters or agents on certain matters related to the securities. Ms. Zahn owns, or has the right to acquire, a number of shares of our common stock which represents less than 0.1% of the total outstanding common stock. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, San Francisco, California. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP represents us and certain of our subsidiaries in other legal matters. Ms. Zahn may rely on Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as to matters of New York law and as to certain matters of California law.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

Registration Fee

    0 (1)     

Legal Fees and Expenses*

  $ 500,000       

Trustee Fees and Expenses*

    500,000       

Accounting Fees and Expenses*

    1,250,000       

Blue Sky and Legal Investment Fees and Expenses*

    100,000       

Printing and Engraving Fees*

    150,000       

Rating Agency Fees*

    14,000,000       

Listing Fees*

    150,000       

Miscellaneous*

    50,000       
 

 

 

 

Total*

   $     16,700,000       
 

 

 

 

 

(1) Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

*Estimated pursuant to instruction to Item 511 of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes indemnification of directors and officers of a Delaware corporation under certain circumstances against expenses, judgments and the like in connection with litigation. Article Fourteenth of the restated certificate of incorporation of Wells Fargo & Company (“ Wells Fargo ”), as amended, provides for broad indemnification of directors and officers. Wells Fargo also maintains insurance coverage relating to certain liabilities of directors and officers.

Pursuant to the terms of underwriting agreements and distribution agreements executed in connection with offerings of securities pursuant to this Registration Statement, the directors and officers of the Registrant will be indemnified against certain civil liabilities that they may incur under the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with this Registration Statement and the related prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement.

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

 

1(a)    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.*
1(b)    Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Stock.*
1(c)    Form of Distribution Agreement.*
4(a)    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Wells Fargo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 filed August 3, 2016).
4(b)    Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations with respect to the Class A Preferred Stock, Series H (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017).

 

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4(c)    Certificate of Designation for 2017 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on 8-K filed February 2, 2017).
4(d)    By-Laws of Wells Fargo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 1, 2016).
4(e)    Senior Indenture dated as of February 21, 2017 between Wells Fargo and Citibank, N.A.
4(f)    Subordinated Indenture dated as of February 23, 2017 between Wells Fargo and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association.
4(g)    Forms of Registered Medium-Term Notes.*
4(h)    Form of Senior Note. *
4(i)    Form of Subordinated Note.*
4(j)    Form of Certificate of Designations of Powers, Preferences and Rights of Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(v) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(k)    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(w) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(l)    Form of Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(x) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(m)    Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt.*
4(n)    Form of Debt Warrant Agreement, including form of Debt Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(z) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(o)    Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a)(a) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(p)    Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b)(b) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(q)    Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c)(c) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).
4(r)    Form of Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(rr) to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed March 10, 2003).
4(s)    Form of Purchase Contract (Issuer Sale) (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).
4(t)    Form of Purchase Contract (Issuer Purchase) (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).

 

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4(u)    Form of Unit Certificate (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).
   Wells Fargo and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries have outstanding certain long-term debt. No individual series of such debt exceeds 10% of the total assets of Wells Fargo and its consolidated subsidiaries. Copies of instruments with respect to long-term debt will be furnished to the Commission upon request.
5    Opinion of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.
12    Computations of ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 12(a) and 12(b) to Wells Fargo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed February 24, 2016 and Exhibits 12(a) and 12(b) to Wells Fargo’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed November 3, 2016).
23(a)    Consent of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5).
23(b)    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
24    Powers of Attorney of Wells Fargo.
25(a)    Statement of Eligibility of Citibank, N.A., trustee under the senior indenture.
25(b)    Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, trustee under the subordinated indenture.

 

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference or by a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement.

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

(a) The 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 represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement;

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

 

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provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) 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 the 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 that 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.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the 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;

 

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(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 their 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.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes 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.

(c) 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 Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the 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 Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-5


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 San Francisco, State of California, on February 24, 2017.

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Timothy J. Sloan

   Timothy J. Sloan
   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on February 24, 2017 by the following persons in the capacities with Wells Fargo & Company indicated:

 

/s/ Timothy J. Sloan

       President and Chief Executive Officer
Timothy J. Sloan        (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ John R. Shrewsberry

       Senior Executive Vice President and
John R. Shrewsberry        Chief Financial Officer
       (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Richard D. Levy

       Executive Vice President and Controller
Richard D. Levy        (Principal Accounting Officer)
      
JOHN D. BAKER II   )     
JOHN S. CHEN   )     
LLOYD H. DEAN   )     
ELIZABETH A. DUKE   )     
SUSAN E. ENGEL   )     
ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, JR.   )     

DONALD M. JAMES

 

)

     A majority of the Board of Directors of

CYNTHIA H. MILLIGAN

 

)

     Wells Fargo & Company*
FEDERICO F. PEÑA   )     
JAMES H. QUIGLEY   )     
STEPHEN W. SANGER   )     
TIMOTHY J. SLOAN   )     
SUSAN G. SWENSON   )     
SUZANNE M. VAUTRINOT   )     

 

*Timothy J. Sloan, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the directors named above pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by the directors named and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of such directors.

 

 

/s/ Timothy J. Sloan

  Timothy J. Sloan, Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-6


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

    Number    

 

 Description

  

Form of
Filing

    1(a)   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities.*   
    1(b)   Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Stock.*   
    1(c)   Form of Distribution Agreement.*   
    4(a)   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Wells Fargo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 filed August 3, 2016).   
    4(b)   Certificate Eliminating the Certificate of Designations with respect to the Class A Preferred Stock, Series H (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017).   
    4(c)   Certificate of Designation for 2017 ESOP Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on 8-K filed February 2, 2017).   
    4(d)   By-Laws of Wells Fargo (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Wells Fargo’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 1, 2016).   
    4(e)   Senior Indenture dated as of February 21, 2017 between Wells Fargo and Citibank, N.A.    Electronic Transmission
    4(f)   Subordinated Indenture dated as of February 23, 2017 between Wells Fargo and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association.    Electronic Transmission
    4(g)   Forms of Registered Medium-Term Notes.*   
    4(h)   Form of Senior Note. *   
    4(i)   Form of Subordinated Note.*   
    4(j)   Form of Certificate of Designations of Powers, Preferences and Rights of Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(v) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(k)   Form of Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(w) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(l)   Form of Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(x) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(m)   Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt.*   
    4(n)   Form of Debt Warrant Agreement, including form of Debt Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(z) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   

 

1


    Number    

 

 Description

  

Form of
Filing

    4(o)   Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Preferred Stock Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(a)(a) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(p)   Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement, including form of Common Stock Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b)(b) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(q)   Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c)(c) to Amendment No. 1 to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated June 15, 1999).   
    4(r)   Form of Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(rr) to Wells Fargo’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed March 10, 2003).   
    4(s)   Form of Purchase Contract (Issuer Sale) (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).   
    4(t)   Form of Purchase Contract (Issuer Purchase) (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).   
    4(u)   Form of Unit Certificate (included as part of Exhibit 4(r)).   
  Wells Fargo and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries have outstanding certain long-term debt. No individual series of such debt exceeds 10% of the total assets of Wells Fargo and its consolidated subsidiaries. Copies of instruments with respect to long-term debt will be furnished to the Commission upon request.   
    5   Opinion of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP.   

Electronic

Transmission

    12   Computations of ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 12(a) and 12(b) to Wells Fargo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed February 24, 2016 and Exhibits 12(a) and 12(b) to Wells Fargo’s Quarterly Report on 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 filed November 3, 2016).   
    23(a)   Consent of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5).   
    23(b)   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.   

Electronic

Transmission

    24   Powers of Attorney of Wells Fargo.   

Electronic

Transmission

    25(a)   Statement of Eligibility of Citibank, N.A., trustee under the senior indenture.   

Electronic

Transmission

    25(b)   Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, trustee under the subordinated indenture.    Electronic
Transmission

 

* To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference or by a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement.

 

2

Exhibit 4(e)

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

TO

CITIBANK, N.A.,

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 21, 2017

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

 

 


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of February 21, 2017

 

Trust Indenture Act Section    Indenture Section

§310(a)(1)

   609

          (a)(2)

   609

          (a)(3)

   Not Applicable

          (a)(4)

   Not Applicable

          (b)

   608, 610

§311(a)

   613

          (b)

   613

§312(a)

   701, 702(a)

          (b)

   702(b)

          (c)

   702(c)

§313(a)

   703(a)

          (b)

   703(a)

          (c)

   703(a)

          (d)

   703(b)

§314(a)

   704, 1007

          (b)

   Not Applicable

          (c)(1)

   102

          (c)(2)

   102

          (c)(3)

   Not Applicable

          (d)

   Not Applicable

          (e)

   102

§315(a)

   601

          (b)

   602

          (c)

   601

          (d)

   601

          (e)

   514

§316(a)(1)(A)

   502, 512

          (a)(1)(B)

   513

          (a)(2)

   Not Applicable

          (b)

   508

          (c)

   104(h)

§317(a)(1)

   503

          (a)(2)

   504

          (b)

   1003

§318(a)

   107

 

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
 

Parties

     1  
 

Recitals

     1  

 

ARTICLE ONE

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

 

 

Section 101. Definitions

     1  
 

Act

     2  
 

Affiliate

     2  
 

Authorized Newspaper

     2  
 

Bearer Security

     2  
 

Board of Directors

     2  
 

Board Resolution

     2  
 

Business Day

     2  
 

Capital Stock

     3  
 

Clearstream

     3  
 

Commission

     3  
 

Company

     3  
 

Company Request” and “Company Order

     3  
 

Corporate Trust Office

     3  
 

corporation

     3  
 

coupon

     3  
 

Covenant Breach

     3  
 

Debt Securities

     4  
 

Defaulted Interest

     4  
 

Depositary

     4  
 

Designated Currency

     4  
 

Dollar” or “$

     4  
 

Eligible Instruments

     4  
 

Euroclear

     4  
 

Event of Default

     4  
 

Exchange Act

     5  
 

Exchange Rate

     5  
 

Exchange Rate Agent

     5  
 

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate

     5  
 

Foreign Currency

     5  
 

Global Exchange Agent

     5  
 

Global Exchange Date

     5  
 

Global Security

     5  
 

Holder

     5  
 

Indenture

     5  
 

interest

     5  
 

Interest Payment Date

     5  


 

Maturity

     5  
 

Officers’ Certificate

     6  
 

Opinion of Counsel

     6  
 

Original Issue Discount Security

     6  
 

Outstanding

     6  
 

Paying Agent

     6  
 

Person

     7  
 

Place of Payment

     7  
 

Predecessor Security

     7  
 

Principal Subsidiary Bank

     7  
 

Redemption Date

     7  
 

Redemption Price

     7  
 

Registered Security

     7  
 

Regular Record Date

     7  
 

Remarketing Entity

     7  
 

Repayment Date

     7  
 

Repayment Price

     7  
 

Responsible Officer

     8  
 

Security Register

     8  
 

Special Record Date

     8  
 

Stated Maturity

     8  
 

Subsidiary

     8  
 

Subsidiary Bank

     8  
 

Trust Indenture Act

     8  
 

Trustee

     8  
 

United States

     8  
 

United States Alien

     8  
 

U.S. Government Obligations

     9  
 

Voting Stock

     9  

Section 102.

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     9  

Section 103.

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     10  

Section 104.

 

Acts of Holders

     10  

Section 105.

 

Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company

     12  

Section 106.

 

Notice to Holders; Waiver

     12  

Section 107.

 

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     13  

Section 108.

 

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     14  

Section 109.

 

Successors and Assigns

     14  

Section 110.

 

Separability Clause

     14  

Section 111.

 

Benefits of Indenture

     14  

Section 112.

 

Governing Law

     14  

Section 113.

 

Legal Holidays

     14  

Section 114.

 

Counterparts

     14  

Section 115.

 

Force Majeure

     15  

Section 116.

 

U.S.A. Patriot Act

     15  

 

ii


ARTICLE TWO

Debt Security Forms

 

 

Section 201.

 

Forms Generally

     15  

Section 202.

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     16  

Section 203.

 

Debt Securities in Global Form

     16  

ARTICLE THREE

The Debt Securities

 

 

Section 301.

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuance in Series

     17  

Section 302.

 

Denominations

     20  

Section 303.

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     20  

Section 304.

 

Temporary Debt Securities

     23  

Section 305.

 

Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     25  

Section 306.

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Debt Securities

     29  

Section 307.

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     30  

Section 308.

 

Persons Deemed Owners

     32  

Section 309.

 

Cancellation

     32  

Section 310.

 

Computation of Interest

     32  

Section 311.

 

Certification by a Person Entitled to Delivery of a Bearer Security

     33  

Section 312.

 

Judgments

     33  

ARTICLE FOUR

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

 

Section 401.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     33  

Section 402.

 

Application of Trust Money and Eligible Instruments

     35  

Section 403.

 

Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series

     36  

ARTICLE FIVE

Remedies

 

 

Section 501.

 

Events of Default

     38  

Section 502.

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     39  

Section 503.

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     40  

Section 504.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     41  

Section 505.

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Debt Securities or Coupons

     42  

Section 506.

 

Application of Money Collected

     42  

Section 507.

 

Limitation on Suits

     42  

Section 508.

 

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     43  

Section 509.

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     43  

Section 510.

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     44  

Section 511.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     44  

Section 512.

 

Control by Holders of Debt Securities

     44  

Section 513.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     44  

Section 514.

 

Undertaking for Costs

     45  

Section 515.

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     45  

 

iii


ARTICLE SIX

The Trustee

 

 

Section 601.

 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     46  

Section 602.

 

Notice of Default

     47  

Section 603.

 

Certain Rights of Trustee

     47  

Section 604.

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities

     48  

Section 605.

 

May Hold Debt Securities or Coupons

     49  

Section 606.

 

Money Held in Trust

     49  

Section 607.

 

Compensation and Reimbursement

     49  

Section 608.

 

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     50  

Section 609.

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     50  

Section 610.

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     50  

Section 611.

 

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     52  

Section 612.

 

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     53  

Section 613.

 

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     54  

Section 614.

 

Authenticating Agent

     54  

ARTICLE SEVEN

Holders’ Lists and Reports By Trustee and Company

 

 

Section 701.

 

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     55  

Section 702.

 

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     56  

Section 703.

 

Reports by Trustee

     56  

Section 704.

 

Reports by Company

     56  

ARTICLE EIGHT

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

 

 

Section 801.

 

Company May Consolidate, etc. Only on Certain Terms

     57  

Section 802.

 

Successor Corporation Substituted

     57  

ARTICLE NINE

Supplemental Indentures

 

 

Section 901.

 

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

     58  

Section 902.

 

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     59  

Section 903.

 

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     61  

Section 904.

 

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     61  

Section 905.

 

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     61  

Section 906.

 

Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     61  

ARTICLE TEN

Covenants

 

 

Section 1001.

 

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     62  

Section 1002.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     62  

Section 1003.

 

Money for Debt Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

     63  

Section 1004.

 

[Reserved]

     64  

Section 1005.

 

Restrictions Upon Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Certain Subsidiary Banks

     65  

Section 1006.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

     65  

 

iv


Section 1007.

 

Officers’ Certificate as to Default

     66  

Section 1008.

 

Waiver of Certain Covenants

     66  

Section 1009.

 

Calculation of Original Issue Discount

     67  

ARTICLE ELEVEN

Redemption of Debt Securities

 

 

Section 1101.

 

Applicability of Article

     67  

Section 1102.

 

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     67  

Section 1103.

 

Selection by Trustee of Debt Securities to be Redeemed

     67  

Section 1104.

 

Notice of Redemption

     68  

Section 1105.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     69  

Section 1106.

 

Debt Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     69  

Section 1107.

 

Debt Securities Redeemed in Part

     70  

ARTICLE TWELVE

Sinking Funds

 

 

Section 1201.

 

Applicability of Article

     70  

Section 1202.

 

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities

     70  

Section 1203.

 

Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund

     71  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

Repayment at the Option of Holders

 

 

Section 1301.

 

Applicability of Article

     71  

Section 1302.

 

Repayment of Debt Securities

     72  

Section 1303.

 

Exercise of Option; Notice

     72  

Section 1304.

 

Election of Repayment by Remarketing Entities

     73  

Section 1305.

 

Securities Payable on the Repayment Date

     73  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

Meetings of Holders of Debt Securities

 

 

Section 1401.

 

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

     73  

Section 1402.

 

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

     74  

Section 1403.

 

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

     74  

Section 1404.

 

Quorum; Action

     74  

Section 1405.

 

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

     75  

Section 1406.

 

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

     76  

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

Defeasance

 

 

Section 1501.

 

Termination of Company’s Obligations

     76  

Section 1502.

 

Repayment to Company

     78  

Section 1503.

 

Indemnity for Eligible Instruments

     78  

        Testimonium

     76  

        Signature and Seals

     76  

        Acknowledgements

     77  

 

v


INDENTURE (the “Indenture”) dated as of February 21, 2017, between WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94104 and CITIBANK, N.A., (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), a national banking association duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America having its Corporate Trust Office at 388 Greenwich Street, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10013, Attn: Citibank Agency and Trust.

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 debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Debt Securities”).

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Debt Securities of any series created and issued on or after the date hereof by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of such Debt Securities or of any such series, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Definitions and Other Provisions

of General Application

Section 101. Definitions.

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

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

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or by Commission rule or regulation under the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905, 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, and, except


as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation; and

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

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

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

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person 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.

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

“Bearer Security” means any Debt Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer including, without limitation, unless the context otherwise indicates, a Debt Security in global bearer form.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company, or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

“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. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Debt Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee of the Board of Directors or any officer or employee of the Company authorized to take such action by a Board Resolution.

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday and which is not a legal holiday or a day on which banking

 

2


institutions or trust companies in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

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

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme .

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

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

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President (any references to a Vice President of the Company herein shall be deemed to include any Vice President of the Company whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or by another officer of the Company duly authorized to sign by a Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at 388 Greenwich Street, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10013, Attn: Citibank Agency and Trust.

The term “corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business trusts.

The term “coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

“Covenant Breach”, wherever used herein with respect to Debt Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Covenant Breach and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law, pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series:

 

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(1) the failure of the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 1008, to observe and perform the covenants contained in Section 1005; or

(2) default in the performance, or breach, 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 in Section 501 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Debt Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Covenant Breach” hereunder; or

(3) any other Covenant Breach provided with respect to the Debt Securities of such series specified as contemplated by Section 301.

A Covenant Breach shall not be an Event of Default with respect to any Debt Security, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Debt Security.

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

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

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301 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 Debt Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Designated Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 312.

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

“Eligible Instruments” means monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in Dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest, including U.S. Government Obligations.

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

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

 

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“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Rate” shall have the meaning specified as contemplated in Section 301.

“Exchange Rate Agent” shall have the meaning specified as contemplated in Section 301.

“Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate”, with respect to any date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any series of Debt Securities, means a certificate setting forth the applicable Exchange Rate and the amounts payable in Dollars and Foreign Currencies in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Debt Securities denominated in any composite currency or Foreign Currency, and signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent appointed pursuant to Section 301, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Global Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“Global Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“Global Security” means a Debt Security issued to evidence all or part of a series of Debt Securities in accordance with Section 303.

“Holder”, with respect to a Registered Security, means a Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register and, with respect to a Bearer Security or a coupon, means the bearer thereof.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented, amended or restated by or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, unless the context otherwise requires, shall include the terms of a particular series of Debt Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

The term “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”, with respect to any Debt Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Debt Security.

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

 

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“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, 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 (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or counsel for the Company, or who may be other counsel, which is delivered to the Trustee.

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

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

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

(ii) Debt Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money or Eligible Instruments 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 Debt Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto; provided, however, that if such Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(iii) Debt Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered, or which have been paid, pursuant to this Indenture;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Debt Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt 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 such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt 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 Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt 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 Debt Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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“Person” means any individual, corporation, 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 Debt Securities of any series means any place where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Debt Security means every previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security.

“Principal Subsidiary Bank” means any Subsidiary Bank at the time having total assets as set forth in its most recent statement of condition equal to more than 10% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis from the Company’s most recent financial statements filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

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

“Registered Security” means any Debt Security in the form of Registered Securities established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

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

“Remarketing Entity”, when used with respect to Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity, means any person designated by the Company to purchase any such Debt Securities.

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

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Debt Security to be repaid upon exercise of an option for repayment by the Holder, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, any assistant vice president, any senior trust officer or assistant trust officer, any trust officer, or any other officer associated with the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

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

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

“Subsidiary” means any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, except for directors’ qualifying shares, of which shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of the Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.

“Subsidiary Bank” means any commercial bank or trust company organized in the United States under Federal or state law, at least a majority of the shares of the Voting Stock of which shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable 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 Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of that series.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the District of Columbia) and its possessions.

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United

 

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States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or 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, and shall also include a depository 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 depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock”, as applied to the stock (or the equivalent thereof) of any corporation, means stock (or the equivalent thereof) of any class or classes, however designated, having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of such corporation, other than stock (or such equivalent) having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

Section 102. 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, if so requested by the Trustee or otherwise provided for in another provision of this Indenture, 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 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 or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an

 

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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 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company 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 or her certificate or opinion is based is 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 opinions or representations with respect to such matters is 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 104. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Debt Securities voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fourteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a

 

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writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Debt Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1406.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

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

(d) The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities in the amount and with the serial numbers therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding.

(e) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing, the authority of the Person executing the same and the principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

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

(g) For purposes of determining the principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series of Holders of which are required, requested or permitted to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other Act under this Indenture, (i) each Original Issue Discount Security shall be deemed to have the principal amount determined by the Trustee that could be declared to be due and payable pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security as of the date there is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, such Act by Holders of the required aggregate principal

 

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amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and (ii) each Debt Security denominated in a Foreign Currency or composite currency shall be deemed to have the principal amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount of such Debt Security in the currency in which such Debt Security is denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the date such Act is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, by Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or, if there is no such rate on such date, such rate on the date determined as specified as contemplated in Section 301).

(h) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Debt Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or Section 513. Such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Debt Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.

Section 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other 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 (unless otherwise herein expressly provided), if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via original or facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and which shall be deemed delivered when actually received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, 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 the attention of its Secretary at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, (1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at such Holder’s 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; and (2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities by publication thereof in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on the London Stock Exchange and such stock exchange shall so require, in London, and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such stock exchange shall so require, in Luxembourg and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on any other stock exchange outside the United States and such stock

 

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exchange shall so require, in any other required city outside the United States or, if not practicable, in Europe on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is to be given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided above.

In case, by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible or impracticable to make publication of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such method of publication or notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice. Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

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.

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

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Debt Security (or its designee), pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice in such procedures.

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, such Trust Indenture Act provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

 

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Section 108. 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 109. Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 110. Separability Clause.

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

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities or coupons, 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.

Section 112. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Debt Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Section 113. Legal Holidays.

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

Section 114. Counterparts.

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 Indenture.

 

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Section 115. 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.

Section 116. U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

Debt Security Forms

Section 201. Forms Generally.

The Registered Securities, if any, and the Bearer Securities and related coupons, if any, of each series shall be in substantially the form (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established in 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 the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their signatures on the Debt Securities or coupons. If the form of Debt Securities of any series or coupons (including any such Global Security) 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 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities or coupons.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Debt Securities in bearer form other than Debt Securities in temporary or permanent global form shall have coupons attached.

 

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The definitive Debt Securities and coupons, if any, shall be printed or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by the execution of such Debt Securities and coupons.

Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

This is one of the Debt Securities, of the series designated herein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

CITIBANK, N.A.,
as Trustee
By    
  Authorized Signatory
Dated    

Section 203. Debt Securities in Global Form.

If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, such Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amounts, of Outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303(g) shall apply to any Debt Securities represented by a Debt Security in global form if such Debt Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Debt Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with respect to the reduction in the principal amount of Debt Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303(g).

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

 

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ARTICLE THREE

The Debt Securities

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuance in Series.

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

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series:

(1) the title of the Debt Securities of the series and the CUSIP numbers (which shall distinguish the Debt Securities of the series from all other Debt Securities), if available at the time the series is established;

(2) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Debt Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1303 and except for any Debt Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(4) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, or the method or methods by which such rate or rates may be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date and the circumstances, if any, in which the Company may defer interest payments;

(5) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Debt Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Debt Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served and where notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published;

 

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(6) if applicable, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

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

(8) whether Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities or both, whether Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable with or without coupons or both and, in the case of Bearer Securities, the date as of which such Bearer Securities shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Debt Security of such series of like tenor and term to be issued;

(9) whether the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities and, in such case, the Depositary and, if applicable, the Global Exchange Agent for such Global Security or Securities, whether such global form shall be permanent or temporary and, if applicable, the Global Exchange Date;

(10) if Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in the form of a temporary Global Security, the circumstances under which the temporary Global Security can be exchanged for definitive Debt Securities and whether the definitive Debt Securities will be Registered and/or Bearer Securities and will be in global form and whether interest in respect of any portion of such Global Security payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date prior to the Global Exchange Date shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to a portion of such Global Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date if other than as provided in this Article Three;

(11) whether, and under what conditions, additional amounts will be payable to Holders of Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Section 1006;

(12) the denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof, and the denominations in which any Bearer Securities of such series shall be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000;

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

 

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(14) the currency or currencies of denomination of the Debt Securities of any series, which may be in Dollars, any Foreign Currency or any composite currency and, if any such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

(15) the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities will be made, the currency or currencies, if any, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or the interest on Registered Securities, at the election of each of the Holders thereof, may also be payable and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the Exchange Rate and Exchange Rate Agent;

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

(17) if payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of the series are to be made in a Foreign Currency other than the currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated, the manner in which the Exchange Rate with respect to such payments shall be determined or if the Exchange Rate is to be determined otherwise than as provided in Section 101;

(18) any Events of Default with respect to Debt Securities of such series, if not set forth herein;

(19) any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of the Debt Securities of the series in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series, or any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Debt Securities of the series in lieu of any covenant or warranty set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series, or any provision that any covenant or warranty set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series shall not be for the benefit of Debt Securities of such series, or any combination of such covenants, warranties or provisions, whether the provisions of Section 1008 will not apply such covenants and warranties and any addition to, deletion from or other change to the definition of “Covenant Breach” set forth in Section 101;

(20) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Company’s obligations under this Indenture may be terminated through the deposit of money or Eligible Instruments as provided in Articles Four and Fifteen;

(21) the Person or Persons who shall be Security Registrar for the Debt Securities of such series if other than the Trustee, and the place or places where the Security Register for such series shall be maintained and the Person or Persons who will be the initial Paying Agent or Agents, if other than the Trustee;

 

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(22) if Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, the certifications required for delivery of such Bearer Securities upon original issuance, transfer and exchange, the certifications required in connection with the payment of interest on a temporary Global Security and any other certifications or other requirements relating to such Bearer Securities; and

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

All Debt Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series, if any, shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

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

If any of the terms of a series of Debt Securities 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 Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Section 302. Denominations.

Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable in such form and denominations as shall be specified in the form of Debt Security for such series approved or established pursuant to Section 201 or in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 301. In the absence of any specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, if any, shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof and the Bearer Securities of such series, if any, shall be issuable in the denominations of $5,000.

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

(a) The Debt Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers or its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Debt Securities may be manual or facsimile. Coupons shall bear the facsimile signature of an authorized officer of the Company.

Debt Securities and coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,

 

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notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities or coupons of any series or did not hold such offices at the date of such Debt Securities or coupons.

(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, Debt Securities of any series may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and, except as otherwise provided in this Article Three, shall thereupon be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon Company Order, without any further action by the Company; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, a Bearer Security may be delivered only outside the United States and, except in the case of a temporary Global Security, only if the Company or its agent shall have received the certification required pursuant to Section 301(22), and only if the Company has no reason to know that such certification is false.

To the extent authorized in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, such written Company Order may be given by any one officer or employee of the Company, may be electronically transmitted, and may provide instructions as to registration of holders, principal amounts, rates of interest, maturity dates and other matters contemplated by such Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture to be so instructed in respect thereof. Before authorizing and delivering the first Debt Securities of any series (and upon request of the Trustee thereafter), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) the certificates called for under Sections 201 and 301 hereof and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel described in the next sentence.

In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to any Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, prior to the initial authentication of such Debt Securities, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(i) a Board Resolution relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(ii) an executed supplemental indenture, if any, relating thereto;

(iii) an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the form and terms of the Debt Securities of such series and coupons, if any, pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of such Debt Securities have been complied with; and

(iv) an Opinion of Counsel stating

(A) that the form of such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 201 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(B) that the terms of such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, have been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 301 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(C) that such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, 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 legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the application of general principles of equity and except further as enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) requirements that a claim with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in Dollars (or a Foreign Currency or currency unit judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into Dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (ii) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments in Foreign Currencies or currency units or payments outside the United States.

(c) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Debt Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in permanent or temporary form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by one or more Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary and (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions.

(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 303 if the issuance of such Debt Securities will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Debt Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

(e) If all the Debt Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Debt Security, but such Opinion of Counsel, with appropriate modifications, may instead be delivered at or prior to the time of the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

(f) Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

(g) No Debt Security or coupon attached thereto shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Debt Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee, and such certificate upon any Debt Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only

 

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evidence, that such Debt Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Debt Security or portion thereof shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Debt Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Debt Security or portion thereof has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Debt Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

(h) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 301 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

Section 304. Temporary Debt Securities.

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon receipt of documents required by Sections 301 and 303, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Debt Securities which are printed or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor and terms of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued in registered form or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Debt Securities may determine, as evidenced by their signatures on such Debt Securities. In the case of Debt Securities of any series issuable as Bearer Securities, such temporary Debt Securities may be in global form, representing all or any part of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301:

(i) Except in the case of temporary Debt Securities in global form, if temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the related temporary Debt Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Debt Securities upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series (accompanied, if applicable, by all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of authorized denominations; provided, however, that no Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a Registered Security; and provided, further, that a Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions pursuant to Section 301(22).

 

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(ii) If Debt Securities of any series are issued in temporary global form, any such temporary Global Security shall, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, be delivered to the Depositary for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Debt Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

(iii) Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Security (the “Global Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver definitive Debt Securities to the Trustee or the agent appointed by the Company pursuant to Section 301 to effect the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Debt Securities (the “Global Exchange Agent”), in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Global Exchange Date, such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Global Exchange Agent, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Debt Securities without charge and the Trustee or the Global Exchange Agent, if the Global Exchange Agent is authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614, shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged. Upon any exchange of a part of such temporary Global Security for definitive Debt Securities, the portion of the principal amount and any interest thereon so exchanged shall be endorsed by the Global Exchange Agent on a schedule to such temporary Global Security, whereupon the principal amount and interest payable with respect to such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed. The definitive Debt Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary Global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, global registered form or global bearer form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, in the case of the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security), upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary Global Security shall be accompanied by the certificates signed by Euroclear and Clearstream required pursuant to Section 301(22), unless such certificate(s) shall have been provided earlier pursuant to section 304(b)(v) hereof; and provided, further, that definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security) shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary Global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.

(iv) The interest of a beneficial owner of Debt Securities of a series in a temporary Global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Debt Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms following the Global Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on such account holder’s behalf and, in the case of the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security), unless such certificate(s) shall have been provided earlier pursuant to Section 304(b)(v)

 

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hereof, the account holder delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Global Exchange Date, copies of which certificate(s) shall be available from the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream, the Global Exchange Agent, any authenticating agent appointed for such series of Debt Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary Global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary Global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Debt Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like in the event that such Person does not take delivery of such definitive Debt Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream. Definitive Debt Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary Global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States.

(v) Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that interest payable on a temporary Global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be payable to Euroclear and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date only if there has been delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Global Exchange Agent of a certificate or certificates in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22) dated no earlier than the first Interest Payment Date, for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary Global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22) dated no earlier than the first Interest Payment Date. Any interest so received by Euroclear and Clearstream and not paid as herein provided prior to the Global Exchange Date shall be returned to the Global Exchange Agent which, upon expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date, shall repay such interest to the Company in accordance with Section 1003.

Section 305. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at one of the offices or agencies to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 305 and Section 1002, with respect to the Debt Securities of each series which are Registered Securities, a register (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 Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. Pursuant to Section 301, the Company shall appoint, with respect to Debt Securities of each series which are Registered Securities, a “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering such Debt Securities and transfers and exchanges of such Debt Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees,

 

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one or more new Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination or denominations, of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized form and denomination, of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Bearer Securities may not be delivered in exchange for Registered Securities.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities or Bearer Securities of any series may be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to a Bearer Security in global form) of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor and terms after the close of business at such office or agency of (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be.

Whenever any Debt Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

If at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 303(h), the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 301(9) shall no longer be effective with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and the

 

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Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Debt 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 Debt Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and 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 specified by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Debt Securities, the Depositary for such series of Debt Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Debt Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms and in definitive 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 charge to any Holder,

(a) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denominations as requested by such person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver Debt Securities (a) in definitive registered form in authorized denominations, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Registered Securities, (b) in definitive bearer form in authorized denominations, with coupons attached, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Bearer Securities or (c) as either Registered or Bearer Securities, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable in either form; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Global Security unless the Company or its agent shall have received from the person entitled to receive the definitive Bearer Security a certificate substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22); and provided further that delivery of a Bearer Security shall occur only outside the United States; and provided further that no definitive Bearer Security will be issued if the Company has reason to know that any such certificate is false.

Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Debt Securities in definitive form, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Registered Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized

 

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denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Registered Securities to the persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered. The Trustee shall deliver Bearer Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section to the persons, 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; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Global Security unless the Company or its agent shall have received from the person entitled to receive the definitive Bearer Security a certificate substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22); and provided further that delivery of a Bearer Security shall occur only outside the United States; and provided further that no definitive Bearer Security will be issued if the Company has reason to know that any such certificate is false.

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

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

No charge to any Holder shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt 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 transfer, registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, other than exchanges expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Debt Securities of any particular series to be redeemed for a period of fifteen days preceding the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if Registered Securities are outstanding and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption of Debt Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of such Registered Security being redeemed in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and terms of that series, provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the exchange of Bearer Securities into Registered Securities shall be subject to applicable laws and regulations in effect at the time of exchange; neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall exchange any Bearer Securities into Registered Securities if it has received an Opinion of Counsel that as a result of such exchanges the Company would suffer adverse consequences under the United States Federal

 

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income tax laws and regulations then in effect and the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order directing the Trustee not to make such exchanges thereafter unless and until the Trustee receives a subsequent Company Order to the contrary. The Company shall deliver copies of such Company Orders to the Security Registrar.

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Debt Securities.

If (i) any mutilated Debt Security or a Bearer Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to a Paying Agent outside the United States designated by the Company, or, in the case of any Registered Security, to the Trustee, or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security or coupon, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company and the Trustee that such Debt Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for any such mutilated Debt Security or Bearer Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it or to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen) or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of like tenor and terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupon, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or to the Debt Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains; provided, however, that any such new Bearer Security will be delivered only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 305.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Debt Security, pay such Debt Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States; and provided, further, that, with respect to any such coupons, interest represented thereby (but not any additional amounts payable as provided in Section 1006), shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Debt Security or coupons 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 and printing expenses) connected therewith.

Every new Debt Security of any series, with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, or in exchange for a Bearer Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Debt Security and coupons, if any, shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

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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 Debt Securities or coupons.

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Interest on any Registered 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 Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. At the option of the Company, payment of interest on any Registered Security may be made by check in the currency designated for such payment pursuant to the terms of such Registered Security mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account in such currency designated by such Person in writing not later than ten days prior to the date of such payment.

Any interest on any Registered 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 registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of his having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered 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 Registered 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 and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holder of such Registered Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be 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 and/or Eligible Instruments when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause

 

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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 written notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date. Unless the Trustee is acting as the Security Registrar, promptly after such Special Record Date, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with a list, or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee with respect thereto, of the names and addresses of, and principal amounts of Registered Securities of such series held by, the Holders appearing on the Security Register at the close of business on such Special Record Date. In the name and at the expense of the Company, the Trustee 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 Registered 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered 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). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Registered 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 Debt Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1002, the Holder of any coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such coupon upon presentation and surrender of such coupon on or after the Interest Payment Date of such coupon at an office or agency maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002.

 

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Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered 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.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Bearer Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bearer Security or coupon 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 of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 309. Cancellation.

Unless otherwise provided with respect to a series of Debt Securities, all Debt Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment, transfer, exchange or credit against any sinking fund payment pursuant to this Indenture, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Company, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Debt Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Debt Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Debt Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Debt Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Debt Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company unless by a Company Order the Company shall direct that the cancelled Debt Securities or coupons be returned to it.

Section 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series, interest on the Debt Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Section 311. Certification by a Person Entitled to Delivery of a Bearer Security.

Whenever any provision of this Indenture or a Debt Security contemplates that certification be given by a Person entitled to delivery of a Bearer Security, such certification shall be provided substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(22), with only such changes as shall be approved by the Company and consented to by the Trustee whose consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.

Section 312. Judgments.

The Company may provide, pursuant to Section 301, for the Debt Securities of any series that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law and except as may otherwise be specified as contemplated in Section 301, (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of any series and any appurtenant coupons in a Foreign Currency, composite currency or Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 is of the essence and agrees that judgments in respect of such Debt Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) in the country of issue of the Designated Currency in the case of Foreign Currency or Dollars or in the international banking community in the case of a composite currency on the Business Day immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

ARTICLE FOUR

Satisfaction and Discharge

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal and interest thereon and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1006) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when

 

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(1) either

(A) all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, surrender of which is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Debt Securities and coupons which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities called for redemption or surrendered for repayment and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as appropriate, surrender of which has been waived as provided in Section 1106 or 1303 and (iv) Debt Securities and coupons for whose payment money and/or Eligible Instruments have 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 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of (B)(i), (B)(ii) or (B)(iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Debt Securities and coupons of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor to the date of such deposit (in the case of Debt Securities and coupons which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, if any, and all Repayment Dates (in the case of Debt Securities repayable at the option of the Holders thereof); provided, however, that in the event a petition for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or a successor statute is filed with respect to the Company within 91 days after the deposit, the obligations of the Company under the Indenture with

 

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respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall not be deemed terminated or discharged, and in such event the Trustee shall be required to return the deposited money and Eligible Instruments then held by the Trustee to the Company;

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money or Eligible Instruments shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 402. Application of Trust Money and Eligible Instruments.

(a) Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1501 shall be held in trust and such money and the principal and interest received on such Eligible Instruments shall be applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Debt Securities, the coupons 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 or Eligible Instruments have been deposited with the Trustee.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Instruments or money held by it as provided in Section 403 or 1501 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such Eligible Instruments or money were deposited or received.

(c) If this Section 402(c) is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Instruments held by it as provided in Section 403 or 1501, provided that the Company in substitution therefor simultaneously delivers to the Trustee, money or other Eligible Instruments which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, would then be sufficient to satisfy the Company’s payment obligations in respect of the Debt Securities in the manner contemplated by Section 403 or 1501.

 

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Section 403. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series.

If this Section 403 is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to Debt Securities of any series, then, notwithstanding Section 401, (i) the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Debt Securities of any such series and related coupons; (ii) the provisions of this Indenture as it relates to such Outstanding Debt Securities and related coupons shall no longer be in effect (except as to the rights of Holders of Debt Securities to receive, from the trust fund described in subparagraph (1) below, payment of (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Debt Securities and related coupons on the Stated Maturity of such principal (and premium, if any) or installment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest or (y) any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments applicable to the Debt Securities of that series on that day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Debt Securities, the Company’s obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002, 1003 and 1006 and the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including those under Section 607 hereof); and (iii) the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon Company Order, execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such indebtedness, when

(1) either

(A) with respect to all Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and related coupons, with reference to this Section 403, the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 403 applicable to it) irrevocably, as trust funds in trust, money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of such Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay and discharge (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series and related coupons on the Stated Maturity of such principal or interest or, if such series may be redeemed by the Company prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, and the Company shall have given irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to effect such redemption, at the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to Article Eleven, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to Debt Securities of such series on the date on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Debt Securities; or

(B) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge as is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to the Debt Securities of such series;

 

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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable with respect to the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and related coupons;

(3) such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(4) no Covenant Breach or Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Covenant Breach or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default under Section 501(3) or Section 501(4) or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under Section 501(3) or Section 501(4) shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91 st day after such date; provided, however, that should that condition fail to be satisfied on or before such 91 st day, the Trustee shall promptly, upon satisfactory receipt of evidence of such failure, return such deposit to the Company;

(5) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (b) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities and related coupons of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

(6) if the Debt Securities of that series are then listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit, defeasance and discharge will not cause such Debt Securities to be delisted;

(7) such deposit shall have been effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301; and

(8) 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 the entire indebtedness of all Outstanding Debt Securities and related coupons have been complied with.

Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 403(1)(A) above shall be irrevocable and shall be made under the terms of an escrow or trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee. If any Outstanding Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow or trust

 

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agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 403 with respect to all the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the terms and conditions of such series, including the terms and conditions with respect thereto set forth in this Indenture, shall no longer be binding upon, or applicable to, the Company; provided that the Company shall not be discharged from any payment obligations in respect of Debt Securities of such series which are deemed not to be Outstanding under clause (iii) of the definition thereof if such obligations continue to be valid obligations of the Company under applicable law.

Notwithstanding the cessation, termination and discharge of all obligations, covenants and agreements (except as provided above in this Section 403) of the Company under this Indenture with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003, shall survive with respect to such series of Debt Securities.

ARTICLE FIVE

Remedies

Section 501. Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Debt 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, 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 Debt Security of such series or a related coupon, if any, when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debt Security of such series at its Maturity, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(3) the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving a petition seeking receivership, insolvency or liquidation of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, trustee or similar official of the Company, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order

 

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unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(4) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, the appointment of a receiver for the Company under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of the Company to such appointment, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, liquidation or similar law following the Company’s consent to such decree or order; or

(5) any other Event of Default, if any, provided with respect to Debt Securities of such series specified as contemplated by Section 301.

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall terminate.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Debt 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 Debt Securities of such 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 installments of interest on all Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons,

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

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest on each Debt Security and any related coupons at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Debt Securities, and

 

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(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 Debt Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Debt Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

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

For the avoidance of doubt, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities, neither the Trustee nor any Holders shall be entitled to accelerate the Maturity of any Debt Security, nor shall the Maturity of any Debt Security be otherwise accelerated, as a result of a Covenant Breach.

Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

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

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

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

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Debt Securities and coupons 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 Debt Securities and coupons, wherever situated.

 

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If a Covenant Breach or Event of Default with respect to Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceedings, or any voluntary or involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter constituted, relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or any related coupons or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of such Debt Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

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

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debt Securities or coupons 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.

 

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Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Debt Securities or Coupons.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Debt Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debt Securities or coupons 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 Debt Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Debt Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, 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 607;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities and any coupons, 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 Debt Securities and any coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively. The Holders of each series of Debt Securities denominated in any composite currency or a Foreign Currency and any matured coupons relating thereto shall be entitled to receive a ratable portion of the amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount Outstanding of such series of Debt Securities and matured but unpaid interest on such series of Debt Securities in the currency in which such series of Debt Securities is denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the date of declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities; and

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

Section 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons 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 Covenant Breach or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series;

 

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

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity 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 Debt Securities of such 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 such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Debt Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Debt Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Debt Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, 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 right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

 

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Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

Section 512. Control by Holders of Debt Securities.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series, provided, that

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

(2) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series not joining in any such direction; and

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

Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of any such series and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security of such series, or

 

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

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

Section 514. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security or coupon by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having a due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant, but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security or the payment of any coupons on or after the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Debt Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be).

Section 515. 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 whenever 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 benefits 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.

 

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ARTICLE SIX

The Trustee

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of a Covenant Breach or Event of Default,

(i) 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

(ii) 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 hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(b) In case a Covenant Breach or 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her 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

(i) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section 601;

(ii) 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;

(iii) 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 Debt Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections 101, 104 and 512, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series; and

 

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(iv) 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.

(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 602. Notice of Default.

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Debt Securities of any series the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Debt Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Clause (2) under the definition of “Covenant Breach” in Section 101 with respect to Debt Securities of such series no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof; and provided further, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security of such series or related coupons or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series. 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, a Covenant Breach or Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any signature, resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) 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 shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

 

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(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 of Debt Securities of such series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity 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, coupon, 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, other than any such books or records containing information as to the affairs of the customers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; provided that the Trustee may examine such books and records relating to customers to the extent that such books and records contain information as to any payments made to such customers in their capacity as Holders of Debt Securities; and provided further that the Trustee shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(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; no Exchange Rate Agent, Global Exchange Agent, Depositary or Paying Agent shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any of them;

(h) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, in 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 or other Person employed by the Trustee to act hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof; and

(i) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, and in any coupons, and the information in any registration statement, including all attachments thereto, except information provided by the Trustee therein, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series or any coupons. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or

 

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application by the Company of any Debt Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representations to the Company’s ability or authority to issue Bearer Securities or the lawfulness thereof.

Section 605. May Hold Debt Securities or Coupons.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and coupons, and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such agent.

Section 606. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be under any liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder which shall have been separately agreed to from time to time in writing by the Company and the Trustee (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

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

(3) to fully indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages or expenses (including taxes other than taxes based upon the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Debt Securities and any coupons upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the

 

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payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Debt Securities or any coupons.

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning 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 such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to Debt Securities of any series by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of more than one series or any other indenture between the Trustee and the Company. For the purpose of determining whether a conflicting interest exists within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a Covenant Breach or Event of Default.

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority; provided, however, that if Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Trust Indenture Act at any time permit a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any other jurisdiction to serve as trustee of an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, this Section 609 shall be automatically amended to permit a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any such other jurisdiction to serve as Trustee hereunder. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign promptly in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

 

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(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Debt Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days of receipt of such Act specifying removal, the removed Trustee may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of such series for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 with respect to any series of Debt Securities 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 with respect to any series of Debt Securities or a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered in respect of the Trustee in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law; or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trustee or of its property or affairs, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, winding up or liquidation, or

(4) the Trustee shall commence a voluntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trustee or its property or affairs, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall take corporate action in furtherance of any such action,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to such series or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of any series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee. In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee if the Company shall determine by a Board Resolution that the services provided by the Trustee hereunder may be obtained at a substantially lower cost to the Company.

 

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(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Debt Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Debt 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 Debt Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt 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, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, 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 Debt Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In the case of an appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Debt 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 request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges due under Section 607 hereof, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

(b) In the case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee upon

 

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payment of its charges and each successor Trustee with respect to the Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on the 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 Debt 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 612. 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 of 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 executing or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Debt 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 Debt Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Debt Securities. In case any Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Debt Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor

 

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Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section 614. Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee shall upon Company request appoint one or more authenticating agents (including, without limitation, the Company or any Affiliate thereof) with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities which shall be authorized on behalf of the Trustee in authenticating Debt Securities of such series in connection with the issue, delivery, registration of transfer, exchange, partial redemption or repayment of such Debt Securities. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication of Debt Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication 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 must be acceptable to the Company and, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, must be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000, authorized under such laws to do a trust business and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities or the equivalent foreign authority in the case of an authenticating agent who is not organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

The Trustee hereby initially appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as its authenticating agent.

Any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business of an authenticating agent shall continue to be an authenticating agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such authenticating agent.

An authenticating agent may at any time resign with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time an authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee promptly may appoint a successor authenticating agent. Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an authenticating agent herein. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

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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 payment, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

The provisions of Sections 104, 111, 306, 309, 603, 604, 605 and 607 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.

Pursuant to each appointment made under this Section, the Debt Securities of each series covered by such appointment may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Debt Securities, of the series designated herein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

CITIBANK, N.A.
By    
  As Authenticating Agent for the Trustee
By    
  Authorized Signatory
Dated    

ARTICLE SEVEN

Holders’ Lists and Reports By Trustee and Company

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of each series for which it acts as Trustee:

(1) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after the Regular Record Date in respect of the Debt Securities of such series or on May 15 and November 15 of each year with respect to each series of Debt Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities as of such Regular Record Date or May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, and

 

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(2) 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 shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished.

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Paying Agent or Security Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. The Trustee shall preserve for at least two years the names and addresses of Holders of Bearer Securities filed with the Trustee by such Holders.

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

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

Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture and at any other time required by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture and such other matters as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the manner required by the Trust Indenture Act.

(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 Debt Securities of such series are listed, with the Commission and also with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any series of Debt Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 704. 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 at the time and in the manner pursuant to such Act; provided that 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 shall be deemed

 

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filed with, and delivered to, the Trustee and transmitted to the Holders at the same time as filed with the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE EIGHT

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, etc. Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person other than any such conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of its Subsidiaries, unless:

(1) the corporation 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 substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any political subdivision thereof or any State thereof and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including all additional amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 1006) on all the Debt Securities and any related coupons and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Covenant Breach or Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Covenant Breach or Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been met.

Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other corporation, or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person pursuant to the requirements of Section 801(1), (2) and (3), the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such

 

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conveyance, transfer or lease 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 had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Company (which term for this purpose shall mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner presented in this Article) shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Debt Securities and coupons.

ARTICLE NINE

Supplemental Indentures

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company (and make any corresponding change to the definition of “Covenant Breach” set forth in Section 101), for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities or coupons (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Debt Securities or coupons, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely to be applicable to such series); or

(4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal (or premium, if any) on Registered Securities or of principal (or premium, if any) or any interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

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(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination (a) shall become effective only when there is no Debt Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provisions or (b) shall not apply to any Debt Security Outstanding; or

(6) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

(7) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Debt Securities of any series to any provision of the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities” or any similarly captioned section in the prospectus, as supplemented by any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, relating to the offering of such series of Debt Securities; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such other provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

(10) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interest of Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any appurtenant coupons in any material respect.

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture, acting together as a class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or 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 under this Indenture of such Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security or coupon affected thereby,

 

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(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal or any installment of principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption or repayment thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1006 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment, or the coin or currency in which any Debt Security or the interest thereon or any coupon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be), or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1404 for quorum or voting, or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1008, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611(b) and 901(8), or

(4) adversely affect the right to repayment, if any, of Debt Securities of any series at the option of the Holders thereof.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Debt Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt 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 Debt Securities of any other series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.

 

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

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 906. Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Debt 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 Debt Securities of any series and any appurtenant coupons so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons.

 

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ARTICLE TEN

Covenants

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons in accordance with the terms of the Debt Securities, any appurtenant coupons and this Indenture. Any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity, other than additional amounts, if any, payable as provided in Section 1006 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any, on) such a Debt Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities (but, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States, not Bearer Securities) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities and this Indenture may be served. If Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Debt Securities of such series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any additional amounts payable on Debt Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1006); provided, however, that if the Debt Securities of such series are listed on the London Stock Exchange or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent in London or Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Debt Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices or demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any additional amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1006) at the place specified for the purpose pursuant to Section 301(5).

No payment of principal of, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, payment of principal of and any premium and interest denominated in Dollars

 

62


(including additional amounts payable in respect thereof) on any Bearer Security may be made at an office or agency of, and designated by, the Company located in the United States if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or additional amounts in Dollars at all offices outside the United States maintained for the purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions and the Trustee receives an Opinion of Counsel that such payment within the United States is legal. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Debt Securities, at the option of the Holder of any Bearer Security or related coupon, payment may be made by check in the currency designated for such payment pursuant to the terms of such Bearer Security presented or mailed to an address outside the United States or by transfer to an account in such currency maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside of such Place of Payment) where the Debt Securities of one or more series and any appurtenant coupons (subject to the preceding paragraph) 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 any series of Debt Securities for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Section 1003. Money for Debt 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 Debt Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons, 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 of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent with respect to any series of Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons in trust for

 

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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 notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series or any appurtenant coupons) in the making of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of such series or any appurtenant coupons; 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 terminating its obligations under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series 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 principal and interest received on the Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee or 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 Debt Security of any series or any appurtenant coupons or any money on deposit with the Trustee or any Paying Agent representing amounts deducted from the Redemption Price or Repayment Price with respect to unmatured coupons not presented upon redemption or exercise of the Holder’s option for repayment pursuant to Section 1106 or 1303 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 Debt Security or any coupon appertaining thereto 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 (including the principal and interest received on Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee), 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 of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and each Place of Payment or mailed to each such Holder, or both, 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 or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 1004. [Reserved].

 

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Section 1005. Restrictions Upon Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Certain Subsidiary Banks.

The Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or permit any Principal Subsidiary Bank to issue, any shares of Capital Stock of, or any securities convertible into Capital Stock of, any Principal Subsidiary Bank or any shares of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary owning, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, Capital Stock of any Principal Subsidiary Bank, except:

(1) any sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition or issuance made, in the minimum amount required by law, to any person for the purpose of the qualification of such person to serve as a director;

(2) any sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition or issuance if, after giving effect to such disposition and to the issuance of any shares issuable upon conversion or exchange of securities convertible or exchangeable into Capital Stock, the Company would own directly or indirectly through other Subsidiaries not less than 80% of the shares of each class of Capital Stock of such Principal Subsidiary Bank;

(3) any sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition or issuance made in compliance with an order or direction of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction; or

(4) any sale by any Principal Subsidiary Bank of additional shares of Capital Stock to its stockholders at any price, so long a (a) prior to such sale the Company owns, directly or indirectly, shares of the same class and (b) immediately after such sale, the percentage of the shares of such class of Capital Stock owned by the Company shall not have been reduced.

Section 1006. Payment of Additional Amounts.

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

If the Debt Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Debt Securities (or

 

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if the Debt Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal (and premium, if any) is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Debt Securities of that series or the related coupons who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Debt Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Debt Securities or coupons and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts, if any, required by the terms of such Debt Securities and the first paragraph of this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

Section 1007. Officers’ Certificate as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, on or before a date not more than four months after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature thereof of which they may have knowledge. 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, a Covenant Breach or Event of Default.

Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Section 1005 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series or any other covenant or condition applicable to the Debt Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301 unless such covenant or condition is determined pursuant to Section 301 not to be subject to this provision if, before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all series of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding to which such covenant or condition applies shall, acting together as a class, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant 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 covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 1009. Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

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

ARTICLE ELEVEN

Redemption of Debt Securities

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Debt Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 20 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount and the tenor and terms of the Debt Securities of any series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Debt Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Debt Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Debt Securities to be Redeemed.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series, if less than all the Debt Securities of any series with like tenor and terms are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series with like tenor and terms not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series or any integral multiple thereof which is also an authorized denomination) of the principal amount of Registered Securities or Bearer Securities (if issued in more than one authorized denomination) of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series.

 

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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt 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 Debt Securities shall relate, in the case of any Debt Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Debt Securities to be redeemed.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed,

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

(5) the Place or Places of Payment where such Debt Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

(6) that Bearer Securities may be surrendered for payment only at such place or places which are outside the United States, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002,

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

(8) the CUSIP number, if any.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Debt 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.

 

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Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or 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 1003) an amount of money and/or, to the extent the Debt Securities to be redeemed are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of the Debt Securities to be redeemed) will provide money on or prior to the Redemption Date in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Debt Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that deposits with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made with a Paying Agent or Paying Agents located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.

Section 1106. Debt Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Debt Securities to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Debt Securities shall cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Debt Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Debt Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest (at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002), and provided further, that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Debt Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted without interest thereon; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

 

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

Section 1107. Debt Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company, the Security Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Security Registrar 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 Debt Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

Sinking Funds

Section 1201. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Debt Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt 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 term of Debt Securities of any series is herein referred to an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, the amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Debt Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of such series.

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Debt Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) may apply as a credit Debt Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided

 

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that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Debt Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Debt Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Debt Securities for redemption, except upon Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Debt Securities purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

Section 1203. Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and the basis for any such credit and, prior to or concurrently with the delivery of such Officers’ Certificate, will also deliver to the Trustee any Debt Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered to the Trustee. Not less than 30 days (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1105, 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

Repayment at the Option of Holders

Section 1301. Applicability of Article.

Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for Debt Securities of such series) in accordance with this Article.

 

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Section 1302. Repayment of Debt Securities.

Each Debt Security which is subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holder thereof on a Repayment Date shall be repaid at the applicable Repayment Price together with interest accrued to such Repayment Date as specified pursuant to Section 301.

Section 1303. Exercise of Option; Notice.

Each Holder desiring to exercise such Holder’s option for repayment shall, as conditions to such repayment, surrender the Debt Security to be repaid in whole or in part together with written notice of the exercise of such option at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that surrender of Bearer Securities together with written notice of exercise of such option shall be made at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002. Such notice, which shall be irrevocable, shall specify the principal amount of such Debt Security to be repaid, which shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for such Debt Security or an integral multiple thereof, and shall identify the Debt Security to be repaid and, in the case of a partial repayment of the Debt Security, shall specify the denomination or denominations of the Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal of the Debt Security surrendered which is not to be repaid.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default, such Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Repayment Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Repayment Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted without interest thereon; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver without service charge to the Holder of any Registered Security so surrendered a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified in the foregoing notice, in an aggregate principal amount equal to any portion of the principal of the Registered Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver without service charge to the Holder of any Bearer Security so surrendered a new Registered Security or Securities or new Bearer Security or Securities (and all appurtenant unmatured coupons and matured coupons in default) or any combination thereof of the same series of any authorized denomination or denominations specified in the foregoing notice, in an aggregate principal amount equal to any portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered which is not to be paid; provided, however, that the issuance of a Registered Security therefor shall be subject to applicable

 

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laws and regulations, including provisions of the United States Federal income tax laws and regulations in effect at the time of the exchange; neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall issue Registered Securities for Bearer Securities if it has received an Opinion of Counsel that as a result of such issuance the Company would suffer adverse consequences under the United States Federal income tax laws then in effect and the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order directing the Trustee not to make such issuances thereafter unless and until the Trustee receives a subsequent Company Order to the contrary. The Company shall deliver copies of such Company Order to the Security Registrar.

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

Section 1304. Election of Repayment by Remarketing Entities.

The Company may elect, with respect to Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity, at any time prior to any Repayment Date to designate one or more Remarketing Entities to purchase, at a price equal to the Repayment Price, Debt Securities of such series from the Holders thereof who give notice and surrender their Debt Securities in accordance with Section 1303.

Section 1305. Securities Payable on the Repayment Date.

Notice of exercise of the option of repayment having been given and the Debt Securities so to be repaid having been surrendered as aforesaid, such Debt Securities shall, unless purchased in accordance with Section 1304, on the Repayment Date become due and payable at the price therein specified and from and after the Repayment Date such Debt Securities shall cease to bear interest and shall be paid on the Repayment Date, and the coupons for such interest appertaining to Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided above, shall be void, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such price in which case the Company shall continue to be obligated for the principal amount of such Debt Securities and shall be obligated to pay interest on such principal amount at the rate borne by such Debt Securities from time to time until payment in full of such principal amount.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

Meetings of Holders of Debt Securities

Section 1401. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction,

 

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notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Debt Securities of such series.

Section 1402. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series issuable as Bearer Securities for any purpose specified in Section 1401, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1401, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Debt Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

Section 1403. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Debt Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 1404. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Debt Securities of such series, be dissolved. In the absence of a quorum in any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairperson of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairperson of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of this reconvening of any

 

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adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1402(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, provided however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series.

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

Section 1405. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Debt 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. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Debt Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or, in the case of Bearer Securities, by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairperson of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Debt Securities as provided in Section 1402(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Debt Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairperson. A permanent chairperson and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

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(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or the equivalent in any composite currency or a Foreign Currency) of Debt 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 Debt Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairperson of the meeting not to be Outstanding. The chairperson of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Debt Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1402 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 1406. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairperson of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1402 and, if applicable, Section 1401. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairperson and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

Defeasance

Section 1501. Termination of Company’s Obligations.

If this Section 1501 is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to any series of Debt Securities and if the Company deposits irrevocably in trust with the Trustee money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of such Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably

 

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deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest when due on the Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto and any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments thereon on the scheduled due dates therefor at the Stated Maturity thereof, the Company’s obligations under Section 1005 and any other covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section shall terminate with respect to the Debt Securities of the series for which such deposit was made; provided, however , that (i) no Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under Section 501(3) or 501(4) or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date, (ii) such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, and (iii) such termination shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture to pay when due the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and additional amounts on such Debt Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto if such Debt Securities or coupons are not paid (or payment is not provided for) when due from the money and Eligible Instruments (and the proceeds thereof) so deposited.

It shall be a condition to the deposit of cash and/or Eligible Instruments and the termination of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section with respect to the Debt Securities of any series under Section 1005 and any other covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section that the Company deliver to the Trustee (i) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that: (a) Holders of Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and termination and (b) such Holders (and future Holders) will be subject to tax in the same amount, manner and timing as if such deposit and termination had not occurred, (ii) an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that under the laws in effect on the date such money and/or Eligible Instruments are deposited with the Trustee, the amount thereof will be sufficient, after payment of all Federal, state and local taxes in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, to pay principal (and premium, if any) and interest when due on the Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto; and (iii) an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated in this Section have been complied with.

It shall be an additional condition to the deposit of cash and/or Eligible Instruments and the termination of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section under Section 1005 and any other covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, that the Company deliver an Opinion of Counsel that the Debt Securities of such series will not be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as a result of such deposit and termination.

After a deposit as provided herein, the Trustee shall, upon Company Request, acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under Section 1005 and any other covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section.

 

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Section 1502. Repayment to Company.

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Request any money or Eligible Instruments not required for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of any series and any related coupons for which money or Eligible Instruments have been deposited pursuant to Section 1501 held by them at any time.

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Request any money held by them for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of the Debt Securities for which a deposit has been made pursuant to Section 1501. After such payment to the Company, the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons shall thereafter, as unsecured general creditors, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

Section 1503. Indemnity for Eligible Instruments.

The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited Eligible Instruments or the principal or interest received on such Eligible Instruments.

 

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

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
By   /s/ Barbara S. Brett
  Name:   Barbara S. Brett
 

Title:     Senior Vice President and

             Assistant Treasurer

[CORPORATE SEAL]

 

 

Attest:
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn

Name:   Jeannine E. Zahn

Title:     Assistant Secretary

 

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as trustee
By   /s/ Cirino Emanuele
  Name:   Cirino Emanuele
  Title:     Vice President

 

Attest:
/s/ Louis Piscitelli

Name:   Louis Piscitelli

Title:     Vice President

 

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STATE OF MINNESOTA)

                                             )SS.

COUNTY OF HENNEPIN)

On the 21 st day of February, 2017, before me personally came Barbara S. Brett, to me known, who, being duly sworn, did depose and say that she is a Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Wells Fargo & Company, a corporation described in and which executed the above instrument; that she knows the seal of said corporation; that it was so affixed pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that she signed her name thereto pursuant to like authority.

 

/s/ Kathleen A. Kullmann
Notary Public

 

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STATE OF NEW YORK    )

                                               )SS.

COUNTY OF NEW YORK)

On the 21 st day of February, 2017, before me personally came Cirino Emanuele, to me known, who, being duly sworn, did depose and say that he is Vice President of Citibank, N.A., a national banking association described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that it was so affixed pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto pursuant to like authority.

 

/s/ Rachel Stine
Notary Public

 

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Exhibit 4(f)

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

TO

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of February 23, 2017

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

 


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of February 23, 2017

 

Trust Indenture Act Section    Indenture Section
§310(a)(1)    609
        (a)(2)    609
        (a)(3)    Not Applicable
        (a)(4)    Not Applicable
        (b)    608, 610
§311(a)    613
        (b)    613
§312(a)    701, 702(a)
        (b)    702(b)
        (c)    702(c)
§313(a)    703(a)
        (b)    703(a)
        (c)    703(a)
        (d)    703(b)
§314(a)    704, 1004
        (b)    Not Applicable
        (c)(1)    102
        (c)(2)    102
        (c)(3)    Not Applicable
        (d)    Not Applicable
        (e)    102
§315(a)    601
        (b)    602
        (c)    601
        (d)    601
        (e)    514
§316(a)(1)(A)    502, 512
        (a)(1)(B)    513
        (a)(2)    Not Applicable
        (b)    508
        (c)    104(h)
§317(a)(1)    503
        (a)(2)    504
        (b)    1003
§318(a)    107

 

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
 

Parties

     1  
 

Recitals

     1  

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

  
Section 101.  

Definitions

     1  
 

Act

     2  
 

Affiliate

     2  
 

Authorized Newspaper

     2  
 

Bearer Security

     2  
 

Board of Directors

     2  
 

Board Resolution

     2  
 

Business Day

     2  
 

Capital Exchange Agent

     3  
 

Capital Exchange Date

     3  
 

Capital Exchange Price

     3  
 

Capital Securities

     3  
 

Capital Security Election Form

     3  
 

Clearstream

     3  
 

Closing Price

     3  
 

Commission

     3  
 

Common Stock

     3  
 

Company

     3  
 

Company Request” and ”Company Order

     4  
 

Conversion Price

     4  
 

Convertible Securities

     4  
 

Corporate Trust Office

     4  
 

corporation

     4  
 

coupon

     4  
 

Debt Securities

     4  
 

Defaulted Interest

     4  
 

Depositary

     4  
 

Designated Currency

     4  
 

Dollar” or ”$

     4  
 

Eligible Instruments

     5  
 

Euroclear

     5  
 

Event of Default

     5  
 

Exchange Act

     5  
 

Exchange Rate

     5  
 

Exchange Rate Agent

     5  


 

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate

     5  
 

Foreign Currency

     5  
 

Global Exchange Agent

     5  
 

Global Exchange Date

     5  
 

Global Security

     5  
 

Holder

     5  
 

Indenture

     5  
 

interest

     5  
 

Interest Payment Date

     6  
 

Market Value

     6  
 

Maturity

     6  
 

Officers’ Certificate

     6  
 

Opinion of Counsel

     6  
 

Optional Securities Fund

     6  
 

Original Issue Discount Security

     6  
 

Outstanding

     6  
 

Paying Agent

     7  
 

Perpetual Preferred Stock

     7  
 

Person

     7  
 

Place of Capital Exchange

     7  
 

Place of Payment

     7  
 

Predecessor Security

     7  
 

Prior Indenture

     8  
 

Primary Federal Regulator

     8  
 

ranking junior to the Debt Securities

     8  
 

ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities

     8  
 

Redemption Date

     8  
 

Redemption Price

     8  
 

Registered Security

     8  
 

Regular Record Date

     8  
 

Remarketing Entity

     9  
 

Repayment Date

     9  
 

Repayment Price

     9  
 

Responsible Officer

     9  
 

Rights

     9  
 

Secondary Offering

     9  
 

Securities Fund

     9  
 

Security Register

     9  
 

Senior Debt

     9  
 

Special Record Date

     10  
 

Stated Maturity

     10  
 

Subsidiary

     10  
 

Trust Indenture Act

     10  
 

Trustee

     10  
 

United States

     10  
 

United States Alien

     10  

 

ii


 

U.S. Government Obligations

     10  
 

Voting Stock

     11  
Section 102.  

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     11  
Section 103.  

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     12  
Section 104.  

Acts of Holders

     12  
Section 105.  

Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company

     14  
Section 106.  

Notice to Holders; Waiver

     15  
Section 107.  

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     16  
Section 108.  

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     16  
Section 109.  

Successors and Assigns

     16  
Section 110.  

Separability Clause

     16  
Section 111.  

Benefits of Indenture

     16  
Section 112.  

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial

     16  
Section 113.  

Legal Holidays

     17  
Section 114.  

Counterparts

     17  

ARTICLE TWO

 

Debt Security Forms

  
Section 201.  

Forms Generally

     18  
Section 202.  

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     18  
Section 203.  

Debt Securities in Global Form

     19  

ARTICLE THREE

 

The Debt Securities

  
Section 301.  

Amount Unlimited; Issuance in Series

     19  
Section 302.  

Denominations

     23  
Section 303.  

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     23  
Section 304.  

Temporary Debt Securities

     26  
Section 305.  

Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     28  
Section 306.  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Debt Securities

     31  
Section 307.  

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     32  
Section 308.  

Persons Deemed Owners

     35  
Section 309.  

Cancellation

     35  
Section 310.  

Computation of Interest

     35  
Section 311.  

Certification by a Person Entitled to Delivery of a Bearer Security

     36  
Section 312.  

Judgments

     36  

ARTICLE FOUR

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

  
Section 401.  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     36  
Section 402.  

Application of Trust Money and Eligible Instruments

     38  

 

iii


Section 403.  

Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series

     39  

ARTICLE FIVE

 

Remedies

  
Section 501.  

Events of Default

     41  
Section 502.  

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     42  
Section 503.  

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     43  
Section 504.  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     44  
Section 505.  

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Debt Securities or Coupons

     45  
Section 506.  

Application of Money Collected

     45  
Section 507.  

Limitation on Suits

     46  
Section 508.  

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Exchange Debt Securities for Capital Securities

     46  
Section 509.  

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     47  
Section 510.  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     47  
Section 511.  

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     47  
Section 512.  

Control by Holders of Debt Securities

     47  
Section 513.  

Waiver of Past Defaults

     48  
Section 514.  

Undertaking for Costs

     48  
Section 515.  

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     48  

ARTICLE SIX

 

The Trustee

  
Section 601.  

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     49  
Section 602.  

Notice of Default

     49  
Section 603.  

Certain Rights of Trustee

     50  
Section 604.  

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities

     51  
Section 605.  

May Hold Debt Securities or Coupons

     52  
Section 606.  

Money Held in Trust

     52  
Section 607.  

Compensation and Reimbursement

     52  
Section 608.  

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     53  
Section 609.  

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     53  
Section 610.  

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     54  
Section 611.  

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     55  
Section 612.  

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     56  
Section 613.  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     57  
Section 614.  

Authenticating Agent

     57  
Section 615.  

Tax Withholding

     58  

 

iv


ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Holders’ Lists and Reports By Trustee and Company

  
Section 701.  

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     59  
Section 702.  

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     59  
Section 703.  

Reports by Trustee

     60  
Section 704.  

Reports by Company

     60  

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

  
Section 801.  

Company May Consolidate, etc. Only on Certain Terms

     60  
Section 802.  

Successor Corporation Substituted

     61  

ARTICLE NINE

 

Supplemental Indentures

  
Section 901.  

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

     61  
Section 902.  

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     63  
Section 903.  

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     64  
Section 904.  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     65  
Section 905.  

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     65  
Section 906.  

Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     65  

ARTICLE TEN

 

Covenants

  
Section 1001.  

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     65  
Section 1002.  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     66  
Section 1003.  

Money for Debt Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

     67  
Section 1004.  

Officers’ Certificate as to Default

     68  
Section 1005.  

Waiver of Certain Covenants

     68  
Section 1006.  

Payment of Additional Amounts

     69  

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Redemption of Debt Securities

  
Section 1101.  

Applicability of Article

     70  
Section 1102.  

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     70  
Section 1103.  

Selection by Trustee of Debt Securities to be Redeemed

     70  
Section 1104.  

Notice of Redemption

     71  
Section 1105.  

Deposit of Redemption Price

     71  
Section 1106.  

Debt Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     72  

 

v


Section 1107.  

Debt Securities Redeemed in Part

     72  

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Sinking Funds

  
Section 1201.  

Applicability of Article

     73  
Section 1202.  

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities

     73  
Section 1203.  

Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund

     74  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

Repayment at the Option of Holders

  
Section 1301.  

Applicability of Article

     74  
Section 1302.  

Repayment of Debt Securities

     74  
Section 1303.  

Exercise of Option; Notice

     74  
Section 1304.  

Election of Repayment by Remarketing Entities

     76  
Section 1305.  

Securities Payable on the Repayment Date

     76  

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities

  
Section 1401.  

Applicability of Article

     76  
Section 1402.  

Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities at Stated Maturity

     76  
Section 1403.  

Right of Early Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities

     77  
Section 1404.  

Notices of Exchange

     78  
Section 1405.  

Rights and Duties of Holders of Debt Securities to be Exchanged for Capital Securities

     80  
Section 1406.  

Election to Exchange

     81  
Section 1407.  

Deposit of Capital Exchange Price

     81  
Section 1408.  

Debt Securities Due on Capital Exchange Date; Debt Securities Exchanged in Part

     82  
Section 1409.  

Form of Capital Security Election Form

     83  
Section 1410.  

Fractional Capital Securities

     84  
Section 1411.  

Company to Obtain Governmental and Regulatory Approvals

     84  
Section 1412.  

Taxes on Exchange

     84  
Section 1413.  

Covenants as to Capital Securities and Secondary Offering

     84  
Section 1414.  

Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Transfer of Assets

     85  
Section 1415.  

Trustee Not Responsible

     85  
Section 1416.  

Revocation of Obligation to Exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities

     86  
Section 1417.  

Optional Securities Funds

     86  

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

Securities Funds

  
Section 1501.  

Creation of Securities Funds

     87  

 

vi


Section 1502.  

Designations of Securities Funds

     88  
Section 1503.  

Covenant of the Company to Obtain Securities Funds

     88  

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

 

Meetings of Holders of Debt Securities

  
Section 1601.  

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

     89  
Section 1602.  

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

     89  
Section 1603.  

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

     90  
Section 1604.  

Quorum; Action

     90  
Section 1605.  

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

     91  
Section 1606.  

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

     91  

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN

 

Defeasance

  
Section 1701.  

Termination of Company’s Obligations

     92  
Section 1702.  

Repayment to Company

     93  
Section 1703.  

Indemnity for Eligible Instruments

     93  

ARTICLE EIGHTEEN

 

Subordination of Debt Securities

  
Section 1801.  

Debt Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt

     94  
Section 1802.  

Trustee and Holders of Debt 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

     96  
Section 1803.  

Payment Permitted If No Default

     96  
Section 1804.  

Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition

     97  
Section 1805.  

Trustee to Effectuate Subordination

     97  
Section 1806.  

Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt

     98  
Section 1807.  

Article Applicable to Paying Agents

     98  
Section 1808.  

Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt

     98  

ARTICLE NINETEEN

 

Conversion of Convertible Securities

  
Section 1901.  

Applicability of Article

     99  
Section 1902.  

Right to Convert

     99  
Section 1903.  

Exercise of Conversion Privilege; Delivery of Common Stock on Conversion; No Adjustment for Interest or Dividends

     99  
Section 1904.  

Cash Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares

     100  
Section 1905.  

Conversion Price

     101  

 

vii


Section 1906.  

Adjustment to Conversion Price

     101  
Section 1907.  

Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale

     104  
Section 1908.  

Taxes on Shares Issued

     105  
Section 1909.  

Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements; Listing of Common Stock

     105  
Section 1910.  

Trustee Not Responsible

     106  
Section 1911.  

Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions

     106  
Section 1912.  

Covenant to Reserve Shares

     107  
 

Testimonium

     103  
 

Signature and Seals

     103  
 

Acknowledgements

     104  

 

viii


INDENTURE (the “Indenture”) dated as of February 23, 2017 between WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal place of business at 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California 94104, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, Illinois 60602.

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 subordinated debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Debt Securities”).

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Debt Securities of any series created and issued on or after the date hereof by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of such Debt Securities or of any such series, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Definitions and Other Provisions

of General Application

Section 101. Definitions .

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

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

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or by Commission rule or regulation under the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905, 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, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles”


with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation; and

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

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

“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.

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

“Bearer Security” means any Debt Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer including, without limitation, unless the context otherwise indicates, a Debt Security in global bearer form.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company, or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

“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. Where any provision of this Indenture refers to action to be taken pursuant to a Board Resolution (including the establishment of any series of the Debt Securities and the forms and terms thereof), such action may be taken by any committee of the Board of Directors or any officer or employee of the Company authorized to take such action by a Board Resolution.

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or Place of Capital Exchange, means any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday and which is not a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in that Place of Payment or Place of Capital Exchange are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

2


“Capital Exchange Agent” means the Person or Persons appointed by the Company to give notices and to exchange Debt Securities of any series for Capital Securities as specified in Article Fourteen.

“Capital Exchange Date”, when used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, means any date on which such Debt Securities are to be exchanged for Capital Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

“Capital Exchange Price”, when used with respect to any Debt Security of any series to be exchanged for Capital Securities, means the amount of Capital Securities for which such Debt Security is to be exchanged pursuant to this Indenture or the aggregate sale price of such Capital Securities in the Secondary Offering for such Debt Security, as the case may be.

“Capital Securities” means any securities issued by the Company which consist of any of the following: (i) Common Stock, (ii) Perpetual Preferred Stock or (iii) securities which at the date of issuance may be issued in exchange for, or the proceeds from the sale of which may be designated as Securities Funds or Optional Securities Funds for the payment of the principal of, “mandatory convertible securities” under applicable regulations of the Primary Federal Regulator. Capital Securities may have such terms, rights and preferences as may be determined by the Company.

“Capital Security Election Form” means a form substantially in the form included in Section 1409.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme .

“Closing Price” has the meaning specified in Section 1906(d).

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

“Common Stock” means, when used with reference to the capital stock of the Company, the class of stock which, at the date of execution of this Indenture, is designated as common stock of the Company and stock of any class or classes into which such common stock or any such other class may thereafter be changed or reclassified. In case by reason of the operation of Article Nineteen, the Convertible Securities shall be convertible into any other shares or other securities or property of the Company or any other corporation, any reference in this Indenture to the conversion of Convertible Securities pursuant to Article Nineteen shall be deemed to refer to and include conversion of Convertible Securities into such other shares or other securities or property.

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

 

3


“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President (any references to a Vice President of the Company herein shall be deemed to include any Vice President of the Company whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, or by another officer of the Company duly authorized to sign by a Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Conversion Price” has the meaning specified in Section 1905.

“Convertible Securities” means any series of Debt Securities that are designated as such pursuant to Section 301.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of the execution of this instrument is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, Illinois 60602, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company).

The term “corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies (including limited liability companies) and business trusts.

The term “coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

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

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

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301 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 Debt Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of that series.

“Designated Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 312.

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

 

4


“Eligible Instruments” means monetary assets, money market instruments and securities that are payable in Dollars only and essentially risk free as to collection of principal and interest, including U.S. Government Obligations.

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

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

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exchange Rate” shall have the meaning specified as contemplated in Section 301.

“Exchange Rate Agent” shall have the meaning specified as contemplated in Section 301.

“Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate”, with respect to any date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any series of Debt Securities, means a certificate setting forth the applicable Exchange Rate and the amounts payable in Dollars and Foreign Currencies in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Debt Securities denominated in any composite currency or Foreign Currency, and signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent appointed pursuant to Section 301, and delivered to the Trustee.

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

“Global Exchange Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“Global Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“Global Security” means a Debt Security issued to evidence all or part of a series of Debt Securities in accordance with Section 303.

“Holder”, with respect to a Registered Security, means a Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register and, with respect to a Bearer Security or a coupon, means the bearer thereof.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented, amended or restated by or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, unless the context otherwise requires, shall include the terms of a particular series of Debt Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

The term “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.

 

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

“Market Value” of any Capital Securities issued on any Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of any series shall be the sale price of such Capital Securities which are sold in the Secondary Offering for the Debt Securities of such series. In the event no such Secondary Offering takes place, the Market Value of such Capital Securities shall be the fair value of such Capital Securities on such Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series as determined by three independent nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company.

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

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, 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 (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or counsel for the Company, or who may be other counsel acceptable to the Trustee, which is delivered to the Trustee.

“Optional Securities Fund” means a fund pursuant to which the proceeds of sales of Capital Securities may be designated on the books of the Company for the payment of any of the principal of any Debt Security pursuant to Section 1417 of this Indenture.

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

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

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

(ii) Debt Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money or Eligible Instruments 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 Debt Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto; provided, however, that if such

 

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Debt Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(iii) Debt Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Debt Securities have been authenticated and delivered, or which have been paid, pursuant to this Indenture;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Debt Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Debt Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt 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 such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt 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 Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt 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 Debt Securities on behalf of the Company.

“Perpetual Preferred Stock” means any stock of any class of the Company which has a preference over Common Stock in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and which is not mandatorily redeemable or repayable, or redeemable or repayable at the option of the Holder, otherwise than in shares of Common Stock or Perpetual Preferred Stock of another class or series or with the proceeds of the sale of Common Stock or Perpetual Preferred Stock.

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

“Place of Capital Exchange”, when used with respect to Debt Securities of any series, means any place where the Debt Securities of such series are exchangeable for Capital Securities as specified pursuant to Section 301.

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

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Debt Security means every previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security.

 

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The “Prior Indenture” shall mean the Indenture dated as of August 30, 1999 between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as successor in interest to The First National Bank of Chicago).

“Primary Federal Regulator” means the primary United States federal regulator of the Company (which at the date of this Indenture is the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), or any successor body or institution.

“ranking junior to the Debt Securities,” when used with respect to any obligation of the Company shall mean any obligation of the Company which (a) ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the Debt Securities (or any other obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities) in right of payment upon the happening of any event of the kind specified in the first sentence of the second paragraph in Section 1801 or (b) is specifically designated as ranking junior to the Debt Securities by express provision in the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation. The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking junior to the Debt Securities, shall be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting obligations ranking junior to the Debt Securities.

“ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities,” when used with respect to any obligation of the Company shall mean any obligation of the Company which (a) ranks equally with and not prior to the Debt Securities in right of payment upon the happening of any event of the kind specified in the first sentence of the second paragraph in Section 1801 or (b) is specifically designated as ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities by express provision in the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation. The Debt Securities shall rank on a parity with debt securities issued pursuant to the Prior Indenture. The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting obligations ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities.

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

“Registered Security” means any Debt Security in the form of Registered Securities established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

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

 

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“Remarketing Entity”, when used with respect to Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity, means any person designated by the Company to purchase any such Debt Securities.

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

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Debt Security to be repaid upon exercise of an option for repayment by the Holder, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 602 shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 1906(c).

“Secondary Offering”, when used with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, means the offering and sale by the Company of Capital Securities for the account of Holders of Debt Securities of such series who elect to receive cash and not Capital Securities on the Capital Exchange Date for such series.

“Securities Fund” means a fund pursuant to which the proceeds of sales of Capital Securities are designated on the books of the Company for the payment of any principal of any Debt Security pursuant to the provisions of Section 1501.

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

“Senior Debt” means

(i) any of the Company’s indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments,

(ii) the Company’s obligations under letters of credit,

(iii) any of the Company’s indebtedness or other obligations with respect to commodity contracts, interest rate and currency swap agreements, cap, floor and collar agreements, currency spot and forward contracts, and other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange or interest rates, and

 

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(iv) any guarantees, endorsements (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business) or other similar contingent obligations in respect of obligations of others of a type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), whether or not such obligation is classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,

in each case whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, other than obligations ranking on a parity with the Debt Securities or junior to the Debt Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, Senior Debt shall not include debt securities issued pursuant to the Prior Indenture.

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

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

“Subsidiary” means any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock, except for directors’ qualifying shares, of which shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of the Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable 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 Debt Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of that series.

“United States” means the United States of America (including the District of Columbia) and its possessions.

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of

 

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which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, and shall also include a depository 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 depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock”, as applied to the stock (or the equivalent thereof) of any corporation, means stock (or the equivalent thereof) of any class or classes, however designated, having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of such corporation, other than stock (or such equivalent) having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

Section 102. 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 (other than the delivery of any Debt Security to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to Section 303), 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 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 or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

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

 

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Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

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

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company 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 or her certificate or opinion is based is 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 opinions or representations with respect to such matters is 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 104. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Debt Securities voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Sixteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Debt Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1606.

 

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(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

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

(d) The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities in the amount and with the serial numbers therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding.

(e) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing, the authority of the Person executing the same and the principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

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

(g) For purposes of determining the principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series of Holders of which are required, requested or permitted to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or take any other Act under this Indenture, (i) each Original Issue Discount Security shall be deemed to have the principal amount determined by the Trustee that could be declared to be due and payable pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security as of the date there is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, such Act by Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and (ii) each Debt Security denominated in a Foreign Currency or composite currency shall be deemed to have the principal amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount of such Debt Security in the currency in which such Debt Security is denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the date such Act is delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the

 

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Company, by Holders of the required aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series (or, if there is no such rate on such date, such rate on the date determined as specified as contemplated in Section 301).

(h) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Debt Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or Section 513. Such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Debt Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.

Section 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other 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 (unless otherwise herein expressly provided), if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Division, 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 the attention of its Secretary at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with notices, instructions, directions or other communications sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications 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. The Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications transmitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture are complete and correct. Any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications shall be conclusively deemed to be valid instructions from the Company to the Trustee for the purposes of this Indenture.

 

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Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, (1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at such Holder’s 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; and (2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities by publication thereof in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on the London Stock Exchange and such stock exchange shall so require, in London, and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such stock exchange shall so require, in Luxembourg and, if the Debt Securities of such series are then listed on any other stock exchange outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, in any other required city outside the United States or, if not practicable, in Europe on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is to be given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided above.

In case, by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible or impracticable to make publication of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such method of publication or notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice. Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

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.

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

 

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Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Debt Security (or its designee), pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice in such procedures.

Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, such Trust Indenture Act provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

Section 108. 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 109. Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 110. Separability Clause.

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

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities or coupons, 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.

Section 112. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

This Indenture and the Debt Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

The Company irrevocably consents and submits, for itself and in respect of any of its assets or property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States Federal court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of

 

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New York, New York, United States of America, and any appellate court from any thereof in any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Debt Securities, and waives any immunity from the jurisdiction of such courts. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any such suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the enforcement by any competent court in the Company’s jurisdiction of organization of judgments validly obtained in any such court in New York on the basis of such suit, action or proceeding.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF A DEBT SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE DEBT SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

Section 113. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Capital Exchange Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Debt Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment or Place of Capital Exchange, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities or coupons) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or exchange of Debt Securities for Capital Securities or cash need not be made at such Place of Payment or Place of Capital Exchange on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment or Place of Capital Exchange with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Capital Exchange Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or at the Stated Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, Capital Exchange Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 114. Counterparts.

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 Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE TWO

Debt Security Forms

Section 201. Forms Generally.

The Registered Securities, if any, and the Bearer Securities and related coupons, if any, of each series shall be in substantially the form (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established in 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 the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their signatures on the Debt Securities or coupons. If the form of Debt Securities of any series or coupons (including any such Global Security) 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 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities or coupons.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Debt Securities in bearer form other than Debt Securities in temporary or permanent global form shall have coupons attached.

The definitive Debt Securities and coupons, if any, shall be printed or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by the execution of such Debt Securities and coupons.

Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

This is one of the Debt Securities, of the series designated herein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee

By    
  Authorized Signatory

 

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Section 203. Debt Securities in Global Form.

If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (12) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, such Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Debt Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amounts, of Outstanding Debt Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303(g) shall apply to any Debt Securities represented by a Debt Security in global form if such Debt Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Debt Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with respect to the reduction in the principal amount of Debt Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303(g).

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

ARTICLE THREE

The Debt Securities

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuance in Series.

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

The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Debt Securities of any series:

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

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

 

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1303, 1408 or 1903 and except for any Debt Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the Debt Securities of the series are payable;

(4) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Debt Securities of the series shall bear interest, or the method or methods by which such rate or rates may be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date and the circumstances, if any, in which the Company may defer interest payments;

(5) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Debt Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Debt Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served and where notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published;

(6) if applicable, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(7) if applicable, the place or places at which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Debt Securities shall be exchangeable for Capital Securities of the Company, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with Article Fourteen;

(8) any covenant or option of the Company to create a Securities Fund for the repayment of the Debt Securities and the terms and conditions of such Securities Fund, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with Article Fifteen;

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

(10) whether Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities or both, whether Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable with or without coupons or both and, in the case of Bearer Securities, the date as of which such Bearer Securities shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Debt Security of such series of like tenor and term to be issued;

 

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(11) whether the Debt Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities and, in such case, the Depositary and, if applicable, Global Exchange Agent for such Global Security or Securities, whether such global form shall be permanent or temporary and, if applicable, the Global Exchange Date;

(12) if Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in the form of a temporary Global Security, the circumstances under which the temporary Global Security can be exchanged for definitive Debt Securities and whether the definitive Debt Securities will be Registered and/or Bearer Securities and will be in global form and whether interest in respect of any portion of such Global Security payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date prior to the Global Exchange Date shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to a portion of such Global Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date if other than as provided in this Article Three;

(13) whether, and under what conditions, additional amounts will be payable to Holders of Debt Securities of the series pursuant to Section 1006;

(14) the denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denominations in which any Bearer Securities of such series shall be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000;

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

(16) the currency or currencies of denomination of the Debt Securities of any series, which may be in Dollars, any Foreign Currency or any composite currency and, if any such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

(17) the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities will be made, the currency or currencies, if any, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or the interest on Registered Securities, at the election of each of the Holders thereof, may also be payable and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the Exchange Rate and Exchange Rate Agent;

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

 

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(19) if payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of the series are to be made in a Foreign Currency other than the currency in which such Debt Securities are denominated, the manner in which the Exchange Rate with respect to such payments shall be determined or if the Exchange Rate is to be determined otherwise than as provided in Section 101;

(20) any Events of Default with respect to Debt Securities of such series, if not set forth herein;

(21) any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of the Debt Securities of the series in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series, or any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Debt Securities of the series in lieu of any covenant or warranty set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series, or any provision that any covenant or warranty set forth herein for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series shall not be for the benefit of Debt Securities of such series, or any combination of such covenants, warranties or provisions and whether the provisions of Section 1005 will not apply such covenants and warranties;

(22) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Company’s obligations under this Indenture may be terminated through the deposit of money or Eligible Instruments as provided in Articles Four and Seventeen;

(23) the Person or Persons who shall be Security Registrar for the Debt Securities of such series if other than the Trustee, and the place or places where the Security Register for such series shall be maintained and the Person or Persons who will be the initial Paying Agent or Agents, if other than the Trustee;

(24) whether the Debt Securities of the series are Convertible Securities and the terms related thereto including the Conversion Price and the date on which the right to convert expires;

(25) if Debt Securities of the series are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, the certifications required for delivery of such Bearer Securities upon original issuance, transfer and exchange, the certifications required in connection with the payment of interest on a temporary Global Security and any other certifications or other requirements relating to such Bearer Securities; and

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

All Debt Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series, if any, shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

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

If any of the terms of a series of Debt Securities 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 Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

Section 302. Denominations.

Debt Securities of each series shall be issuable in such form and denominations as shall be specified in the form of Debt Security for such series approved or established pursuant to Section 201 or in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 301. In the absence of any specification with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, if any, shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and the Bearer Securities of such series, if any, shall be issuable in the denominations of $5,000.

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

(a) The Debt Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers or its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Debt Securities may be manual or facsimile. Coupons shall bear the facsimile signature of an authorized officer of the Company.

Debt Securities and coupons 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 Debt Securities or coupons of any series or did not hold such offices at the date of such Debt Securities or coupons.

(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, Debt Securities of any series may be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and, except as otherwise provided in this Article Three, shall thereupon be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon Company Order, without any further action by the Company; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, a Bearer Security may be delivered only outside the United States and, except in the case of a temporary Global Security, only if the Company or its agent shall have received the certification required pursuant to Section 301(25), and only if the Company has no reason to know that such certification is false.

To the extent authorized in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, such written

 

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Company Order may be given by any one officer or employee of the Company, may be electronically transmitted, and may provide instructions as to registration of holders, principal amounts, rates of interest, maturity dates and other matters contemplated by such Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture to be so instructed in respect thereof. Before authorizing and delivering the first Debt Securities of any series (and upon request of the Trustee thereafter), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee (i) the certificates called for under Sections 201 and 301 hereof and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel described in the next sentence.

In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to any Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, prior to the initial authentication of such Debt Securities, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(i) a Board Resolution relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(ii) an executed supplemental indenture, if any, relating thereto;

(iii) an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the form and terms of the Debt Securities of such series and coupons, if any, pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of such Debt Securities have been complied with; and

(iv) an Opinion of Counsel stating

(A) that the form of such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, has been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 201 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(B) that the terms of such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, have been established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by a supplemental indenture as permitted by Section 301 in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(C) that such Debt Securities and coupons, if any, 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 legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except that where Debt Securities of any series are to be exchanged for Capital Securities or paid from the Securities Fund, the issuance of Capital Securities will require further action by the Board of Directors, and subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and the application of general principles of equity and except further as enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) requirements that a claim with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other

 

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than in Dollars (or a Foreign Currency or currency unit judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into Dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (ii) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments in Foreign Currencies or currency units or payments outside the United States.

(c) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Debt Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in permanent or temporary form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to be represented by one or more Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary and (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions.

(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section 303 if the issuance of such Debt Securities will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Debt Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

(e) If all the Debt Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Debt Security, but such Opinion of Counsel, with appropriate modifications, may instead be delivered at or prior to the time of the first issuance of Debt Securities of such series.

(f) Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

(g) No Debt Security or coupon attached thereto shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Debt Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee, and such certificate upon any Debt Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Debt Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Debt Security or portion thereof shall have been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Debt Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Debt Security or portion thereof has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Debt Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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(h) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 301 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

Section 304. Temporary Debt Securities.

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon receipt of documents required by Sections 301 and 303, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Debt Securities which are printed or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor and terms of the definitive Debt Securities in lieu of which they are issued in registered form or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Debt Securities may determine, as evidenced by their signatures on such Debt Securities. In the case of Debt Securities of any series issuable as Bearer Securities, such temporary Debt Securities may be in global form, representing all or any part of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series.

(b) Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301:

(i) Except in the case of temporary Debt Securities in global form, if temporary Debt Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Debt Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Debt Securities of such series, the related temporary Debt Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Debt Securities upon surrender of the temporary Debt Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Debt Securities of any series (accompanied, if applicable, by all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of authorized denominations; provided, however, that no Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a Registered Security; and provided, further, that a Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions pursuant to Section 301(25).

(ii) If Debt Securities of any series are issued in temporary global form, any such temporary Global Security shall, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, be delivered to the Depositary for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Debt Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

(iii) Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary Global Security (the “Global Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver definitive Debt Securities to the Trustee or the agent appointed by the Company pursuant to Section 301 to effect the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Debt Securities (the “Global Exchange Agent”), in

 

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an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Global Exchange Date, such temporary Global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Global Exchange Agent, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Debt Securities without charge and the Trustee or the Global Exchange Agent, if the Global Exchange Agent authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 614, shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Debt Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms as the portion of such temporary Global Security to be exchanged. Upon any exchange of a part of such temporary Global Security for definitive Debt Securities, the portion of the principal amount and any interest thereon so exchanged shall be endorsed by the Global Exchange Agent on a schedule to such temporary Global Security, whereupon the principal amount and interest payable with respect to such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed. The definitive Debt Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary Global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, global registered form or global bearer form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, in the case of the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security), upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary Global Security shall be accompanied by the certificates signed by Euroclear and Clearstream required pursuant to Section 301(25), unless such certificate(s) shall have been provided earlier pursuant to section 304(b)(v) hereof; and provided, further, that definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security) shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary Global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.

(iv) The interest of a beneficial owner of Debt Securities of a series in a temporary Global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Debt Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms following the Global Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on such account holder’s behalf and, in the case of the exchange of the temporary Global Security for definitive Bearer Securities (including a definitive Global Bearer Security), unless such certificate(s) shall have been provided earlier pursuant to Section 304(b)(v) hereof, the account holder delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Global Exchange Date, copies of which certificate(s) shall be available from the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream, the Global Exchange Agent, any authenticating agent appointed for such series of Debt Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary Global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary Global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Debt Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like in the event that such Person does not take delivery of such definitive Debt Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream. Definitive Debt Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary Global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States.

 

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(v) Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Debt Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that interest payable on a temporary Global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be payable to Euroclear and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date only if there has been delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Global Exchange Agent of a certificate or certificates in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25) dated no earlier than the first Interest Payment Date, for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary Global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25) dated no earlier than the first Interest Payment Date. Any interest so received by Euroclear and Clearstream and not paid as herein provided prior to the Global Exchange Date shall be returned to the Global Exchange Agent which, upon expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date, shall repay such interest to the Company in accordance with Section 1003.

Section 305. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at one of the offices or agencies to be maintained by the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section 305 and Section 1002, with respect to the Debt Securities of each series which are Registered Securities, a register (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 Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. Pursuant to Section 301, the Company shall appoint, with respect to Debt Securities of each series which are Registered Securities, a “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering such Debt Securities and transfers and exchanges of such Debt Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination or denominations, of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized form and denomination, of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Bearer Securities may not be delivered in exchange for Registered Securities.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities or Bearer Securities of any series may be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to a Bearer Security in global form) of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the

 

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Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor and terms after the close of business at such office or agency of (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be.

Whenever any Debt Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Debt Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

If at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 303(h), the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Debt Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 301(11) shall no longer be effective with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Debt 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 Debt Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Debt Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and 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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If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Debt Securities, the Depositary for such series of Debt Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Debt Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Debt Securities of such series of like tenor and terms and in definitive 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 charge to any Holder,

(a) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Debt Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denominations as requested by such person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(b) to such Depositary a new Global Security of like tenor and terms and in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver Debt Securities (a) in definitive registered form in authorized denominations, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Registered Securities, (b) in definitive bearer form in authorized denominations, with coupons attached, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Bearer Securities or (c) as either Registered or Bearer Securities, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable in either form; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Global Security unless the Company or its agent shall have received from the person entitled to receive the definitive Bearer Security a certificate substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25); and provided further that delivery of a Bearer Security shall occur only outside the United States; and provided further that no definitive Bearer Security will be issued if the Company has reason to know that any such certificate is false.

Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Debt Securities in definitive form, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Registered Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Registered Securities to the persons in whose names such Debt Securities are so registered. The Trustee shall deliver Bearer Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section to the persons, 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; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Global Security unless the Company or its agent shall have received from the person entitled to receive the definitive Bearer Security a certificate substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25); and provided further that delivery of a Bearer Security shall occur only outside the United States; and provided further that no definitive Bearer Security will be issued if the Company has reason to know that any such certificate is false.

 

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

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

No charge to any Holder shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt 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 transfer, registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, other than exchanges expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or without charge to the Holders.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Debt Securities of any particular series to be redeemed or exchanged for Capital Securities for a period of fifteen days preceding the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if Registered Securities are outstanding and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or exchange, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption or exchange in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unexchanged portion of such Registered Security being redeemed or exchanged in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption or exchange except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and terms of that series, provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption or exchange.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the exchange of Bearer Securities into Registered Securities shall be subject to applicable laws and regulations in effect at the time of exchange; neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall exchange any Bearer Securities into Registered Securities if it has received an Opinion of Counsel that as a result of such exchanges the Company would suffer adverse consequences under the United States Federal income tax laws and regulations then in effect and the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order directing the Trustee not to make such exchanges thereafter unless and until the Trustee receives a subsequent Company Order to the contrary. The Company shall deliver copies of such Company Orders to the Security Registrar.

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Debt Securities.

If (i) any mutilated Debt Security or a Bearer Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to a Paying Agent outside the United States designated by the Company, or, in the case of any Registered Security, to the Trustee, or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Debt Security or coupon, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company and

 

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the Trustee that such Debt Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for any such mutilated Debt Security or Bearer Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it or to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen) or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, a new Debt Security of like tenor and terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupon, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or to the Debt Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains; provided, however, that any such new Bearer Security will be delivered only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 305.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Debt Security, pay such Debt Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States; and provided, further, that, with respect to any such coupons, interest represented thereby (but not any additional amounts payable as provided in Section 1006), shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Debt Security or coupons 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 and printing expenses) connected therewith.

Every new Debt Security of any series, with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security, or in exchange for a Bearer Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Debt Security and coupons, if any, shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, 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 Debt Securities or coupons.

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Interest on any Registered 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 Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of

 

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business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. At the option of the Company, payment of interest on any Registered Security may be made by check in the currency designated for such payment pursuant to the terms of such Registered Security mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account in such currency designated by such Person in writing not later than ten days prior to the date of such payment.

Any interest on any Registered 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 registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of his having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered 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 Registered 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 and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holder of such Registered Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be 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 and/or Eligible Instruments 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. Unless the Trustee is acting as the Security Registrar, promptly after such Special Record Date, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with a list, or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee with respect thereto, of the names and addresses of, and principal amounts of Registered Securities of such series held by, the Holders appearing on the Security Register at the close of business on such Special Record Date. In the name and at the expense of the Company, the Trustee 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 Registered 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.

 

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Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered 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). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Registered 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 Debt Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Debt Security.

Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1002, the Holder of any coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such coupon upon presentation and surrender of such coupon on or after the Interest Payment Date of such coupon at an office or agency maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002.

If any Registered Security is exchanged for Capital Securities after any record date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Debt Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be paid by the Company on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such exchange, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Debt Security is registered at the close of business on such record date.

If any Bearer Security is exchanged for Capital Securities after any record date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Debt Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such exchange, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid by the Company pursuant to such procedures as may be satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

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Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered 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.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Bearer Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bearer Security or coupon 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 of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Section 309. Cancellation.

Unless otherwise provided with respect to a series of Debt Securities, all Debt Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment, transfer, exchange or credit against any sinking fund payment pursuant to this Indenture, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any agent of the Company, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Debt Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Debt Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Debt Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Debt Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Debt Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, upon request, unless by a Company Order the Company shall direct that the cancelled Debt Securities or coupons be returned to it.

Section 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series, interest on the Debt Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Section 311. Certification by a Person Entitled to Delivery of a Bearer Security.

Whenever any provision of this Indenture or a Debt Security contemplates that certification be given by a Person entitled to delivery of a Bearer Security, such certification shall be provided substantially in the form required pursuant to Section 301(25), with only such changes as shall be approved by the Company and consented to by the Trustee whose consent shall not unreasonably be withheld.

Section 312. Judgments.

The Company may provide, pursuant to Section 301, for the Debt Securities of any series that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law and except as may otherwise be specified as contemplated in Section 301, (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of any series and any appurtenant coupons in a Foreign Currency, composite currency or Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 is of the essence and agrees that judgments in respect of such Debt Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) in the country of issue of the Designated Currency in the case of Foreign Currency or Dollars or in the international banking community in the case of a composite currency on the Business Day immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

ARTICLE FOUR

Satisfaction and Discharge

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect, including the provisions of Article Eighteen hereof (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal and interest thereon and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1006) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture when

 

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(1) either

(A) all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, surrender of which is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Debt Securities and coupons which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities called for redemption or surrendered for repayment and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as appropriate, surrender of which has been waived as provided in Section 1106 or 1303 and (iv) Debt Securities and coupons for whose payment money and/or Eligible Instruments have 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 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of (B)(i), (B)(ii) or (B)(iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Debt Securities and coupons of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, and any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor to the date of such deposit (in the case of Debt Securities and coupons which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, if any, and all Repayment Dates (in the case of Debt Securities repayable at the option of the Holders thereof); provided, however, that in the event a petition for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code or a successor statute is filed with respect to the Company within 91 days after the deposit, the obligations of the Company under the

 

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Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall not be deemed terminated or discharged, and in such event the Trustee shall be required to return the deposited money and Eligible Instruments then held by the Trustee to the Company;

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money or Eligible Instruments shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 402. Application of Trust Money and Eligible Instruments.

(a) Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1701 shall be held in trust and such money and the principal and interest received on such Eligible Instruments shall be applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Debt Securities, the coupons 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 or Eligible Instruments have been deposited with the Trustee.

(b) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Instruments or money held by it as provided in Section 403 or 1501 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such Eligible Instruments or money were deposited or received.

(c) If this Section 402(c) is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to the Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any Eligible Instruments held by it as provided in Section 403 or 1501, provided that the Company in substitution therefor simultaneously delivers to the Trustee, money or other Eligible Instruments which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, would then be sufficient to satisfy the Company’s payment obligations in respect of the Debt Securities in the manner contemplated by Section 403 or 1501.

 

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Section 403. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities of any Series.

If this Section 403 is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to Debt Securities of any series, then, notwithstanding Section 401, (i) the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Debt Securities of any such series and related coupons; (ii) the provisions of this Indenture as it relates to such Outstanding Debt Securities and related coupons shall no longer be in effect, including the provisions of Article Eighteen hereof (except as to the rights of Holders of Debt Securities to receive, from the trust fund described in subparagraph (1) below, payment of (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Debt Securities and related coupons on the Stated Maturity of such principal (and premium, if any) or installment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest or (y) any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments applicable to the Debt Securities of that series on that day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Debt Securities, the Company’s obligations with respect to such Debt Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002, 1003 and 1006 and the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including those under Section 607 hereof); and (iii) the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon Company Order, execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such indebtedness, when

(1) either

(A) with respect to all Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and related coupons, with reference to this Section 403, the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 403 applicable to it) irrevocably, as trust funds in trust, money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of such Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay and discharge (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series and related coupons on the Stated Maturity of such principal or interest or, if such series may be redeemed by the Company prior to the Stated Maturity thereof, and the Company shall have given irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to effect such redemption, at the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to Article Eleven, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to Debt Securities of such series on the date on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Debt Securities; or

(B) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge as is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to the Debt Securities of such series;

 

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(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable with respect to the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and related coupons;

(3) such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(4) no Event of Default or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default under Section 501(1) or Section 501(2) or event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default under Section 501(1) or Section 501(2) shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after such date; provided, however, that should that condition fail to be satisfied on or before such 91 st day, the Trustee shall promptly, upon satisfactory receipt of evidence of such failure, return such deposit to the Company;

(5) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (b) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of Debt Securities and related coupons of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

(6) if the Debt Securities of that series are then listed on any domestic or foreign securities exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit, defeasance and discharge will not cause such Debt Securities to be delisted;

(7) such deposit shall have been effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301; and

(8) 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 the entire indebtedness of all Outstanding Debt Securities and related coupons have been complied with.

Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 403(1)(A) above shall be irrevocable and shall be made under the terms of an escrow or trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee. If any Outstanding Debt Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or

 

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in accordance with any mandatory sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow or trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 403 with respect to all the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the terms and conditions of such series, including the terms and conditions with respect thereto set forth in this Indenture, shall no longer be binding upon, or applicable to, the Company; provided that the Company shall not be discharged from any payment obligations in respect of Debt Securities of such series which are deemed not to be Outstanding under clause (iii) of the definition thereof if such obligations continue to be valid obligations of the Company under applicable law.

Notwithstanding the cessation, termination and discharge of all obligations, covenants and agreements (except as provided above in this Section 403) of the Company under this Indenture with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, and the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003, shall survive with respect to such series of Debt Securities.

ARTICLE FIVE

Remedies

Section 501. Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Debt 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, pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) the entry by a court having jurisdiction of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or (B) a decree or order appointing a receiver for the Company, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(2) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law following the Company’s consent to such a decree or order, or the appointment of a receiver for the Company under any applicable Federal bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law following consent by the Board of Directors of the Company; or

(3) any other Event of Default, if any, provided with respect to Debt Securities of such series specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Debt Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of the Debt Securities of such series shall terminate.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Debt 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 Debt Securities of such 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 installments of interest on all Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons,

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

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest on each Debt Security and any related coupons at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Debt Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

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

 

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Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

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

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

(3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Debt Security of such series, or

(4) default is made in any required designation of funds as Securities Funds, or

(5) default is made in the performance, or breach, 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 specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Debt Securities other than such series), and such default or breach continues for a period of 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such 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,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Debt Securities and coupons, the amount then due and payable on such Debt Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, sinking fund installment and interest, including the delivery of any Capital Securities then required to be delivered, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Debt 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 (including the delivery of any Capital Securities then required to be delivered) forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid and the delivery of any Capital Securities required to be delivered and not so delivered, or, in the case of the failure to deliver Capital Securities, money equal to the principal amount of the Debt Securities for which the Capital Securities were to be exchanged, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Debt Securities and coupons and collect the moneys (or

 

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money equal to the principal amount of any Debt Securities for which Capital Securities were to be exchanged) 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 Debt Securities and coupons, wherever situated.

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

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceedings, or any voluntary or involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter constituted, relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of a particular series or any related coupons or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of such Debt Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

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

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debt Securities or coupons 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.

 

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Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Debt Securities or Coupons.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Debt Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debt Securities or coupons 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 Debt Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture 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 or other property on account of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Debt Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, 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 (including any predecessor Trustee) under Section 607;

SECOND: To the payment of amounts then due and unpaid to the holders of Senior Debt, to the extent required by Article Eighteen;

THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities and any coupons, 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 Debt Securities and any coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively. The Holders of each series of Debt Securities denominated in any composite currency or a Foreign Currency and any matured coupons relating thereto shall be entitled to receive a ratable portion of the amount determined by the Exchange Rate Agent by converting the principal amount Outstanding of such series of Debt Securities and matured but unpaid interest on such series of Debt Securities in the currency in which such series of Debt Securities is denominated into Dollars at the Exchange Rate as of the date of declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of the Debt Securities; and

FOURTH: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

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Section 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons 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 Debt Securities of such series;

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

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity as the Trustee may require to save it harmless 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 Debt Securities of such 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 such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Exchange Debt Securities for Capital Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Debt Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Debt Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Debt Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), to have the Debt Securities exchanged for Capital Securities pursuant to Article Fourteen, if applicable, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or exchange, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder , subject, however, to the provisions of Article Eighteen.

 

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Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

Section 512. Control by Holders of Debt Securities.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series, provided, that

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

(2) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series not joining in any such direction; and

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

 

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Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of any such series and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security of such series, or

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

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

Section 514. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Debt Security or coupon by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having a due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant, but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security or the payment of any coupons on or after the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Debt Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) or for the enforcement of the right to exchange any Debt Securities for Capital Securities as provided in Article Fourteen.

Section 515. 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 whenever 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 benefits 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

 

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Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

The Trustee

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. For purposes of Sections 315(a) and 315(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term “default” is hereby defined as an Event of Default which has occurred and is continuing.

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

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Indenture to the contrary, the duties and responsibilities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and limitation on liability afforded to an indenture trustee under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of Section 315(b) and 315(d)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, the term “responsible officer” is hereby defined as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee.

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 602. Notice of Default.

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Debt Securities of any series the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Debt Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security of such series or any related coupons or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Debt Securities of such series or in the exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section and Section 603, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of such series.

 

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Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any signature, resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon 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 shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the 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 of Debt Securities of such series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity as the Trustee may require to save it harmless 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, coupon, 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, other than any such books or records containing information as to the affairs of the customers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; provided that the Trustee may examine such books and records relating to customers to the extent that such books and records contain information as to any payments made to such customers in their capacity as Holders of Debt Securities;

(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; no Exchange Rate Agent, Capital Exchange Agent, Global Exchange

 

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Agent, Depositary or Paying Agent shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any of them;

(h) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless written notice of such default or Event of Default from the Company or any Holder is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Debt Securities and this Indenture;

(i) 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 to act hereunder;

(k) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a 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 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;

(l) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential or other similar loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and

(m) the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including, without limitation, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of any governmental authority, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Debt Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, and in any coupons, and the information in any registration statement, including all attachments thereto, except information provided by the Trustee therein, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities of any series or any coupons or any Capital Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debt Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representations to the Company’s ability or authority to issue Bearer Securities or the lawfulness thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with or the breach of, or

 

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cause to be performed or observed, any representation, warranty, or covenant, or agreement of any Person, other than the Trustee, made in this Indenture.

Section 605. May Hold Debt Securities or Coupons.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities and coupons, and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such agent.

Section 606. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be under any liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder which shall have been separately agreed to by the Company and the Trustee (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

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

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense, including fees and expenses of counsel, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Debt Securities, the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense is due to the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Debt Securities and any coupons upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Debt Securities or any coupons. The claims of the Trustee under this Section shall not be subject to the provisions of Article Eighteen. The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(1) and Section 501(2), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

“Trustee” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning 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 such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to Debt Securities of any series by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of more than one series or any other indenture between the Trustee and the Company.

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority; provided, however, that if Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Trust Indenture Act at any time permit a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any other jurisdiction to serve as trustee of an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, this Section 609 shall be automatically amended to permit a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of any such other jurisdiction to serve as Trustee hereunder. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the

 

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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 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Debt Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Debt Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of such series for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 with respect to any series of Debt Securities 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 with respect to any series of Debt Securities or a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered in respect of the Trustee in an involuntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law; or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered for the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trustee or of its property or affairs, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, winding up or liquidation, or

(4) the Trustee shall commence a voluntary case under the Federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, custodian, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trustee or its property or affairs, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall take corporate action in furtherance of any such action,

 

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then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to such series or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of any series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee for the Debt Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee. In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee if the Company shall determine by a Board Resolution that the services provided by the Trustee may be obtained at a substantially lower cost to the Company.

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Debt Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Debt Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Debt 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 Debt Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt 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, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Debt Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, 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 Debt Securities of such series.

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In the case of an appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Debt 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

 

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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 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.

(b) In the case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee upon payment of its charges and each successor Trustee with respect to the Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on the 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 Debt 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 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the

 

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corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the executing or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Debt 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 Debt Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Debt Securities. In case any Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Debt 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 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

If and when the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section 614. Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee shall upon Company request appoint one or more authenticating agents (including, without limitation, the Company or any Affiliate thereof) with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities which shall be authorized on behalf of the Trustee in authenticating Debt Securities of such series in connection with the issue, delivery, registration of transfer, exchange, partial redemption or repayment of such Debt Securities. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication of Debt Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication 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 must be acceptable to the Company and, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, must be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $1,000,000, authorized under such laws to do a trust business and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities or the equivalent foreign authority, in the case of an authenticating agent who is not organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

The Trustee hereby initially appoints Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as its authenticating agent.

Any Person succeeding to the corporate agency business of an authenticating agent shall continue to be an authenticating agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such authenticating agent.

An authenticating agent may at any time resign with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The

 

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Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time an authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee promptly may appoint a successor authenticating agent. Any successor authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an authenticating agent herein. No successor authenticating agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Company agrees to pay to each authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

The provisions of Sections 104, 111, 306, 309, 603, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.

Pursuant to each appointment made under this Section, the Debt Securities of each series covered by such appointment may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Debt Securities, of the series designated herein, described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By    
  As Authenticating Agent for the Trustee
By    
  Authorized Signatory

Section 615. Tax Withholding .

The Company agrees (i) to provide the Trustee, at the Trustee’s written request, with such reasonable information as it has in its possession to enable the Trustee to determine whether any payments pursuant to this Indenture are subject to the withholding requirements described in Section 1471(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations, or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“FATCA”), and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this

 

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Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with FATCA, for which the Trustee shall not have any liability.

ARTICLE SEVEN

Holders’ Lists and Reports By Trustee and Company

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of each series for which it acts as Trustee:

(1) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after the Regular Record Date in respect of the Debt Securities of such series or on May 15 and November 15 of each year with respect to each series of Debt Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities as of such Regular Record Date or May 1 or November 1, as the case may be, and

(2) 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 shall be the Security Registrar, no such list need be furnished.

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Paying Agent or Security Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. The Trustee shall preserve for at least two years the names and addresses of Holders of Bearer Securities filed with the Trustee by such Holders.

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

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

 

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Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Debt Securities pursuant to this Indenture and at any other time required by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture and such other matters as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act in the manner required by the Trust Indenture Act.

(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 Debt Securities of such series are listed, with the Commission and also with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any series of Debt Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

Section 704. 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 at the time and in the manner pursuant to such Act; provided that 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 shall be deemed filed with, and delivered to, the Trustee and transmitted to the Holders at the same time as filed with the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or 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).

ARTICLE EIGHT

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, etc. Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person other than any such conveyance, transfer or lease to one or more of its Subsidiaries, unless:

(1) the corporation 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 substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any political subdivision thereof or any State thereof and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the

 

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Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including all additional amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 1006) on all the Debt Securities and any related coupons and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

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

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been met.

Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other corporation, or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person pursuant to the requirements of Section 801(1), (2) and (3), the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Company (which term for this purpose shall mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner presented in this Article) shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Debt Securities and coupons.

ARTICLE NINE

Supplemental Indentures

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company, for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Debt Securities or coupons (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of

 

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less than all series of Debt Securities or coupons, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be applicable to less than all series of Debt Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely to be applicable to such series); or

(4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal (or premium, if any) on Registered Securities or of principal (or premium, if any) or any interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Debt Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination (a) shall become effective only when there is no Debt Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provisions or (b) shall not apply to any Debt Security Outstanding; or

(6) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

(7) to conform the text of this Indenture or the Debt Securities of any series to any provision of the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities” or any similarly captioned section in the prospectus, as supplemented by any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, relating to the offering of such series of Debt Securities; or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such other provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

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(10) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interest of Holders of Debt Securities of any series or any appurtenant coupons in any material respect.

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of all series affected by such supplemental indenture, acting together as a class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or 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 under this Indenture of such Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security or coupon affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal or any installment of principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption or repayment thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1006 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment, or the coin or currency in which any Debt Security or the interest thereon or any coupon is payable, or impair any right to the delivery of Capital Securities in exchange for Debt Securities provided for in this Indenture or the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date or Capital Exchange Date, as the case may be), or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1604 for quorum or voting, or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1005, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1005, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Section 611(b) and 901(8), or

 

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(4) adversely affect the right to repayment, if any, of Debt Securities of any series at the option of the Holders thereof, or

(5) impair the right of any Holder of Debt Securities of any series to receive Capital Securities on any Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of such Holder’s Debt Securities of such series or in an amount sufficient to provide proceeds upon sale by the Company in the Secondary Offering equal to the principal amount of such Holder’s Debt Securities of such series, or

(6) impair the right of any Holder of Convertible Securities of any series to convert such Debt Securities pursuant to Article Nineteen;

and provided, further, that no change shall be made in the provisions of Article Eighteen that will affect adversely the holders of Senior Debt without the consent of the holders of all Senior Debt Outstanding.

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 Debt Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Debt 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 Debt Securities of any other series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect.

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

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate each 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.

 

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Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 906. Reference in Debt Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Debt 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 Debt Securities of any series and any appurtenant coupons so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons.

ARTICLE TEN

Covenants

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities and any appurtenant coupons in accordance with the terms of the Debt Securities, any appurtenant coupons and this Indenture. Any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity, other than additional amounts, if any, payable as provided in Section 1006 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any, on) such a Debt Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. For all purposes of this Indenture, the exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities of any series pursuant to the Indenture shall constitute full payment of principal of the Debt Securities of such series being exchanged on any Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series, without prejudice to any Holder’s rights pursuant to Section 1413.

 

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Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Debt Securities an office or agency where Debt Securities (but, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States, not Bearer Securities) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities and this Indenture may be served. If Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Debt Securities of such series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any additional amounts payable on Debt Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1006); provided, however, that if the Debt Securities of such series are listed on the London Stock Exchange or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent in London or Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Debt Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices or demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any additional amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1006) at the place specified for the purpose pursuant to Section 301(5).

No payment of principal of, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, payment of principal of and any premium and interest denominated in Dollars (including additional amounts payable in respect thereof) on any Bearer Security may be made at an office or agency of, and designated by, the Company located in the United States if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or additional amounts in Dollars at all offices outside the United States maintained for the purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions and the Trustee receives an Opinion of Counsel that such payment within the United States is legal. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Debt Securities, at the option of the Holder of any Bearer Security or related coupon, payment may be made by check in the currency designated for such payment pursuant to the terms of such Bearer Security presented or mailed to an address outside the United States or by transfer to an account in such currency maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside of such Place of Payment) where the Debt Securities of one or more series and any appurtenant coupons (subject to the preceding paragraph) may be presented or surrendered

 

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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 any series of Debt Securities for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Section 1003. Money for Debt 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 Debt Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents with respect to any series of Debt Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons, 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 of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent with respect to any series of Debt 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 Debt Securities of such series and any appurtenant coupons 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 notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Debt Securities of such series or any appurtenant coupons) in the making of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of such series or any appurtenant coupons; 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 terminating its obligations under this Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series 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

 

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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 principal and interest received on the Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee or 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 Debt Security of any series or any appurtenant coupons or any money on deposit with the Trustee or any Paying Agent representing amounts deducted from the Redemption Price or Repayment Price with respect to unmatured coupons not presented upon redemption or exercise of the Holder’s option for repayment pursuant to Section 1106 or 1303 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 Debt Security or any coupon appertaining thereto 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 (including the principal and interest received on Eligible Instruments deposited with the Trustee), 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 of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and each Place of Payment or mailed to each such Holder, or both, 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 or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 1004. Officers’ Certificate as to Default.

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, on or before a date not more than four months after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture, and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature thereof of which they may have knowledge.

Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition applicable to the Debt Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301 unless such covenant or condition is determined pursuant to Section 301 not to be subject to this provision if, before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all series of the Debt Securities at the time Outstanding to which such covenant or condition applies shall, acting together as a class, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until

 

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such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 1006. Payment of Additional Amounts.

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

If the Debt Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Debt Securities (or if the Debt Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal (and premium, if any) is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Debt Securities of that series or the related coupons who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Debt Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Debt Securities or coupons and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts, if any, required by the terms of such Debt Securities and the first paragraph of this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN

Redemption of Debt Securities

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

Debt Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Debt Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Debt Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 20 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount and the tenor and terms of the Debt Securities of any series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Debt Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Debt Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Debt Securities to be Redeemed.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series, if less than all the Debt Securities of any series with like tenor and terms are to be redeemed, the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series with like tenor and terms not previously called for redemption, pro rata, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series or any integral multiple thereof which is also an authorized denomination) of the principal amount of Registered Securities or Bearer Securities (if issued in more than one authorized denomination) of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Debt 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 Debt Securities shall relate, in the case of any Debt Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

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Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Debt Securities to be redeemed.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Debt Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Debt Securities to be redeemed,

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

(5) the Place or Places of Payment where such Debt Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

(6) that Bearer Securities may be surrendered for payment only at such place or places which are outside the United States, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002,

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

(8) the CUSIP number, if any.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

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

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or 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 1003) an amount of money and/or, to the extent the Debt Securities to be redeemed are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of the Debt Securities to be redeemed) will provide

 

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money on or prior to the Redemption Date in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Debt Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that deposits with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made with a Paying Agent or Paying Agents located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.

Section 1106. Debt Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Debt Securities to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Debt Securities shall cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Debt Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Debt Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest (at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002), and provided further, that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Debt Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted without interest thereon; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

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

Section 1107. Debt Securities Redeemed in Part.

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

 

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due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Security Registrar 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 Debt Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series and of like tenor and terms, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

Sinking Funds

Section 1201. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Debt Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Debt Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Debt 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 term of Debt Securities of any series is herein referred to an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of any series, the amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Debt Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Debt Securities of such series.

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Debt Securities.

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Debt Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) may apply as a credit Debt Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Debt Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Debt Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Debt Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Debt Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Debt Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Debt Securities for redemption, except upon Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at

 

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the request of the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Debt Securities purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

Section 1203. Redemption of Debt Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Debt Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by crediting Debt Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and the basis for any such credit and, prior to or concurrently with the delivery of such Officers’ Certificate, will also deliver to the Trustee any Debt Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered to the Trustee. Not less than 30 days (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Debt Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Debt Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1105, 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

Repayment at the Option of Holders

Section 1301. Applicability of Article.

Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for Debt Securities of such series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1302. Repayment of Debt Securities.

Each Debt Security which is subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holder thereof on a Repayment Date shall be repaid at the applicable Repayment Price together with interest accrued to such Repayment Date as specified pursuant to Section 301.

Section 1303. Exercise of Option; Notice.

Each Holder desiring to exercise such Holder’s option for repayment shall, as conditions to such repayment, surrender the Debt Security to be repaid in whole or in part together with written notice of the exercise of such option at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, not less than 30 nor more than 45 days prior to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that surrender of Bearer Securities together with written notice of exercise of such option

 

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shall be made at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002. Such notice, which shall be irrevocable, shall specify the principal amount of such Debt Security to be repaid, which shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination for such Debt Security or an integral multiple thereof, and shall identify the Debt Security to be repaid and, in the case of a partial repayment of the Debt Security, shall specify the denomination or denominations of the Debt Security or Debt Securities of the same series to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal of the Debt Security surrendered which is not to be repaid.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default, such Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Repayment Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Repayment Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted without interest thereon; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver without service charge to the Holder of any Registered Security so surrendered a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified in the foregoing notice, in an aggregate principal amount equal to any portion of the principal of the Registered Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver without service charge to the Holder of any Bearer Security so surrendered a new Registered Security or Securities or new Bearer Security or Securities (and all appurtenant unmatured coupons and matured coupons in default) or any combination thereof of the same series of any authorized denomination or denominations specified in the foregoing notice, in an aggregate principal amount equal to any portion of the principal of the Debt Security so surrendered which is not to be paid; provided, however, that the issuance of a Registered Security therefor shall be subject to applicable laws and regulations, including provisions of the United States Federal income tax laws and regulations in effect at the time of the exchange; neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall issue Registered Securities for Bearer Securities if it has received an Opinion of Counsel that as a result of such issuance the Company would suffer adverse consequences under the United States Federal income tax laws then in effect and the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order directing the Trustee not to make such issuances thereafter unless and until the Trustee receives a subsequent Company Order to the contrary. The Company shall deliver copies of such Company Order to the Security Registrar.

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

 

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Section 1304. Election of Repayment by Remarketing Entities.

The Company may elect, with respect to Debt Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity, at any time prior to any Repayment Date to designate one or more Remarketing Entities to purchase, at a price equal to the Repayment Price, Debt Securities of such series from the Holders thereof who give notice and surrender their Debt Securities in accordance with Section 1303.

Section 1305. Securities Payable on the Repayment Date.

Notice of exercise of the option of repayment having been given and the Debt Securities so to be repaid having been surrendered as aforesaid, such Debt Securities shall, unless purchased in accordance with Section 1304, on the Repayment Date become due and payable at the price therein specified and from and after the Repayment Date such Debt Securities shall cease to bear interest and shall be paid on the Repayment Date, and the coupons for such interest appertaining to Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided above, shall be void, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such price in which case the Company shall continue to be obligated for the principal amount of such Debt Securities and shall be obligated to pay interest on such principal amount at the rate borne by such Debt Securities from time to time until payment in full of such principal amount.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities

Section 1401. Applicability of Article.

If an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301 provides for the exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities of any series at the election of the Company or otherwise, Debt Securities of such series shall be exchanged for Capital Securities in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified in such Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1402. Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities at Stated Maturity.

At the Stated Maturity of Debt Securities of any series which may be exchanged, subject to prepayment prior to such Stated Maturity on the Capital Exchange Date selected by the Company for Debt Securities of such series, as described below, early exchange pursuant to Section 1403 or payment in cash pursuant to Section 502, 1416 or 1417, the Company shall exchange Capital Securities with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series for the Debt Securities of such series in whole.

 

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The Company shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to Holders of the Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged, the Trustee and the Capital Exchange Agent as to the type of Capital Securities to be exchanged for the Debt Securities of such series on the Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series. Such notice shall include a form of Capital Security Election Form substantially as set forth in Section 1409, shall make the statements and contain the information included in Section 1404(a), and shall be given no less than 90 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Debt Securities. Notice of such Capital Exchange Date, together with the amount of Capital Securities being exchanged for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series, or the minimum denomination of the Debt Securities of such series, if larger, shall also be given by the Company in the manner required by Section 1404(b) not less than three Business Days prior to such Capital Exchange Date.

The Capital Exchange Date for any prepayment of Debt Securities of each series may be selected by the Company to be any date between a date 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Debt Securities and such Stated Maturity, inclusive, and to be the date of the closing of the Secondary Offering for Debt Securities of such series. In the event the Company fails to effect such Secondary Offering, the Capital Exchange Date will be the Stated Maturity of the Debt Securities of such series. Notice of each such Capital Exchange Date, together with the amount of Capital Securities being exchanged for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series, or the minimum denomination of the Debt Securities of such series, if larger, shall also be given by the Company in the manner required by Section 1404(b) not less than three Business Days prior to such Capital Exchange Date.

The Company will effect each Secondary Offering such that the closing of the Secondary Offering will occur on the Capital Exchange Date.

Section 1403. Right of Early Exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities.

The Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged may be exchanged at the election of the Company, as a whole or from time to time in part, prior to the Stated Maturity thereof for Capital Securities with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of such Debt Securities on any early Capital Exchange Date, together with accrued interest to such Capital Exchange Date.

The Company shall give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to Holders of the Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged, the Trustee and the Capital Exchange Agent not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to any early Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series, which notice shall include a form of Capital Security Election Form substantially as set forth in Section 1409 and make the statements and contain the information included in Section 1404(a). Notice of each such early Capital Exchange Date, together with the amount of Capital Securities being exchanged for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series, or the minimum denomination of such series, if larger, shall also be given by the Company in the manner required by Section 1404(b) not less than three Business Days prior to such early Capital Exchange Date.

The Company may at its option accelerate any such Capital Exchange Date within the 60-day period prior to such Capital Exchange Date by giving notice of such accelerated Capital

 

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Exchange Date, together with the amount of Capital Securities being exchanged for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series, or the minimum denomination of such series, if larger, in the manner required by Section 1404(b) not less than three Business Days prior to such accelerated Capital Exchange Date.

The Company will effect each Secondary Offering such that the closing of such Secondary Offering will occur on the Capital Exchange Date.

Section 1404. Notices of Exchange.

(a) All notices of exchange subject to this paragraph shall state:

(1) the type of Capital Securities to be exchanged for the Debt Securities of such series on the Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series;

(2) the proposed Capital Exchange Date;

(3) that each Holder of Debt Securities of such series being exchanged will receive on such Capital Exchange Date accrued and unpaid interest in cash and may elect to receive on such Capital Exchange Date Capital Securities with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series owned by such Holder and that, in the absence of any such election by the Holder, such Holder will be deemed to have received on such Capital Exchange Date Capital Securities having such Market Value and to have elected to have such Capital Securities sold for such Holder by the Company in the related Secondary Offering for cash proceeds to such Holder on such Capital Exchange Date equal to the aggregate principal amount of all Debt Securities of such series being exchanged owned by such Holder;

(4) that on such Capital Exchange Date the Capital Exchange Price will become due and payable upon each such Debt Security to be exchanged and that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(5) if less than all the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series are to be exchanged, the identification and principal amount of the particular Debt Securities to be exchanged;

(6) that each Holder for whom Capital Securities are being offered in the Secondary Offering shall be deemed to have appointed the Company its attorney-in-fact to execute any and all documents and agreements the Company deems necessary or appropriate to effect such Secondary Offering;

(7) (A) that the Company will assume, unless advised to the contrary in writing within 30 days after the date of notice of exchange, that the Capital Securities are to be offered for the account of the Holder, that such Holder has not held any position, office or other material relationship with the Company within three years preceding the Secondary Offering, that the Holder owns no other Capital Securities, and that after completion of the

 

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Secondary Offering the Holder will own less than one percent of the class of such Capital Securities, and (B) that if any of these assumptions is not correct, the Holder shall promptly so advise the Company;

(8) the Place or Places of Capital Exchange;

(9) that Bearer Securities may be surrendered for payment or exchange only at a Place or Places of Capital Exchange which are outside the United States, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002; and

(10) the CUSIP number, if any.

(b) Each notice of exchange subject to this paragraph shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 to each Holder of Debt Securities to be exchanged, and the Company shall forthwith give such notice by telephone to the Trustee and the Capital Exchange Agent, promptly confirmed in writing.

(c) (1) Except as may otherwise be specified pursuant to Section 301 for Debt Securities of any series, if less than all the Debt Securities of any series are to be exchanged, the Company shall at least 135 days prior to the related Capital Exchange Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee of such Capital Exchange Date and of the principal amount of Debt Securities of such series to be exchanged and the particular Debt Securities to be exchanged shall be selected not more than 135 days prior to the related Capital Exchange Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series not previously exchanged, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for exchange of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Registered or Bearer Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Debt Securities of such series.

In any case where Debt Securities of such series are registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Debt Security of such series.

(2) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Debt Securities selected for exchange and, in the case of any Debt Securities selected for partial exchange, the principal amount thereof to be exchanged.

(3) For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the exchange of Debt Securities shall relate, in the case of any Debt Securities exchanged or to be exchanged only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Debt Security which has been or is to be exchanged.

 

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Section 1405. Rights and Duties of Holders of Debt Securities to be Exchanged for Capital Securities.

(a) Subject to Section 503, and without prejudice to the rights pursuant to Section 1413 of Holders of Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged, no Holder of Debt Securities of such series shall be entitled to receive any cash from the Company on any Capital Exchange Date or at the Stated Maturity of any Debt Security of such series except from the proceeds of the sale of such Holder’s Capital Securities in the related Secondary Offering and except as provided herein with respect to fractional Capital Securities, amounts equal to expenses of the sale in the related Secondary Offering of such Capital Securities, accrued and unpaid interest and acceleration upon an Event of Default. In the event that the Company does not effect such Secondary Offering, such Holder will receive Capital Securities with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of Debt Securities of such series owned by such Holder which are subject to such exchange and not cash other than in lieu of any fractional Capital Securities and for accrued and unpaid interest, without prejudice to such Holder’s rights pursuant to Section 1413.

(b) Each Holder for whom Capital Securities are being offered in the Secondary Offering shall be deemed to have appointed the Company its attorney-in-fact to execute any and all documents and agreements the Company deems necessary or appropriate to effect such Secondary Offering.

(c) Unless advised to the contrary in writing within 30 days following the date of the notice described in Section 1404(a) by any Holder for whom Capital Securities are being offered in the Secondary Offering, the Company shall assume for the purposes of any Secondary Offering that the Capital Securities are to be offered for the account of such Holder, that such Holder has not held any position, office or other material relationship with the Company within three years preceding the Secondary Offering, that such Holder owns no other Capital Securities, and that after completion of the Secondary Offering such Holder will own less than one percent of the class of such Capital Securities.

(d) Each Holder for whom Capital Securities are being offered in the Secondary Offering agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, any other Holder, and any underwriter, agent or other similar person from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities resulting from or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any notice of exchange, any offering memorandum or selling document or registration statement relating to the Secondary Offering, any preliminary prospectus or prospectus contained therein, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or resulting from or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is made therein (i) in reliance upon and in conformity with any written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof or (ii) because of such Holder’s failure to advise the Company in writing that any of the assumptions described in Section 1404(a)(7)(A) and Subsection (c) of this Section is incorrect.

 

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(e) In order for any Holder who has duly returned a Capital Security Election Form to receive Capital Securities on any Capital Exchange Date for any Debt Security of any series, (1) the Holder of any Registered Security to be exchanged shall surrender such Debt Security (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 of any Registered Security or his attorney duly authorized in writing) to the Capital Exchange Agent on the Capital Exchange Date, and (2) the Holder of any Bearer Security to be exchanged shall surrender such Debt Security and all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default with the Capital Security Election Form at a Place of Capital Exchange outside the United States designated pursuant to Section 1404(a)(8) except as otherwise provided in Section 1002. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such Debt Security or coupons, the surrender of such Debt Security or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee, if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Capital Exchange Agent harmless in respect of such Debt Security or coupons. Except as provided in Section 307, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any exchange on account of any interest accrued on any Debt Securities surrendered for exchange or on account of any dividends or interest on the Capital Securities issued upon exchange.

(f) Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged shall be deemed to have been exchanged on the Capital Exchange Date therefor in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and at such time the rights of the Holders of such Debt Securities as Holders shall cease (subject to the provisions of Section 307 and without prejudice to the rights of Holders of Debt Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1413), and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Capital Securities issuable upon such exchange shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Capital Securities at such time.

Section 1406. Election to Exchange.

The election of the Company to exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities pursuant to Section 1403 shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution.

Section 1407. Deposit of Capital Exchange Price.

On any Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of any series which may be exchanged, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Capital Exchange Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (or, if the Company is acting as Capital Exchange Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) Capital Securities and an amount of money which together are sufficient to pay the Capital Exchange Price of, and (except if such Capital Exchange Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Debt Securities of such series or portions thereof which are to be exchanged on that date; provided, however, that deposits with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made with a Capital Exchange Agent or Capital Exchange Agents located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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Section 1408. Debt Securities Due on Capital Exchange Date; Debt Securities Exchanged in Part.

Notice of exchange having been given as aforesaid, the Debt Securities of any series so to be exchanged shall, on the Capital Exchange Date for such Debt Securities, become due and payable at the Capital Exchange Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Capital Exchange Price and accrued interest) Debt Securities of such series to be exchanged shall cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities to be exchanged, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any Debt Security of such series for exchange in accordance with said notice, such Debt Security shall be paid by the Company at the Capital Exchange Price, together with accrued interest to the Capital Exchange Date; provided, however, that if such Capital Exchange Date is an Interest Payment Date, the interest payable on such date shall be paid to the Holder of Debt Securities of such series according to the terms of the Debt Securities of such series and the provisions of Section 307; and provided further, that exchanges of Bearer Securities shall be made only and installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Capital Exchange Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002 and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those Bearer Securities and coupons.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for exchange shall not be accompanied by all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default, such Bearer Security may be paid after deducting from the Capital Exchange Price an amount equal to the face amount of all missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Capital Exchange Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to the Trustee or Capital Exchange Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Capital Exchange Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted without interest thereon; provided, however, that interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

If any Debt Security of any series called for exchange shall not be so paid or exchanged upon surrender thereof for exchange, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from such Capital Exchange Date at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Debt Security; provided, however, that in the case of Bearer Securities, any such principal and interest thereon shall be paid at an office or agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002.

Any Registered Security which is to be exchanged only in part shall be surrendered as provided herein (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 or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and there shall be delivered to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unexchanged portion of principal of the Debt Security so surrendered.

 

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Any Bearer Security which is to be exchanged only in part shall be surrendered as provided herein and the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and there shall be delivered to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge a new Registered Security or Securities or new Bearer Security or Securities (and all appurtenant unmatured coupons and coupons in default) or any combination thereof of the same series, of any surrendered denomination or denominations as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unexchanged portion of principal of the Debt Security so surrendered; provided, however, the issuance of a Registered Security therefor shall be subject to applicable laws and regulations, including provisions of the United States federal income tax laws and regulations in effect at the time of the exchange; neither the Company, the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall issue Registered Securities in exchange for Bearer Securities if it has received an Opinion of Counsel that as a result of such exchanges the Company would suffer adverse consequences under the United States Federal income tax laws then in effect and the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Order directing the Trustee not to make such exchanges thereafter unless and until the Company delivers to the Trustee a subsequent Company Order to the contrary. The Company shall deliver copies of such Company Orders to the Security Registrar.

Section 1409. Form of Capital Security Election Form.

The form of Capital Security Election Form shall be substantially as follows with such additions, deletions or changes thereto as may be approved by the Company:

CAPITAL SECURITY ELECTION FORM

 

To: [Insert Names and Addresses
     of Capital Exchange Agents]

The undersigned Holder of [insert title of Debt Security] (“Debt Securities”) of Wells Fargo & Company hereby elects to receive on the Capital Exchange Date determined pursuant to the Indenture dated as of February 23, 2017 (“Indenture”), between Wells Fargo & Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, and referred to in the notice of exchange published or delivered to the undersigned with this Capital Security Election Form, Capital Securities of Wells Fargo & Company with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of the Debt Securities being exchanged owned by the undersigned Holder and, in the case of Bearer Securities, delivered herewith together with all coupons appertaining thereto. Unless this Capital Security Election Form together with, in the case of Bearer Securities, such Bearer Securities and coupons, is received by any Capital Exchange Agent named above at an address shown above on or prior to                                          , the Holder will be deemed to have elected to participate in the sale of the Holder’s Capital Securities in the Secondary Offering and will receive cash on the Capital Exchange Date in an amount equal to the principal amount of all Debt Securities being exchanged owned by the Holder. All terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture.

 

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Dated  

 

     
       

 

           Name of Holder

Section 1410. Fractional Capital Securities.

No fractional Capital Securities shall be issued upon exchange for any Debt Securities. If more than one Debt Security of any series shall be surrendered for exchange at one time by the same Holder, the amount of all Capital Securities which shall be issuable upon exchange thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of such series so surrendered. In lieu of issuing any fractional Capital Security, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fraction in an amount equal to the same fraction of the Market Value of the Capital Security.

Section 1411. Company to Obtain Governmental and Regulatory Approvals.

The Company covenants that if any Capital Securities required to be exchanged for Debt Securities hereunder require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law, or any national securities exchange, before such Capital Securities may be issued, the Company will in good faith and as expeditiously as possible endeavor to cause such Capital Securities to be duly registered or approved, as the case may be; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall be deemed to affect in any way the obligation of the Company to exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities as provided in this Article.

Section 1412. Taxes on Exchange.

The Company will pay any and all transfer, stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of Capital Securities in exchange for Debt Securities pursuant hereto.

Section 1413. Covenants as to Capital Securities and Secondary Offering.

(a) The Company covenants that it will issue, or cause to be issued, Capital Securities of the type, in the amounts and at the times required by this Indenture.

(b) The Company covenants that all Capital Securities which may be issued in exchange for Debt Securities will upon issuance be duly and validly issued and, if applicable, fully paid and nonassessable.

(c) The Company unconditionally undertakes to sell Capital Securities in each Secondary Offering (and to bear all expenses of each Secondary Offering, including underwriting discounts and commissions) at the times and in the manner required by this Indenture unless all Holders have duly elected to receive Capital Securities on the related Capital Exchange Date.

 

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(d) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless in connection with any Secondary Offering any Holder for the account of whom Capital Securities are being offered and sold from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities resulting from or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any notice of exchange, any offering memorandum or selling document or registration statement relating to the Secondary Offering, any preliminary prospectus or prospectus contained therein, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or resulting from or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or resulting from the Company’s failure to comply with Section 1411; provided, however, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission made therein (i) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof or (ii) because of such Holder’s failure to advise the Company in writing that any of the assumptions described in Section 1404(a)(7)(A) is incorrect. In connection with any Secondary Offering, the Company agrees to obtain appropriate indemnification of any Holder for the account of whom Capital Securities are being offered and sold in any Secondary Offering from any underwriter, agent or other similar person.

Section 1414. Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Transfer of Assets.

In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation), or in case of any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person other than one or more of its Subsidiaries, the corporation formed by such consideration or the corporation into which the Company shall have been merged or the corporation which shall have acquired such assets of the Company, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Debt Security then Outstanding shall have the right thereafter to receive securities of such successor on the Capital Exchange Date for such Debt Security with a Market Value equal to the principal amount of such Debt Security. The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, conveyances or transfers.

Section 1415 . Trustee Not Responsible.

The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Debt Securities of any series to be exchanged to determine the Market Value of any Capital Securities delivered in exchange for Debt Securities of such series and may rely on and shall be entitled to receive prior to any Capital Exchange Date for Debt Securities of such series an Officers’ Certificate of the Company as to the Market Value of the Capital Securities being exchanged for the Debt Securities of such series and the amount of Capital Securities being exchanged for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities of such series or the minimum denomination of such series, if larger, and that such Capital Securities qualify as Capital Securities under the definition thereof contained herein. The Trustee shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any Capital Securities which may at any time be issued or delivered in exchange

 

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for any Debt Security; and the Trustee does not make any representation with respect thereto. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any Capital Securities or Capital Security certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Debt Security for the purpose of exchange or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article.

Section 1416. Revocation of Obligation to Exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities.

The Company’s obligations to exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities of any series as provided in Section 1402 is absolute and unconditional; provided, however, that such obligation may be revoked at the option of the Company at any time on not less than 60 days’ prior notice given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series, the Trustee and the Capital Exchange Agent, if the Company shall determine that under regulations then in effect of the Company’s Primary Federal Regulator either the Debt Securities are no longer includable as capital or it is no longer necessary for the Company to be obligated to exchange Capital Securities for Debt Securities in order for the Debt Securities to maintain the same capital treatment as they are then receiving under the regulations or if approval of the Primary Federal Regulator is obtained for such revocation.

In the event such obligation is revoked

(a) the Company will pay the Debt Securities of such series in cash at 100% of the principal amount thereof on the Stated Maturity thereof, and

(b) the Company may, at any time on or after a date selected by the Company, on not less than 60 days’ prior notice given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Debt Securities of such series and the Trustee, redeem the Debt Securities of such series, in whole or in part, for cash at 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date.

Section 1417. Optional Securities Funds.

(a) (1) With respect to Debt Securities of any series for which an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301 provides that the Debt Securities of such series are exchangeable for Capital Securities, the Company may elect to establish a fund (referred to herein as the “Optional Securities Funds”) to which funds may at any time be designated by the Company as provided in Section 1502 as if such Optional Securities Funds were Securities Funds (as defined in Article Fifteen) to be used to pay the principal of the Debt Securities of such series.

(2) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of any series, neither funds designated as Optional Securities Funds nor any other property from time to time held as Optional Securities Funds shall be deemed to be for any purpose property of the Holders or trust funds for the benefit of the Holders,

 

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and the Optional Securities Funds shall not constitute security for the payment of the Debt Securities.

(b) In lieu of, or in addition to, any exchange of Capital Securities for Debt Securities of any series which may be made in accordance with the provisions of Sections 1402 and 1403, the Company may elect to redeem the Debt Securities of such series in accordance with the provisions of Section 1106 and the terms of the Debt Securities of each series, in whole or in part, by paying the principal of such Debt Securities with funds designated as Optional Securities Funds at a price equal to the percentage of the principal amount established in the terms of the Debt Securities of such series on the Redemption Date of the Debt Securities to be so redeemed, and (except if such Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) by paying accrued interest on such Debt Securities. If such Redemption Date is an Interest Payment Date, the interest payable on such date shall be paid to the Holder of Debt Securities of such series according to the terms of the Debt Securities of such series and the provisions of Section 307.

(c) The Company shall give notice of such proposed redemption in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series within the time prescribed for the giving of the initial notice in Section 1402 or 1403, depending upon the Redemption Date selected by the Company. Such notice shall state the Redemption Date and the place or places where the Debt Securities of the series to be paid are to be surrendered for payment; provided, however, if such redemption is of less than all of the Debt Securities of such series and is to be made on a Capital Exchange Date specified in accordance with Section 1402 or 1403, then such notice may be incorporated into any initial notice of such Capital Exchange Date and provided that no notice of any redemption may be given unless there are sufficient Optional Securities Funds to pay the principal amount of the Debt Securities to be redeemed.

(d) If less than all the Debt Securities of any series are to be so redeemed, then Sections 1404(c) and 1408 shall apply to the redemption in the same manner as if such Debt Securities were to be exchanged for Capital Securities.

(e) Funds designated as Optional Securities Funds shall be released from such designation under the circumstances described in Section 1503.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

Securities Funds

Section 1501. Creation of Securities Funds.

A fund (the “Securities Funds”) will be established when specified in an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301 for the Debt Securities of any series pursuant to which funds may be designated by the Company as provided in Section 1502, to be used to pay the principal of the Debt Securities of that series.

 

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Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities of any series, neither funds designated as Securities Funds nor any other property from time to time held as Securities Funds shall be deemed to be for any purpose property of the Holders or trust funds for the benefit of the Holders, and the Securities Funds shall not constitute security for the payment of the Debt Securities.

Section 1502. Designations of Securities Funds.

The Securities Funds will consist of amounts equal to (i) the net proceeds of the sale of Capital Securities for cash from time to time after the date of initial issuance of the Debt Securities of any series for which funds may be designated by the Company as provided in this Section, and (ii) the market value, as determined by the Company, of Capital Securities sold from time to time after the date of initial issuance of the Debt Securities of such series in exchange for other property, less the expenses to effect any such exchanges, and (iii) other funds which the regulations of the Primary Federal Regulator then permit for the payment of principal of “mandatory convertible securities (equity commitment notes)” as defined in such regulations; provided that (x) the Company has designated such amounts as Securities Funds on its books and records in the manner required by the Primary Federal Regulator, and (y) there shall be deducted from the Securities Funds an amount equal to the amount of any funds used to redeem or repay the Debt Securities of such series for which Securities Funds are required to be designated or any similar securities.

Section 1503. Covenant of the Company to Obtain Securities Funds.

Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that with regard to the Debt Securities of any series which by its terms requires the designation of Securities Funds (i) by the Interest Payment Date which occurs on or next preceding the date when one-third of the period from the date of issuance of the Debt Securities of such series to their Stated Maturity has elapsed, it will have obtained Securities Funds in an amount that will equal at least one-third of the original aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as the Primary Federal Regulator may permit from time to time) and will have prepared and delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect, (ii) by the Interest Payment Date which occurs on or next preceding the date when two-thirds of the period from the date of issuance of the Debt Securities of such series to their Stated Maturity has elapsed, it will have obtained Securities Funds in an amount that will equal at least two-thirds of the original aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as the Primary Federal Regulator may permit from time to time) and will have prepared and delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect, and (iii) by 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of the Debt Securities of such series, it will have obtained Securities Funds in an amount that will equal not less than the original aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as the Primary Federal Regulator may permit from time to time) and will have prepared and delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect; provided, however, that such covenant and agreement of the Company shall be cancelled and amounts theretofore designated as Securities Funds will be released from such designation in the event and to the extent that the Company shall determine that under the regulations of the Company’s Primary Federal Regulator either the Debt Securities are no longer includable as capital

 

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or it is no longer necessary for the Company to be obligated to pay the principal of the Debt Securities out of Securities Funds in order for the Debt Securities to maintain the same capital treatment as they are then receiving under such regulations, in the event and to the extent that approval of the Primary Federal Regulator is obtained for such cancellation and release or in the event and to the extent that the Company shall have exchanged or redeemed such Debt Securities pursuant to the terms of such Debt Securities of such series from a source other than amounts designated as Securities Funds.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

Meetings of Holders of Debt Securities

Section 1601. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

If Debt Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Debt Securities of such series.

Section 1602. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series issuable as Bearer Securities for any purpose specified in Section 1601, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1601, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Debt Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

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Section 1603. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Debt Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 1604. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Debt Securities of such series, be dissolved. In the absence of a quorum in any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairperson of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairperson of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of this reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1602(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series, provided however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series.

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

 

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Section 1605. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Debt 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. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Debt Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or, in the case of Bearer Securities, by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairperson of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Debt Securities as provided in Section 1602(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Debt Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairperson. A permanent chairperson and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Debt Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or the equivalent in any composite currency or a Foreign Currency) of Debt 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 Debt Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairperson of the meeting not to be Outstanding. The chairperson of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Debt Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1602 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 1606. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Debt Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairperson of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the

 

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secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Debt Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1602 and, if applicable, Section 1601. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairperson and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN

Defeasance

Section 1701. Termination of Company’s Obligations.

If this Section 1701 is specified, as contemplated by Section 301, to be applicable to any series of Debt Securities and if the Company deposits irrevocably in trust with the Trustee money and/or, to the extent such Debt Securities are denominated and payable in Dollars only, Eligible Instruments the payments of principal and interest on which when due (and without reinvestment and providing no tax liability will be imposed upon the Trustee or the Holders of such Debt Securities) will provide money in such amounts as will (together with any money irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee, without investment) be sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and any installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest when due on the Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto and any mandatory sinking fund, repayment or analogous payments thereon on the scheduled due dates therefor at the Stated Maturity thereof, the Company’s obligations under any covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section shall terminate with respect to the Debt Securities of the series for which such deposit was made; provided, however , that (i) no Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under Section 501(1) or Section 501(2) or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date, (ii) such deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, and (iii) such termination shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under the Debt Securities of such series and this Indenture to pay when due the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest and additional amounts on such Debt Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto if such Debt Securities or coupons are not paid (or payment is not provided for) when due from the money and Eligible Instruments (and the proceeds thereof) so deposited.

It shall be a condition to the deposit of cash and/or Eligible Instruments and the termination of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section with respect to the Debt Securities of any series under any covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section that the Company deliver to the Trustee (i) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that: (a) Holders of Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto will

 

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not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and termination and (b) such Holders (and future Holders) will be subject to tax in the same amount, manner and timing as if such deposit and termination had not occurred, (ii) an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that under the laws in effect on the date such money and/or Eligible Instruments are deposited with the Trustee, the amount thereof will be sufficient, after payment of all Federal, state and local taxes in respect thereof payable by the Trustee, to pay principal (and premium, if any) and interest when due on the Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining thereto; and (iii) an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated in this Section have been complied with.

It shall be an additional condition to the deposit of cash and/or Eligible Instruments and the termination of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section under any covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, that the Company deliver an Opinion of Counsel that the Debt Securities of such series will not be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as a result of such deposit and termination.

After a deposit as provided herein, the Trustee shall, upon Company Request, acknowledge in writing the discharge of the Company’s obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section with respect to the Debt Securities of such series under any covenant determined pursuant to Section 301 to be subject to this Section.

Section 1702. Repayment to Company.

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Request any money or Eligible Instruments not required for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debt Securities of any series and any related coupons for which money or Eligible Instruments have been deposited pursuant to Section 1701 held by them at any time.

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon Company Request any money held by them for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of the Debt Securities for which a deposit has been made pursuant to Section 1701. After such payment to the Company, the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series and any related coupons shall thereafter, as unsecured general creditors, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

Section 1703. Indemnity for Eligible Instruments.

The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited Eligible Instruments or the principal or interest received on such Eligible Instruments.

 

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ARTICLE EIGHTEEN

Subordination of Debt Securities

Section 1801. Debt Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.

The Company covenants and agrees that anything in this Indenture or the Debt Securities of any series to the contrary notwithstanding, the indebtedness evidenced by the Debt Securities of each series and any coupons appurtenant thereto is subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent provided herein, and each Holder of Debt Securities of each series and coupons appurtenant thereto, by such Holder’s 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.

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 Debt Securities or coupons appurtenant thereto 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities of any series or coupons appurtenant thereto 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 thereon 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 Debt Securities and coupons appurtenant thereto, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Debt

 

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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 Debt 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 Debt Securities and such other obligations.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or any security, 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 Debt Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan or reorganization or readjustment), 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 Debt 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 Debt 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 Debt Securities and coupons appurtenant thereto 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 of Default 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 Debt Securities of each series and coupons appurtenant thereto, if any, 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 Debt Securities of such series and coupons appertaining thereto, if any, 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 Debt Securities of such series.

The Trustee and Holders will take such action (including, without limitation, the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for the holders of Senior Debt or consent to the filing of a

 

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financing statement with respect hereto) as may, in the opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding, be necessary or appropriate to assure the effectiveness of the subordination effected by these provisions.

The provisions of this Section 1801 shall not impair any rights, 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.

Section 1802. Trustee and Holders of Debt 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 Eighteen, 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 Eighteen. 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 or herself 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 Eighteen, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the 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 Eighteen, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may offer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive payment.

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and objectives as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, 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, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall pay over or deliver to the Holders or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

Section 1803. Payment Permitted If No Default.

Nothing contained in this Article Eighteen or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Debt 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 Section 1801,

 

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from making payments of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debt 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 interest on the Debt Securities, if, at the time of such deposit, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, did not have the written notice provided for in Section 1804 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit, or if, at the time of such deposit (whether or not in trust) by the Company with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) such payment would not have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article, and the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received by it on or after such date.

Section 1804. Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition.

Anything in this Article Eighteen 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 1801 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. 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 1805. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

Each Holder of Debt Securities or coupons by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee in such Holder’s 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.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities of any series, or the taking of any other action by the Trustee, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee written notice thereof from the Company, any Holder of Debt Securities, any paying or conversion agent of the Company or the holder or representative of any class of Senior Debt; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms hereof, any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or interest on, or additional amounts owing in respect of, any Debt Security) then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have all power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for

 

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which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it during or after such three Business Day period.

Section 1806. 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; provided that nothing in this Article shall deprive the Trustee of any rights as such holder and provided further that nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607.

Section 1807. 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 were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee, provided, however , that Sections 1804 and 1806 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

Section 1808. Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Company or Holders of Senior Debt.

No right of any present or future holders 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 Debt Securities or the Trustee and without affecting the obligations of the Company, the Trustee or the Holders of the Debt Securities under this Article.

 

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ARTICLE NINETEEN

Conversion of Convertible Securities

Section 1901. Applicability of Article.

If an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301 provides that the Debt Securities of a series shall be Convertible Securities, Debt Securities of such series shall be convertible in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified in such Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1902. Right to Convert.

Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article, the Holder of any Convertible Security shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, at any time prior to the close of business on the date set forth in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 301 hereof (or if such Convertible Security is called for redemption or submitted for repayment, then in respect of such Convertible Security to and including but not after the close of business on the Redemption or Repayment Date, as the case may be, unless the Company shall default in the payment due) to convert the principal amount of any such Convertible Security, or, in the case of any Convertible Security of a denomination greater than $1,000, any portion of such principal which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into that number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as such shares shall then be constituted) obtained by dividing the principal amount of the Convertible Security or portion thereof surrendered for conversion by the Conversion Price, by surrender of the Convertible Security so to be converted in whole or in part in the manner provided in Section 1903. Such conversion shall be effected by the Company.

Section 1903. Exercise of Conversion Privilege; Delivery of Common Stock on Conversion; No Adjustment for Interest or Dividends.

In order to exercise the conversion privilege, the Holder of any Convertible Security to be converted in whole or in part shall surrender such Convertible Security at an office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 1002, accompanied by the funds, if any, required by the last paragraph of this Section, together with written notice of conversion, in the form provided on the Convertible Securities, that the Holder elects to convert such Convertible Security or the portion thereof specified in said notice. Such notice shall also state the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock which shall be deliverable on such conversion shall be registered, and shall be accompanied by transfer taxes, if required pursuant to Section 1908. Each Convertible Security surrendered for conversion shall, unless the shares deliverable on conversion are to be registered in the same name as the registration of such Convertible Security, be duly endorsed by, or accompanied by instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by, the Holder or such Holder’s duly authorized attorney.

As promptly as practicable after the surrender of such Convertible Security and the receipt of such notice and funds, if any, as aforesaid, the Company shall deliver at such office or

 

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agency to such Holder, or on such Holder’s written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares deliverable upon the conversion of such Convertible Security or portion thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Article and a check or cash in respect of any fractional interest in respect of a share of Common Stock arising upon such conversion as provided in Section 1904. In case any Convertible Security of a denomination greater than $1,000 shall be surrendered for partial conversion and subject to Section 302, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Convertible Security so surrendered, without charge to such Holder, a new Convertible Security or Convertible Securities in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Convertible Security.

Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected on the date on which such Convertible Security shall have been surrendered (accompanied by the funds, if any, required by the last paragraph of this Section) and such notice shall have been received by the Company, as aforesaid, and the person in whose name any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be registrable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become on said date the holder of record of the shares represented thereby; provided however, that any such surrender on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed shall constitute the person in whose name the certificates are to be registered as the record holder thereof for all purposes on the next succeeding day on which stock transfer books are open, but such conversion shall be at the Conversion Price in effect on the date upon which such Convertible Security shall have been surrendered.

Any Convertible Security or portion thereof surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on the Regular Record Date for any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date shall (unless such Convertible Security or portion thereof being converted shall have been called for redemption or submitted for repayment on a date in such period) be accompanied by payment, in legal tender or other funds acceptable to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest otherwise payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount being converted; provided, however , that no such payment need be made if there shall exist at the time of conversion a default in the payment of interest on the Convertible Securities. An amount equal to such payment shall be paid by the Company on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Convertible Security on such Regular Record Date, provided, however , that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest on such Interest Payment Date, such amount shall be paid to the person who made such required payment. Except as provided above in this Section, no adjustment shall be made for interest accrued on any Convertible Security converted or for dividends on any shares issued upon the conversion of such Convertible Security as provided in this Article.

Section 1904. Cash Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares.

No fractional shares of Common Stock or scrip representing fractional shares shall be delivered upon conversion of Convertible Securities. If more than one Convertible Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be deliverable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so

 

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surrendered. If any fractional share of stock would be deliverable upon the conversion of any Convertible Security or Convertible Securities, the Company shall make an adjustment therefor in cash at the current market value of such fractional share of stock. The market value of a share of Common Stock shall be the Closing Price on the Business Day immediately preceding the day on which the Convertible Securities (or specified portions thereof) are deemed to have been converted.

Section 1905. Conversion Price.

The Conversion Price shall be as specified in the form of Convertible Security hereinabove set forth, subject to adjustment as provided in this Article.

Section 1906. Adjustment to Conversion Price.

The Conversion Price shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

(a) In case the Company shall (i) pay a dividend or make a distribution on the Common Stock in shares of its capital stock (whether shares of Common Stock or of capital stock of any other class), (ii) subdivide or reclassify its outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of securities (including Common Stock), or (iii) combine or reclassify its outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of securities (including Common Stock), the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the Holder of any Convertible Security thereafter surrendered for conversion shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of capital stock of the Company which such Holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above had such Convertible Security been converted immediately prior to the happening of such event. An adjustment made pursuant to this subsection (a) shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a dividend and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination. If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to this subsection (a), the Holder of any Convertible Security thereafter surrendered for conversion shall become entitled to receive shares of two or more classes of capital stock of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company (whose determination shall be conclusive and shall be described in a written statement filed with the Trustee and any conversion agent) shall determine the allocation of the adjusted Conversion Price between or among shares of such classes of capital stock.

In the event that at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to this subsection (a) of this Section 1906, the Holder of any Convertible Security thereafter converted shall become entitled to receive any shares or other securities of the Company other than shares of Common Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so received upon conversion of any Convertible Security shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares of Common Stock contained in this Section 1906, and other provisions of this Article Nineteen with respect to the shares of Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares or other securities.

 

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(b) In case the Company shall fix a record date for the issuance of rights or warrants to all holders of its Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common Stock) entitling them (for a period expiring within 45 days after such record date) to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock at a price per share (or a conversion price per share) less than the current market price per share of Common Stock (as defined in subsection (d) below) at such record date, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares so offered (or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities so offered) would purchase at such current market price, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities so offered are initially convertible). Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and shall become effective immediately after such record date. In determining whether any rights or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such current market price, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights or warrants, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company. Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any adjustment required under this subsection (b).

(c) In case the Company shall fix a record date for making a distribution to all holders of its Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly or other periodic or recurring cash dividends or distributions and cash dividends or distributions paid from retained earnings of the Company or dividends or distributions referred to in subsection (a) above) or rights or warrants to subscribe or purchase (excluding those referred to in subsection (b) above), then in each such case the Conversion Price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the current market price per share (as defined in subsection (d) below) of the Common Stock on such record date less the then fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company whose determination shall be conclusive, and described in a certificate filed with the Trustee) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or of such rights or warrants applicable to one share of Common Stock, and the denominator shall be the current market price per share (as defined in subsection (d) below) of the Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed and shall become effective immediately after such record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company shall distribute any rights or warrants to acquire capital stock (“Rights”) pursuant to this subsection (c), the distribution of separate certificates representing such Rights subsequent to their initial distribution (whether or not such distribution shall have occurred prior to the date of the issuance of such Convertible Securities) shall be deemed to be the distribution of such Rights for purposes of this subsection (c); provided that the Company may, in lieu of

 

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making any adjustment pursuant to this subsection (c) upon a distribution of separate certificates representing such Rights, make proper provision so that each Holder of such Convertible Security who converts such Convertible Security (or any portion thereof) (i) before the record date for such distribution of separate certificates shall be entitled to receive upon such conversion shares of Common Stock issued with Rights and (ii) after such record date and prior to the expiration, redemption or termination of such Rights shall be entitled to receive upon such conversion, in addition to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the same number of such Rights as would a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock that such Convertible Security so converted would have entitled the holder thereof to purchase in accordance with the terms and provisions of and applicable to the Rights if such Convertible Security were converted immediately prior to the record date for such distribution. Common Stock owned by or held for the account of the Company or any majority owned subsidiary shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any adjustment required under this subsection (c).

(d) For the purpose of any computation under subsection (b) and (c) above, the current market price per share of Common Stock at any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily Closing Prices for the thirty consecutive days (which are not legal holidays as defined in Section 113) commencing forty-five days (which are not legal holidays as defined in Section 113) before the day in question. The Closing Price for any day shall be (i) if the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading on any national securities exchange, the official closing price on such day published by the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange but is included in the OTC Bulletin Board Service (the “OTC Bulletin Board”) operated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., the last reported sale price of the principal trading session on the OTC Bulletin Board on such day, or (ii) if not quoted as described in clause (i), the mean of the bid price for Common Stock obtained from as many recognized dealers in the Common Stock, but not exceeding three, as will make such bid prices available. If none of the conditions set forth above is met, the Closing Price of Common Stock on any day or the average of such Closing Prices for any period shall be the fair market value of Common Stock as determined by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. selected by the Company.

(e)(i) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to require an adjustment in the Conversion Price as a result of the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to, or the granting or exercise of any rights under, the Wells Fargo & Company Direct Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

(ii) In addition, no adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price; provided, however , that any adjustments which by reason of this subsection (e)(ii) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, further provided , however, that any adjustments which by reason of this subsection (e)(ii) are not otherwise required to be made shall be made no later than 3 years

 

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after the date on which occurs an event that requires an adjustment to be made or carried forward.

(iii) All calculations under this Article Nineteen shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share, as the case may be. Anything in this Section 1906 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such reductions in the Conversion Price, in addition to those required by this Section 1906, as it in its discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any stock dividends, subdivision of shares, distribution of rights to purchase stock or securities, or distribution of securities convertible into or exchangeable for stock hereafter made by the Company to its stockholders shall not be taxable.

(f) Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee and any conversion agent other than the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Price setting forth the adjusted Conversion Price and the date on which such adjustment becomes effective and shall mail such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Price to the Holder of each Convertible Security at such Holder’s last address appearing on the Security Register provided for in Section 305 of this Indenture.

(g) In any case in which this Section 1906 provides that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after a record date for an event, the Company may defer until the occurrence of such event (i) delivering to the Holder of any Convertible Security converted after such record date and before the occurrence of such event the additional shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such conversion by reason of the adjustment required by such event over and above the Common Stock deliverable upon such conversion before giving effect to such adjustment and (ii) paying to such Holder any amount in cash in lieu of any fraction pursuant to Section 1904, provided, however , that the Company shall deliver to such Holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such Holder’s rights to receive such additional shares, and such cash, upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment. If such event does not occur, no adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 1906.

Section 1907. Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.

If any of the following events occur, namely (i) any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of the Convertible Securities (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination, but including any change in the shares of Common Stock into two or more classes or series of securities), (ii) any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination) in, outstanding shares of its Common Stock) or (iii) any sale

 

104


or conveyance of the properties and assets of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety to any other Person other than one or more of its Subsidiaries; then the Company, or such successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture and comply with the provisions of Article Nine) providing that each Convertible Security shall be convertible into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property, including cash, receivable upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance by a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of such Convertible Securities immediately prior to such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each holder of Convertible Securities, at his address appearing on the Security Register provided for in Section 305 of this Indenture.

The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, consolidations, mergers and sales.

Section 1908. Taxes on Shares Issued.

The delivery of stock certificates on conversions of Convertible Securities shall be made without charge to the Holder converting a Convertible Security for any tax in respect of the issue thereof. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the delivery of stock registered in any name other than of the Holder of any Convertible Security converted, and the Company shall not be required to deliver any such stock certificate unless and until the person or persons requesting the delivery thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

Section 1909. Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements; Listing of Common Stock.

The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be delivered upon conversion of Convertible Securities will upon delivery be fully paid and nonassessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

The Company covenants that if any shares of Common Stock to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Convertible Securities hereunder require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any Federal or state law before such shares may be validly delivered upon conversion, the Company will in good faith and as expeditiously as possible endeavor to secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.

The Company further covenants that it will, if permitted by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, list and keep listed for so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange, upon official notice of issuance, all Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of the Convertible Securities.

 

105


Section 1910. Trustee Not Responsible.

Neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any conversion agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Convertible Securities to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any conversion agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be delivered upon the conversion of any Convertible Security, and neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any conversion agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 601, neither the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any conversion agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Convertible Security for the purpose of conversion or for any failure of the Company to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article.

Section 1911. Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions.

In case:

(a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on the Common Stock (other than in cash out of its current or retained earnings); or

(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to the holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other rights or warrants; or

(c) of any reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value) or of any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Corporation is required or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person other than one or more of its Subsidiaries; or

(d) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and the Company shall cause to be mailed to each holder of Convertible Securities at his address appearing on the Security Register, provided for in Section 305 of this Indenture, as promptly as possible but in any event no less than fifteen days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend,

 

106


distribution, rights or warrants are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up or any adjustment in the Conversion Price required by this Article Nineteen.

Section 1912. Covenant to Reserve Shares.

The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available, free from pre-emptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, such number of shares of Common Stock as shall then be deliverable upon the conversion of all outstanding Convertible Securities.

 

107


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

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY
By   /s/ Barbara S. Brett
Name:   Barbara S. Brett
Title:   Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer

[CORPORATE SEAL]

 

Attest:
/s/ Jeannine E. Zahn
Name:   Jeannine E. Zahn
Title:   Assistant Secretary

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By   /s/ Richard Tarnas
Name:   Richard Tarnas
Title:   Vice President

 

Attest:
/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch
Name:   Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:   Vice President

 

108


STATE OF MINNESOTA    )  
   )   SS.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN    )  

On the 23 rd day of February, 2017 before me personally came Barbara S. Brett, to me known, who, being duly sworn, did depose and say that she is a Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of Wells Fargo & Company, a corporation described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that it was so affixed pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that she signed her name thereto pursuant to like authority.

 

/s/ Kathleen A. Kullmann
Notary Public

 

109


STATE OF ILLINOIS    )  
   )   SS.
COUNTY OF COOK    )  

On the 23 rd day of February, 2017, before me personally came Richard Tarnas, to me known, who, being duly sworn, did depose and say that he is Vice President of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that it was so affixed pursuant to the authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation; and that he signed his name thereto pursuant to like authority.

 

/s/ Colleen Sketch
Notary Public

 

110

Exhibit 5

Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

2200 Wells Fargo Center q 90 South Seventh Street

Minneapolis q Minnesota 55402-3901

Phone +1 612 766 7000

Fax +1 612 766 1600

February 24, 2017

Wells Fargo & Company

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, California 94104

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the proposed offer and sale from time to time of the following securities (the “Securities”): (i) unsecured unsubordinated debt securities of the Company in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Senior Debt Securities”), (ii) unsecured subordinated debt securities of the Company in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Subordinated Debt Securities,” and together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”), (iii) preferred stock and preference stock, no par value (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company, interests in which may be evidenced by appropriately prepared depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”), (iv) common stock, par value $1 2/3 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company issuable upon conversion of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares, upon exercise of Securities Warrants (as defined below) or upon settlement of Purchase Contracts (as defined below), (v) appropriately prepared warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Common Stock (the “Securities Warrants”), (vi) purchase contracts in the forms filed as Exhibits 4(s) and 4(t) to the Registration Statement requiring the holders thereof to purchase or sell (a) Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depository Shares or Common Stock, (b) securities of an entity unaffiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, or an index or indices of such securities, (c) currencies, (d) commodities, or (e) any combination of the foregoing (“Purchase Contracts”), and (vii) units consisting of any combination of Purchase Contracts and Debt Securities (the “Units”). The Securities may be offered separately or together with other Securities, in separate series, in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in the prospectus and one or more supplements to the prospectus (collectively, the “Prospectus”) constituting a part of the Registration Statement, and in the Registration Statement.


Wells Fargo & Company

February 24, 2017

Page 2

 

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under the indenture filed as Exhibit 4(e) to the Registration Statement entered into by the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee (the “Senior Indenture”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under the indenture filed as Exhibit 4(f) to the Registration Statement entered into by the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Subordinated Indenture”). Each series of Preferred Stock is to be issued under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and a certificate of designation (a “Certificate of Designation”) to be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Secretary of State”) in accordance with Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Depositary Shares are to be issued under deposit agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Deposit Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company, a depositary to be named by the Company, and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts evidencing Depositary Shares. The Securities Warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements in the forms filed as Exhibits 4(n) to 4(p) to the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Warrant Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company and warrant agents to be named by the Company. The Units are to be issued under unit agreements in the form filed as Exhibit 4(r) to the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (the “Unit Agreements”), to be entered into by the Company and a unit agent or agents to be named by the Company. The Common Stock is to be issued under the Certificate of Incorporation. The Certificate of Incorporation, each Certificate of Designation, the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture, the Deposit Agreements, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts and the Unit Agreements are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Governing Documents”.

Certain terms of the Securities to be issued by the Company from time to time will be approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof or certain authorized officers of the Company as part of the corporate action taken and to be taken (the “Corporate Proceedings”) in connection with issuance of the Securities. We have examined or are otherwise familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws of the Company (as amended through November 29, 2016), the Registration Statement, such of the Corporate Proceedings that have occurred as of the date hereof, and such other documents, records, and instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. with respect to any Debt Securities, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due execution, authentication and delivery of such Debt Securities, and (c) in the case of Debt Securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of another Security, the issuance of such Debt Securities upon conversion, exercise or settlement of such other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or any instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exercise or settlement as approved by the Corporate Proceedings, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding


Wells Fargo & Company

February 24, 2017

Page 3

 

obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. Each of the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

2. with respect to any Preferred Stock, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution, acknowledgment, delivery and filing with, and recording by, the Delaware Secretary of State of a Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, (c) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of certificates representing such Preferred Stock, and (d) in the case of Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of another Security, the issuance of such Preferred Stock upon conversion, exercise or settlement of such other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or any instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exercise or settlement as approved by the Corporate Proceedings, such Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3. with respect to any Depositary Shares, upon (a) the due authorization, execution and delivery of a Deposit Agreement establishing the terms of such Depositary Shares, (b) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings with respect to the issuance and terms of the Preferred Stock represented by such Depository Shares, (c) the due authorization, execution, acknowledgment, delivery and filing with, and recording by, the Delaware Secretary of State of a Certificate of Designation in respect of such Preferred Stock, (d) the due execution of certificates representing such Preferred Stock, the delivery of such certificates to the Depositary for deposit in accordance with the terms of such Deposit Agreement, and the recordation of such certificates on the books of the Company in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, and (e) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of depositary receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares in accordance with the terms of such Deposit Agreement, such Deposit Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and the depositary receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Deposit Agreement.

4. with respect to any Securities Warrants, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Warrants Agreement, and (c) the due execution, countersignature and delivery of such Securities Warrants, such Securities Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

5. with respect to any Purchase Contracts, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings and (b) the due execution and delivery of such Purchase Contracts, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

6. with respect to any Units, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the related Unit Agreement, (c) if the Units are to be evidenced by certificates, the due execution, registration of issuance and


Wells Fargo & Company

February 24, 2017

Page 4

 

delivery of unit certificates evidencing such Units pursuant to such Unit Agreement, and (d) completion of all actions in respect of the Securities constituting a component of such Units referred to in the applicable numbered paragraphs hereof, such Unit Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and any certificates evidencing such Units will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Unit Agreement.

7. with respect to any Common Stock issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of another Security, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings, (b) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of certificates representing such Common Stock, and (c) the issuance of such Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or settlement of such other Security in accordance with the terms of such other Security or any instrument governing such other Security providing for such conversion, exercise or settlement as approved by the Corporate Proceedings, such Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.

The foregoing opinions as to the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of provisions of such instruments and agreements are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, voidable transactions, fraudulent conveyance, receivership or other laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights, (ii) general equity principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, 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), (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain specific remedies or enforce specific terms, and (iv) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside of the United States.

The foregoing opinions assume that (a) the Company will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) the consideration designated in the applicable Corporate Proceedings for any Securities shall have been received by the Company and such consideration shall be legally sufficient; (c) each party to the Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture, any Deposit Agreement, any Warrant Agreement, any Unit Agreement or any Securities other than the Company shall have complied with all legal requirements pertaining to its status as such status relates to its rights to enforce such agreements or instruments against the Company and shall have satisfied those legal requirements applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreements or instruments enforceable against it; (d) the Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will continue to be effective; (e) the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (f) at the time of the authentication and delivery of the Securities, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto will not have been modified or rescinded, there will not have occurred any change in the law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws affecting the authorization, issuance, execution, authentication, acknowledgement, delivery, filing, validity or enforceability of such Securities or any related Governing Documents, neither the issuance and sale of such Securities nor the compliance by the


Wells Fargo & Company

February 24, 2017

Page 5

 

Company with the terms of such Securities or the related Governing Documents will result in a violation of any agreement or instrument then binding upon the Company or any order of any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, and any other Securities issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of such Securities will have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance (in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such other Securities); (g) the Securities will be issued in accordance with, and in compliance with any limitations on issuance contained in, the Corporate Proceedings related thereto; (h) the terms of the Securities will be established in conformity with the related Governing Documents and the Securities will be issued within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities under such Governing Documents; (i) none of the particular terms of the Securities or Governing Documents hereafter established will violate, or be void or voidable under, any applicable law; (j) all certificates evidencing any Securities will be in the form required by law and approved for issuance by the Company; and (k) in the case of any Securities represented by, or issuable upon conversion, exercise or settlement of, or constituting a component of, any other Securities, all actions in respect of such other Securities referred to in the applicable numbered paragraph above shall have been completed.

We have also assumed (a) the accuracy and truthfulness of all public records of the Company and of all certifications, documents and other proceedings examined by us that have been produced by officials of the Company acting within the scope of their official capacities, without verifying the accuracy or truthfulness of such representations, (b) the genuineness of such signatures appearing upon such public records, certifications, documents and proceedings, and (c) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, and all signatures on each such document are genuine.

We express no opinion as to (i) whether a court would award a judgment in a currency other than United States dollars or as to the enforceability of any provision specifying rates of exchange for, or requiring indemnity against loss in, converting into a specified currency the proceeds or amount of a court judgment in another currency, (ii) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any particular court or other governmental authority (either as to personal jurisdiction or subject matter jurisdiction), any waivers of the right to jury trial, any waivers of service of process requirements that would otherwise be applicable, any agreement that a judgment rendered by a court in one jurisdiction may be enforced in another jurisdiction, or any provision otherwise affecting the jurisdiction or venue of courts, or (iii) any provision waiving legal, statutory or equitable defenses or other procedural, judicial or administrative rights.

The opinions herein expressed are limited to the specific issues addressed and to documents and laws existing on the date hereof. By rendering our opinion, we do not undertake to advise you with respect to any other matter or of any change in such documents and laws or in the interpretation thereof which may occur after the date hereof.


Wells Fargo & Company

February 24, 2017

Page 6

 

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of any other laws. We have assumed for the purposes of this opinion that New York law will be chosen to govern each Deposit Agreement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to being named in the Prospectus included therein under the caption “Legal Opinions.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
FAEGRE BAKER DANIELS LLP
By:   /s/ Dawn Holicky Pruitt
  Dawn Holicky Pruitt

Exhibit 23(b)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Wells Fargo & Company:

We consent to the use in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated February 24, 2017 of Wells Fargo & Company of our reports dated February 24, 2016, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Wells Fargo & Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

/s/ KPMG LLP

San Francisco, California

February 24, 2017

Exhibit 24

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ John D. Baker II

John D. Baker II


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ John S. Chen

John S. Chen


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Lloyd H. Dean

Lloyd H. Dean


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Elizabeth A. Duke

Elizabeth A. Duke


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Susan E. Engel

Susan E. Engel


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Enrique Hernandez, Jr.

Enrique Hernandez, Jr.


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Donald M. James

Donald M. James


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Cynthia H. Milligan

Cynthia H. Milligan


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Federico F. Peña

Federico F. Peña


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ James H. Quigley

James H. Quigley


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Stephen W. Sanger

Stephen W. Sanger


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Timothy J. Sloan

Timothy J. Sloan


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Susan G. Swenson

Susan G. Swenson


WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

Power of Attorney

of Director and/or Officer

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned director and/or officer of WELLS FARGO & COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, does hereby make, constitute and appoint TIMOTHY J. SLOAN, JOHN R. SHREWSBERRY, JAMES M. STROTHER AND ANTHONY R. AUGLIERA, and each or any of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead and in any and all capacities, to sign and affix the undersigned’s name as such director and/or officer of said Company to a Registration Statement or Registration Statements on Form S-3 or other applicable form, and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto, and all registration statements for the same offering that are to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed by said Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of debt and equity securities, including preferred and other securities, purchase contracts requiring or permitting the holders thereof to purchase or sell securities of an entity not affiliated with the Company, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the foregoing, or currencies or commodities, and common stock of said Company, and other securities related thereto (all of the foregoing being referred to in this Power of Attorney as “Securities”) proposed to be sold by said Company from time to time, and/or proposed to be registered by the Company and re-sale and/or exchange on behalf of one or more holders of such Securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other supporting documents, with said Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts necessary or incidental to the performance and execution of the powers herein expressly granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this power of attorney this 25 th day of October, 2016.

 

/s/ Suzanne M. Vautrinot

Suzanne M. Vautrinot

Exhibit 25(a)

 

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)       

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A.

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

A National Banking Association    13-5266470
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization    (I.R.S. Employer
if not a U.S. national bank)    Identification No. )
399 Park Avenue,   
New York, New York    10043
(Address of principal executive office)    (Zip Code)

Citibank, N.A.

388 Greenwich Street, 14 th floor

New York, N.Y. 10013

(212) 816-5805

(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware    41-0449260
(State or other jurisdiction of    (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)    identification no.)
420 Montgomery Street   
San Francisco, California    94104
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

 

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

(Title of Indenture Securities)


Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name    Address
Comptroller of the Currency    Washington, D.C.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, NY
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation            Washington, D.C.

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

Items 3-15. Not Applicable.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.

Exhibit 1 - Copy of Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in effect. (Exhibit 1 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).

Exhibit 2 - Copy of certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).

Exhibit 3 - Copy of authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 3 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).

Exhibit 4 - Copy of existing By-Laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated October 5, 2012 under File No. 333-183223).


Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.

Exhibit 6 - The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Exhibit 6 to T-1 filed May 5, 2014 under File No. 333-195697).

Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of Citibank, N.A. (as of September 30, 2016- attached)

Exhibit 8 - Not applicable.

Exhibit 9 - Not applicable.

 

 


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., a national 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 New York and State of New York, on the 13th day of February, 2017.

 

 

    CITIBANK, N.A.  
    By           /s/ Cirino Emanuele    
      Cirino Emanuele  
      Vice President  


Exhibit 7

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET    Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries
(UNAUDITED)   

 

In millions of dollars      September 30,    
  2016    
  (Unaudited)    
      December 31,    
  2015    
 

 

 

Assets

    

Cash and due from banks (including segregated cash and other deposits)

   $ 23,419     $ 20,900   

Deposits with banks

     132,571       112,197   

Federal funds sold and securities borrowed or purchased under agreements to resell (including $143,618 and $137,964 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     236,045       219,675   

Brokerage receivables

     36,112       27,683   

Trading account assets (including $97,370 and $92,123 pledged to creditors at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     263,352       249,956   

Investments:

    

Available for sale (including $8,413 and $10,698 pledged to creditors as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     308,117       299,136   

Held to maturity (including $1,216 and $3,630 pledged to creditors as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     38,588       36,215   

Non-marketable equity securities (including $1,977 and $2,088 at fair value as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)

     8,235       7,604   

 

 

Total investments

   $ 354,940     $ 342,955   

Loans:

    

Consumer (including $31 and $34 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     328,702       325,785   

Corporate (including $3,939 and $4,971 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     309,733       291,832   

 

 

Loans, net of unearned income

   $ 638,435     $ 617,617   

Allowance for loan losses

     (12,439     (12,626)  

 

 

Total loans, net

   $ 625,996     $ 604,991   

Goodwill

     22,539       22,349   

Intangible assets (other than MSRs)

     5,358       3,721   

Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs)

     1,270       1,781   

Other assets (including $6,460 and $6,121 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     116,515       125,002   

 

 

Total assets

   $     1,818,117     $     1,731,210   

 

 

The following table presents certain assets of consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs), which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The assets in the table below include those assets that can only be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs, presented on the following page, and are in excess of those obligations. Additionally, the assets in the table below include third-party assets of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation.

 

In millions of dollars      September 30,    
  2016    
  (Unaudited)    
      December 31,    
  2015    
 

 

 

Assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs

    

Cash and due from banks

   $ 262     $ 153   

Trading account assets

     585       583   

Investments

     5,057       5,263   

Loans, net of unearned income

    

Consumer

     52,837       58,772   

Corporate

     20,849       22,008   

 

 

Loans, net of unearned income

   $ 73,686     $ 80,780   

Allowance for loan losses

     (1,800     (2,135)  

 

 

Total loans, net

   $ 71,886     $ 78,645   

Other assets

     166       150   

 

 

Total assets of consolidated VIEs to be used to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs

   $ 77,956     $     84,794   

 

 

Statement continues on the next page.


CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET    Citigroup Inc. and Subsidiaries
(Continued)   

 

In millions of dollars, except shares and per share amounts      September 30,    
  2016    
  (Unaudited)    
      December 31,    
  2015    
 

 

 

Liabilities

    

Non-interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices

   $ 141,899     $ 139,249   

Interest-bearing deposits in U.S. offices (including $479 and $923 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     288,094       280,234   

Non-interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S.

     75,956       71,577   

Interest-bearing deposits in offices outside the U.S. (including $941 and $667 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     434,303       416,827   

 

 

Total deposits

   $ 940,252     $ 907,887   

Federal funds purchased and securities loaned or sold under agreements to repurchase (including $42,939 and $36,843 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     153,124       146,496   

Brokerage payables

     61,921       53,722   

Trading account liabilities

     131,649       117,512   

Short-term borrowings (including $2,599 and $1,207 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     29,527       21,079   

Long-term debt (including $27,535 and $25,293 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     209,051       201,275   

Other liabilities (including $2,369 and $1,624 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, at fair value)

     59,903       60,147   

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1,585,427     $ 1,508,118   

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock ($1.00 par value; authorized shares: 30 million), issued shares: 770,120 as of September  30, 2016 and 668,720 as of December 31, 2015, at aggregate liquidation value

   $ 19,253     $ 16,718   

Common stock ($0.01 par value; authorized shares: 6 billion), issued shares: 3,099,482,042 as of September  30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

     31       31   

Additional paid-in capital

     107,875       108,288   

Retained earnings

     143,678       133,841   
Treasury stock, at cost: September  30, 2016—249,751,794 shares and December 31, 2015—146,203,311 shares      (12,069     (7,677)  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (27,193     (29,344)  

 

 

Total Citigroup stockholders’ equity

   $ 231,575     $ 221,857   

Noncontrolling interest

     1,115       1,235   

 

 

Total equity

   $ 232,690     $ 223,092   

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $     1,818,117     $     1,731,210   

 

 

The following table presents certain liabilities of consolidated VIEs, which are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet above. The liabilities in the table below include third-party liabilities of consolidated VIEs only and exclude intercompany balances that eliminate in consolidation. The liabilities also exclude amounts where creditors or beneficial interest holders have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup.

 

In millions of dollars      September 30,    
  2016    
  (Unaudited)    
       December 31,    
  2015    
 

 

 

Liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup

     

Short-term borrowings

   $ 11,205      $ 11,965   

Long-term debt

     24,780        31,273   

Other liabilities

     1,433        2,099   

 

 

Total liabilities of consolidated VIEs for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of Citigroup

   $ 37,418      $     45,337   

 

 

The Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Exhibit 25(b)

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)

 

 

 

N/A

(State of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

95-3571558

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

400 South Hope Street, Suite 500

Los Angeles, California

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

90071

(Zip code)

Legal Department

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

225 Liberty Street

New York, NY 10286

(212) 635-1270

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Wells Fargo & Company

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

41-0449260

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

420 Montgomery Street

San Francisco, California

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

94104

(Zip code)

 

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 


Item 1. General information.

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

 

 

Name

 

  

 

Address

 

  
 

Comptroller of the Currency – United States Department of the Treasury

   Washington, D.C. 20219   
 

Federal Reserve Bank

   San Francisco, California 94105   
 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

   Washington, D.C. 20429   

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

       Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

Item 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. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).

 

  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 pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).

 

  4.

A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).

 

  5.

Not applicable.

 

  6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).

 

  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.

 

  8.

Not applicable.

 

  9.

Not applicable.


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 22 nd day of February, 2017.

 

    THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
    TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
    By:     /s/ Richard Tarnas                                  
    Name: Richard Tarnas
    Title:   Vice President

 


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

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

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business December 31, 2016, 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

      1,645

Interest-bearing balances

      278,360

Securities:

     

Held-to-maturity securities

      0

Available-for-sale securities

      719,638

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

     

Federal funds sold

      0

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)

      11,405

Other real estate owned

      0

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

      0

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

      0

Not applicable

     

Intangible assets:

     

Goodwill

      856,313

Other Intangible Assets

      50,819

Other assets

        187,830

Total assets

      $2,106,010


LIABILITIES

     

Deposits:

     

In domestic offices

      616

Noninterest-bearing

   616   

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

      292,769

Total liabilities

      293,385

Not applicable

     

EQUITY CAPITAL

     

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

      0

Common stock

      1,000

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

      1,122,729

Not available

     

Retained earnings

      690,002

Accumulated other comprehensive income

      -1,106

Other equity capital components

      0

Not available

     

Total bank equity capital

      1,812,625

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

      0

Total equity capital

      1,812,625

Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)

      2,106,010

I, Matthew J. McNulty, 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.

Matthew J. McNulty      )          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.

Antonio I. Portuondo, President      )

William D. Lindelof, Director     )          Directors (Trustees)

Alphonse J. Briand, Director       )