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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2021

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Arkansas   71-0682831
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)

719 Harkrider, Suite 100

Conway, Arkansas 72032

(501) 339-2929

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

 

 

John W. Allison

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Home BancShares, Inc.

719 Harkrider

Conway, Arkansas 72032

(501) 328-4625

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

 

 

Copies to:

C. Douglas Buford, Jr.

Courtney C. Crouch, III

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1800

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Telephone: (501) 688-8800

 

 

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, 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, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

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

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

               

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

               

Rights

               

Warrants

               

Subordinated Debt Securities

               

Total

               

 

 

(1)

Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3.

(2)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may be issued at indeterminate prices from time to time. The securities registered include unspecified amounts and numbers of securities that may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for securities that provide for conversion or exchange or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities issuable on exercise, conversion, or exchange of other securities.

(3)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) also covers any additional shares that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Rights

Warrants

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of securities that we describe in this prospectus.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering material at later dates that will contain specific terms of each issuance of securities. These supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOMB.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 7 of this prospectus and in the documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference for certain risks and uncertainties you should consider.

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

These securities are unsecured and are not deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

 

 

This prospectus is dated December 3, 2021.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     2  

Where You Can Find More Information

     4  

Documents Incorporated by Reference

     5  

The Company

     6  

Risk Factors

     7  

Use of Proceeds

     8  

Description of Securities We May Offer

     9  

Description of Capital Stock

     10  

Description of Rights

     12  

Description of Warrants

     13  

Description of Subordinated Debt Securities

     15  

Plan of Distribution

     21  

Legal Matters

     23  

Experts

     23  

 

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated herein by reference, can be read on the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information in this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for more information.

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any prospectus supplement constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all references to “Home BancShares,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” and similar terms refer to Home BancShares, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement are stated in U.S. dollars.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of our statements contained in this document are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and include statements about the competitiveness of the banking industry, potential regulatory obligations, our entrance and expansion into other markets, our other business strategies and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results. When we use words like “may,” “will,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” and similar expressions, you should consider them as identifying forward-looking statements, although we may use other phrasing. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on our beliefs and assumptions, and on the information available to us at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

the effects of future local, regional, national and international economic conditions, including inflation, a decrease in commercial real estate and residential housing values and unemployment;

 

   

changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs, and credit risk generally;

 

   

the risks of changes in interest rates or the level and composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest-sensitive assets and liabilities;

 

   

disruptions, uncertainties and related effects on credit quality, liquidity, other aspects of our business and our operations as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and measures that have been or may be implemented or imposed in response to the pandemic, including the recently issued federal vaccine and testing mandate for employers of 100 or more employees;

 

   

the effect of any mergers, acquisitions or other transactions to which we or our bank subsidiary may from time to time be a party, including our ability to successfully integrate any businesses that we acquire;

 

   

the risk that expected cost savings and other benefits from acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

 

   

the possibility that an acquisition does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all;

 

   

the reaction to a proposed acquisition transaction of the respective companies’ customers, employees and counterparties;

 

   

diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues;

 

   

the ability to enter into and/or close additional acquisitions;

 

   

the availability of and access to capital on terms acceptable to us;

 

   

increased regulatory requirements and supervision as a result of our exceeding $10 billion in total assets;

 

   

legislation and regulation affecting the financial services industry as a whole, and the Company and its subsidiaries in particular, including the effects resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), recent reforms to the Dodd-Frank Act, legislation and regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other future legislative and regulatory changes;

 

   

changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies;

 

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the effects of terrorism and efforts to combat it;

 

   

political instability;

 

   

risks associated with our customer relationship with the Cuban government and our correspondent banking relationship with Banco Internacional de Comercio, S.A. (BICSA), a Cuban commercial bank;

 

   

adverse weather events, including hurricanes, and other natural disasters;

 

   

the ability to keep pace with technological changes, including changes regarding cybersecurity;

 

   

an increase in the incidence or severity of fraud, illegal payments, cybersecurity breaches or other illegal acts impacting our bank subsidiary, our vendors or our customers;

 

   

the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone and the Internet;

 

   

potential claims, expenses and other adverse effects related to current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other government actions;

 

   

the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices and auditing requirements, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and other accounting standard setters;

 

   

higher defaults on our loan portfolio than we expect; and

 

   

the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of our allowance for credit losses or changes in our estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this Cautionary Note. Our actual results may differ significantly from those we discuss in these forward-looking statements. For other factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates and projections contained in these forward-looking statements, see the “Risk Factors” section provided below.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, and have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits.

You may review the registration statement and any document we file with the SEC by accessing the website maintained by the SEC at https://www.sec.gov. The site contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. In addition to the foregoing, we maintain a website at https://www.homebancshares.com. Our website content is made available for informational purposes only. It should neither be relied upon for investment purposes nor is it incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We make available on our Internet website copies of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to such documents as soon as practicable after we electronically file such material with or furnish such documents to the SEC.

 

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC into this prospectus, which means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus from the date on which we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until the termination of the offering of the securities offered hereby (in each case excluding any portion of such documents that have been furnished to and deemed not filed with the SEC):

(a) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021.

(b) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September  30, 2021, filed with the SEC on May  6, 2021, August  5, 2021, and November  4, 2021 (as amended on November 5, 2021), respectively.

(c) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021, January  28, 2021, March  5, 2021, April  19, 2021, September  15, 2021, and November 9, 2021.

(d) The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10, filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act on April 7, 2006, and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating this description, including  Exhibit 4.2 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2021.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable reports, information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference.

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

Home BancShares, Inc.

719 Harkrider, Suite 100

Conway, Arkansas 72032

Attn: Corporate Secretary

(501) 328-4625

 

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THE COMPANY

We are a Conway, Arkansas headquartered bank holding company registered under the federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956. The Company’s common stock is traded through the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOMB.” We are primarily engaged in providing a broad range of commercial and retail banking and related financial services to businesses, real estate developers and investors, individuals and municipalities through our wholly owned community bank subsidiary, Centennial Bank. Centennial Bank has branch locations in Arkansas, Florida, South Alabama and New York City.

We acquire, organize and invest in community banks that serve attractive markets. Our community banking team is built around experienced bankers with strong local relationships. Since opening our first subsidiary bank in 1999, we have acquired and integrated a total of 22 banks with locations in Arkansas, Florida and Alabama, including 17 banks since 2010, seven of which we acquired through Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation assisted transactions. Our subsidiary bank has operated under a single charter and the Centennial Bank name since 2009. In 2015, after acquiring a pool of national commercial real estate loans, we created Centennial Commercial Finance Group (“Centennial CFG”) to build out a national lending platform focused on commercial real estate as well as commercial and industrial loans. Centennial CFG operates out of our New York City branch office and loan production offices in Los Angeles, California, Dallas, Texas and Miami, Florida. On June 30, 2018, we acquired Shore Premier Finance (“SPF”), a marine-lending division of Union Bank & Trust of Richmond, Virginia, and established the SPF division of Centennial Bank to build out a lending platform focusing on commercial and consumer marine loans. On February 29, 2020, we acquired LH-Finance, the marine lending division of People’s United Bank, N.A. of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and consolidated LH-Finance and its loan portfolio with our SPF division. The SPF division operates out of loan production offices in Chesapeake, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland.

Our principal executive office is located at 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway, Arkansas, and our telephone number is (501) 339-2929.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Before you make an investment decision regarding the securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in any updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. The risks described in those documents are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations, our financial results and the value of the securities. The prospectus supplement applicable to each series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the proceeds from the sale of the securities described in this prospectus for general corporate purposes and to support our ongoing and future anticipated growth, including potential acquisitions. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the proceeds or use them to reduce indebtedness. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide more details on the use of proceeds of any specific offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of our common stock, preferred stock, rights, warrants and subordinated debt securities that we may offer from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

When we use the terms “security” or “securities” in this prospectus, we mean any of the securities we may offer with this prospectus, unless we say otherwise.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a description of our capital stock and certain provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (“Articles”), Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) and certain provisions of applicable law. The following is only a summary and is qualified by applicable law and by the provisions of our Articles and Bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are also available upon request from us.

General

Under our Articles, we have authority to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and up to 5,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights as, and is identical in all respects to, each other share of our common stock.

As of November 30, 2021, 163,840,530 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, and 4,648,904 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock option and performance incentive plan. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

As of November 30, 2021, no shares of our preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.

Dividend Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Holders of any series of preferred stock we may issue in the future may have a priority over holders of common stock with respect to dividends. The payment of dividends is subject to government regulation, in that regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends in a manner that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. In addition, a bank may not pay cash dividends if doing so would reduce the amount of its capital below that necessary to meet minimum regulatory capital requirements. State laws also limit a bank’s ability to pay dividends. Accordingly, the dividend restrictions imposed on our bank subsidiary by statute or regulation effectively may limit the amount of dividends we can pay.

Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably all of the assets of the Company available for distribution after satisfaction of all liabilities of the Company, subject to the rights of the holders of any of the Company’s preferred shares that may be issued from time to time.

Other Rights. Holders of our common stock have no preferential or preemptive rights with respect to any securities of Home BancShares, and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Restrictions on Ownership. The Bank Holding Company Act (the “BHCA”) requires any “bank holding company,” as defined in the BHCA, to obtain the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve prior to the acquisition of 5% or more of our common stock. Any “company,” as defined in the BHCA, other than a bank holding company would be required to obtain Federal Reserve approval before acquiring “control” of us. “Control” generally means (i) the ownership or control of 25% or more of a class of voting securities, (ii) the ability to elect a majority of the directors or (iii) the ability otherwise to exercise a controlling influence over our management and policies. A holder of 25% or more of our outstanding common stock, other than an individual, is subject to regulation and supervision as a bank holding company under the BHCA. In addition, under the

 

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Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, and the Federal Reserve’s regulations thereunder, any person, either individually or acting through or in concert with one or more persons, is required to provide notice to the Federal Reserve prior to acquiring, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our outstanding common stock.

Modification of Rights. Our board of directors acting by a majority vote of the members present, without shareholder approval, may amend our Bylaws and may issue shares of our preferred stock under terms determined by the board of directors as described below under “Preferred Stock.” Rights of holders of our common stock may not otherwise be modified by less than a majority vote of the common stock outstanding. Additionally, under the Arkansas Business Corporation Act of 1987, a majority vote is required for the approval of a merger or consolidation with another corporation, and for the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and liquidation or dissolution of Home BancShares.

Transfer Agent. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare, 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.

Preferred Stock

The 5,500,000 shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, are typically referred to as “blank check” preferred stock. This term means that these shares of preferred stock may be issued with such preferences, limitations, relative rights, and terms as determined by our board of directors. As such, the board of directors can, without shareholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion rights that could dilute the voting strength of the holders of the common stock and may assist management in impeding an unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control.

The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

In this section, we describe the general terms and provisions of the rights to securities that we may offer to our shareholders. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering to our security holders, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other person would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among others, the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution, the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights, the exercise price, the conditions to completion of the offering, the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire, and any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agent agreements, or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described here, then the terms described here will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement.

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights would become void and of no further force or effect.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than security holders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights agent agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable rights agent agreement if we offer rights, see “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable rights agent agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants from time to time in one or more series for the purchase of our common stock or preferred stock or any combination of those securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock or offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from common stock or preferred stock. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent, or any other bank or trust company specified in the related prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants. The specific terms of a series of warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of warrants along with any general provisions applicable to that series of warrants.

The following is a general description of the warrants we may issue. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any issuance of warrants. The terms of any warrants we offer may differ from the terms described in this prospectus. As a result, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the specific terms of the particular series of warrants offered by that prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular series of warrants, you should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Terms. If warrants are offered by us, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following if applicable to the particular offering:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the total number of warrants;

 

   

the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such shares of common stock may be purchased upon exercise;

 

   

the designation and terms of the preferred stock with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each share of preferred stock;

 

   

the date on and after which the warrants and the related common stock or preferred stock will be separately transferable;

 

   

if applicable, the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which this right will expire;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

a discussion of federal income tax, accounting and other special considerations, procedures and limitations relating to the warrants; and

 

   

any other terms of the warrants including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrants may be exchanged for new warrants of different denominations, may be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Exercise of Warrants. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock at an exercise price as will in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the

 

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prospectus supplement relating to those warrants. Warrants may be exercised at the times set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date (or any later date to which the expiration date may be extended by us), unexercised warrants will become void. Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing the warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of the payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised properly completed and duly executed at the office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by that certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering material of any warrants we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer warrants. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the applicable warrant agreement if we offer warrants, see “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement and any other offering material in their entirety.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the subordinated debt securities sets forth certain general terms that may apply to the subordinated debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. The subordinated debt securities are sometimes referred to as the “debt securities.” Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue the subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee to be named in the subordinated indenture. The subordinated indenture is sometimes referred to as the “indenture.” The form of subordinated indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The trustee under the indenture is referred to as the “indenture trustee.” The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), and may be supplemented or amended from time to time. Prior to issuing any debt securities, we will select an indenture trustee for the indenture relating to the issuance of debt securities, qualify such indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and execute such indenture.

The indenture gives us broad authority to set the particular terms of each series of debt securities, including the right to modify certain of the terms contained in the indenture. We will describe the specific terms of a series of debt securities and the extent, if any, to which the specific terms of the debt securities modify the terms of the indenture in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities.

This summary is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture, which contains the full legal text of the matters described in this section, and the description of the specific terms of the debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary is not complete. You should read all of the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms.

Since we are a holding company, our right, and accordingly, the right of our creditors and shareholders, including the holders of the securities offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon its liquidation, reorganization or similar proceeding is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Terms of the Securities

The debt securities will not be secured by any of our assets. Neither the indenture nor the debt securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amounts of other indebtedness that we may incur, or the amount of other securities that we may issue. The indenture does not limit the principal amount of any particular series of debt securities. The debt securities will be subordinated as described below under “Subordination.” All of the debt securities issued under the indenture will rank equally and ratably with any additional debt securities issued under the same indenture.

Each prospectus supplement will specify the particular terms of the debt securities offered. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including the following, as may be applicable:

 

   

the title of the debt securities;

 

   

the principal amount being offered and, if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

   

the priority of payments on the debt securities;

 

   

the issue price or prices (which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) of the debt securities;

 

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the date or dates, or the method of determining the dates, on which the debt securities will mature;

 

   

the interest rate or rates of the debt securities, or the method of determining those rates;

 

   

the interest payment dates, the dates on which payment of any interest will begin and the regular record dates;

 

   

if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that will be payable if the maturity date of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

   

any event of default applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

any covenants included for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities;

 

   

provisions, if any, restricting the declaration of dividends or requiring the maintenance of any asset ratio or the creation or maintenance of reserves;

 

   

provisions relating to modification of the terms of the debt securities or the rights of holders of the debt securities;

 

   

provisions, if any, restricting the incurrence of additional debt or the issuance of additional securities;

 

   

restrictions, if any, on transfer, sale or other assignment of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and, if so, the identity of the depository for such global security, or the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global security will be paid;

 

   

any terms relating to the conversion of the debt securities into our common shares or preferred shares, including, without limitation, the time and place at which such debt securities may be converted, the conversion price and any adjustments to the conversion price and any other provisions that may be applicable;

 

   

any sinking fund or similar provisions applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

any mandatory or optional redemption, repurchase or repayment provisions applicable to the debt securities;

 

   

the denomination or denominations in which the debt securities are authorized to be issued;

 

   

whether any of the debt securities will be issued in bearer form and, if so, any limitations on issuance of such bearer securities (including exchanges for registered securities of the same series);

 

   

information describing any book-entry features of the debt securities;

 

   

whether any of the debt securities will be issued as “original issue discount” securities;

 

   

the place of payment on the debt securities;

 

   

each office or agency where the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion;

 

   

the method of determining the amount of any payments on the securities which are linked to an index or determined by a formula;

 

   

if other than United States dollars, the currency or currencies in which payments on the debt securities will be payable, and whether the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency;

 

   

the identity of the indenture trustee, the nature of any material relationship between us or our affiliates and the indenture trustee, the percentage of debt securities of a series necessary to require the indenture trustee to take action, and what indemnification the indenture trustee may require before proceeding to take action;

 

   

if other than the indenture trustee, the identity of the registrar and/or paying agent;

 

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any defeasance of certain obligations by us pertaining to the series of debt securities;

 

   

a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; and

 

   

any other terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

Some of our debt securities may be issued as “original issue discount” securities. Original issue discount securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates and will be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement will also contain any special tax, accounting or other information relating to original issue discount securities or relating to certain other kinds of securities that may be offered, including securities linked to an index.

Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default with respect to any outstanding series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the indenture trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount due and payable immediately by providing written notice of such acceleration to us, and, if notice is given by the holders instead of the indenture trustee, to the indenture trustee. Subject to certain conditions, the declaration of acceleration may be rescinded, and past defaults (except uncured payment defaults and certain other specified defaults) may be waived, by the holders of not less than a majority of the principal amount of debt securities of that series.

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity upon the occurrence and continuation of an event of default.

Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of the offered debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities we are offering will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.

Payment and Paying Agent

We will pay principal, interest and any premium on fully registered debt securities in the designated currency or currency unit at the office of a designated paying agent. At our option, payment of interest on fully registered debt securities may also be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on the days specified in the indentures or any prospectus supplement.

If any amount payable on a debt security or coupon remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such amount became due and payable, the paying agent will release any unclaimed amounts, and the holder of the debt security or coupon will look only to us for payment.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates (“Global Securities”) that will be deposited with a depository that we will identify in a prospectus

 

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supplement. Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities in definitive form represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of that depository or by a nominee of that depository to a depository or another nominee of that depository.

The specific terms of the depository arrangements for each series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Modification and Waiver

The indenture provides that modifications and amendments may be made by us and the indenture trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each holder affected:

 

   

change the stated maturity date of the debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount, any rate of interest, or any additional amounts in respect of any debt security, or reduce the amount of any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security;

 

   

change the time or place of payment, currency or currencies in which any debt security or any premium or interest thereon is payable;

 

   

impair the holders’ rights to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity date of any debt security or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities required to consent to any modification, amendment or waiver under the indenture;

 

   

modify, except under limited circumstances, any provision of the applicable indenture relating to modification and amendment of the indenture, waiver of compliance with conditions and defaults thereunder or the right of a majority of holders to take action under the applicable indenture;

 

   

alter the provisions regarding subordination of the debt securities in any way that would be adverse to the holders of those securities; or

 

   

reduce the principal amount of original issue discount debt securities which could be declared due and payable upon an acceleration of their maturity.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive compliance by us and the indenture trustee with certain provisions of the indentures. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series, except a default in the payment of the principal, or any premium, interest, or additional amounts payable on a debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision which under the terms of the indenture cannot be modified or amended, without the consent of each affected holder.

With the indenture trustee, we may modify and amend the indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:

 

   

to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under the indenture;

 

   

to evidence and provide for the acceptance or appointment of a successor trustee with respect to one or more series of the debt securities or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

   

to add to the covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of the debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities;

 

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to add or eliminate additional events of default, provided such change does not apply to any outstanding series of debt securities;

 

   

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect;

 

   

to secure the debt securities or add obligors;

 

   

to establish the form of any securities and to provide for the issuance of any series of securities under the indenture and to set forth the terms thereof;

 

   

to provide for the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form in place of certificated debt securities;

 

   

to qualify the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

   

to comply with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the debt securities may be listed or traded.

Calculation of Outstanding Debt Securities

To calculate whether the holders of a sufficient principal amount of the outstanding securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the indenture:

 

   

in the case of original issue discount securities, the principal amount that may be included in the calculation is the amount of principal that would be declared to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration according to the terms of that original issue discount security as of the date of the calculation; and

 

   

any debt securities owned by us, or owned by any other obligor of the debt securities or any affiliate of ours or of any other obligor, should be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for purposes of the calculation.

Additional Provisions

Other than the duty to act with the required standard of care during an event of default, the indenture trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless the holders have offered the indenture trustee reasonable indemnification. The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may, in certain circumstances, direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee, or exercising any trust or other power conferred on the indenture trustee.

No holder of a debt security of any series will have the right to institute any proceeding for any remedy under the applicable indenture, unless:

 

   

the holder has provided the indenture trustee with written notice of a continuing event of default regarding the holder’s series of debt securities;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have made a written request to the indenture trustee, and offered indemnity satisfactory to the indenture trustee, to institute a proceeding for remedy;

 

   

the indenture trustee has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and

 

   

the indenture trustee has not received any direction during such 60-day period inconsistent with such request from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series.

 

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However, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal, any premium, any interest or any additional amounts in respect of such debt security on or after the date expressed in such debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

We are required to file annually with the indenture trustee a certificate of no default, or specifying any default that exists.

Events of Default

The following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of a series:

 

   

failure to make any payment on any subordinated debt security of that series or any coupon pertaining thereto when due, and continuance of such default for 30 days;

 

   

failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for a subordinated debt security of that series when due;

 

   

certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or Centennial Bank;

 

   

certain breaches in any covenants of warranties made by us and continuance of such breaches after notice given pursuant to the indenture; and

 

   

any other event of default regarding that series of subordinated debt securities.

There is no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of a series of subordinated debt securities upon a default in the performance of any covenant or agreement in the subordinated debt securities of a particular series or in the indenture. In the event of a default in the payment of interest or principal, the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to be paid in full before any payment can be made to the holders of subordinated debt securities. However, a holder of a subordinated debt security (or the indenture trustee under the indenture on behalf of all of the holders of the affected series) may, subject to certain limitations and conditions, seek to enforce overdue payments of interest or principal on the subordinated debt securities.

Subordination

The debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth below, to the prior payment in full of all of the Company’s senior indebtedness, as more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If any of the following circumstances has occurred, payment in full of all principal, premium, if any, and interest must be made or provided for with respect to all outstanding senior indebtedness before we can make any payment or distribution of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities:

 

   

any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding relating to us or to our property has been commenced;

 

   

any voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up relating to us has been commenced, whether or not such event involves our insolvency or bankruptcy;

 

   

any of our subordinated debt securities of any series is declared or otherwise becomes due and payable before its maturity date because of any event of default under the subordinated indenture, provided that such declaration has not been rescinded or annulled as provided in the subordinated indenture; or

 

   

any default with respect to senior indebtedness which permits its holders to accelerate the maturity of the senior indebtedness has occurred and is continuing, and either (a) notice of such default has been given to us and to the indenture trustee and judicial proceedings are commenced in respect of such default within 180 days after notice in the case of a default in the payment of principal or interest, or within 90 days after notice in the case of any other default, or (b) any judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any such default.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus on a continuous or delayed basis directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or the purchasers of the securities. These discounts, concessions or commissions as to any particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved.

The securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed prices, which may be changed from time to time, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions:

 

   

on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, including, as of the date of this prospectus, the New York Stock Exchange in the case of our common stock;

 

   

in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or

 

   

through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise.

Each time that we use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement. For each series of securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering including:

 

   

the public offering price;

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the purchase price of the securities;

 

   

the proceeds from the sale of the securities to us;

 

   

any underwriting discounts, agency fees, or other compensation payable to underwriters or agents;

 

   

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or repaid to dealers; and

 

   

the securities exchanges on which the securities will be listed, if any.

If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The underwriters may then resell the securities in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or thereafter. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities offered if they purchase any securities. The public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell securities to such dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. We may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly, and we may sell the securities directly to institutional or other investors, who may be deemed underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of those securities. The terms of these sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we use agents in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, they will use their reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, if we sell directly, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We will not make an offer of securities in any jurisdiction that does not permit such an offer.

 

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We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover overallotments, if any, in connection with the distribution. Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with SEC orders, rules and regulations and applicable law. To the extent permitted by applicable law and SEC orders, rules and regulations, an overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. To the extent permitted by applicable law and SEC orders, rules and regulations, short covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the common stock originally sold by the dealer is purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on the New York Stock Exchange may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded.

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in any distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions or profit they receive when they resell the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered in the prospectus supplement. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments that they may be required to make.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain institutions whereby the institution contractually agrees to purchase the securities from us on a future date at a specific price. This type of contract may be made only with institutions that we specifically approve. Such institutions could include banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. The underwriters, dealers or agents will not be responsible for the validity or performance of these contracts.

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the securities will not be listed on any exchange. It has not presently been established whether the underwriters, if any, of the securities will make a market in the securities. If the underwriters make a market in the securities, such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice.

Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers or underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., Little Rock, Arkansas. As of November 30, 2021, attorneys with Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. participating in this matter beneficially own approximately 5,268 shares of our common stock. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

EXPERTS

BKD, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on BKD, LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 

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LOGO

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Rights

Warrants

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the various estimated expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered hereby. Home BancShares will bear all of these expenses.

 

SEC registration fee

   $   *  

Legal fees and expenses

             **  

Accounting fees and expenses

     **  

Printing fees

     **  

Trustee fees and expenses

     **  

Rating agency fees

     **  

Listing fees and expenses

     **  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

     **  
  

 

 

 

Total expenses

   $ **  

 

*

Under Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act, the SEC registration fee will be paid at the time of any particular offering of securities under the registration statement, and is therefore not currently determinable.

**

Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Amended and Restated Bylaws authorize and require us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by law. Section 4-27-850 of the Arkansas Business Corporation Act of 1987 contains detailed and comprehensive provisions providing for indemnification of directors and officers of Arkansas corporations against expenses, judgments, fines and settlements in connection with litigation. Under Arkansas law, other than an action brought by or in the right of Home BancShares, such indemnification is available if it is determined that the proposed indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Home BancShares and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

In actions brought by or in the right of Home BancShares, the Arkansas statute limits such indemnification to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in the defense or settlement of such action if the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Home BancShares. However, no indemnification is allowed in actions brought by or in the right of Home BancShares with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person has been adjudged to be liable to us, unless and only to the extent that the court determines upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

To the extent that the proposed indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding (or any claim, issue or matter therein), under Arkansas law we must indemnify him or her against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) that he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such defense.

Our Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, also provide that no director shall be liable to us or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the Arkansas Business Corporation Act.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

       

Description

1.1*       Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities)
1.2*       Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity Securities)
4.1       Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.1 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
4.2       Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.2 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
4.3       Second Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.3 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
4.4       Third Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.4 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-132427), as amended)
4.5       Fourth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.1 of Home BancShares’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed on August 8, 2007)
4.6       Fifth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Home BancShares’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-157165))
4.7       Certificate of Designations of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series  A, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Arkansas on January 14, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 21, 2009)
4.8       Seventh Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 19, 2013)
4.9       Eighth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 22, 2016)
4.10       Ninth Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 23, 2019)
4.11       Amended and Restated Bylaws of Home BancShares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on January 28, 2021)
4.12       Specimen Stock Certificate representing Home BancShares, Inc. Common Stock
4.13*       Form of Certificate of Designations with respect to any series of preferred stock issued hereunder

 

II-2


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

       

Description

 

4.14*

     

 

Form of Preferred Stock Certificate

4.15*       Form of Rights Agreement
4.16*       Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant Certificate
4.17       Subordinated Indenture, dated as of April  3, 2017, between Home BancShares, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April  3, 2017)
4.18       First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April  3, 2017, between Home BancShares, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including the form of Note attached as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Home BancShares’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 3, 2017)
4.19       Form of 5.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.18)
4.20       Form of Subordinated Indenture
4.21*       Form of Subordinated Debt Security
5.1       Opinion of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
15.1       Awareness Letter from BKD, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information
23.1       Consent of BKD, LLP
23.2       Consent of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1       Power of Attorney (on signature page)
25.1**       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 under the Subordinated Indenture

 

*

To be filed by a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

**

To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

(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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(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;

 

II-3


Table of Contents

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 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, as amended, 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, as amended, 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 the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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

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

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

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

 

II-4


Table of Contents

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

(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC 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, that 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, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

 

II-5


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Home BancShares, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all 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 Conway, State of Arkansas, on December 3, 2021.

 

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.
By:   /s/ John W. Allison
  John W. Allison
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Brian S. Davis and Jennifer C. Floyd, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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

 

Signature    Title   Date

/s/ John W. Allison

John W. Allison

   Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer)   December 3, 2021

/s/ Brian S. Davis

Brian S. Davis

   Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial Officer)   December 3, 2021

/s/ Jennifer C. Floyd

   Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)   December 3, 2021
Jennifer C. Floyd

/s/ Milburn Adams

   Director   December 3, 2021
Milburn Adams     

/s/ Robert H. Adcock, Jr.

   Director   December 3, 2021
Robert H. Adcock, Jr.     

/s/ Richard H. Ashley

   Director   December 3, 2021
Richard H. Ashley     


Table of Contents
Signature    Title   Date

 

/s/ Mike D. Beebe

  

 

Director

 

 

December 3, 2021

Mike D. Beebe     

/s/ Jack E. Engelkes

Jack E. Engelkes

   Vice Chairman of the Board and Director   December 3, 2021

/s/ Tracy M. French

   Director   December 3, 2021
Tracy M. French     

/s/ Karen Garrett

   Director   December 3, 2021
Karen Garrett     

/s/ James G. Hinkle

   Director   December 3, 2021
James G. Hinkle     

/s/ Alex R. Lieblong

   Director   December 3, 2021
Alex R. Lieblong     

/s/ Thomas J. Longe

   Director   December 3, 2021
Thomas J. Longe     

/s/ Jim Rankin, Jr.

   Director   December 3, 2021
Jim Rankin, Jr.     

/s/ Larry W. Ross

   Director   December 3, 2021
Larry W. Ross     

/s/ Donna J. Townsell

   Director   December 3, 2021
Donna J. Townsell     

Exhibit 4.12

 

LOGO

THIS CERTIFIES THAT is the owner of CUSIP DATED COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR, SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS Certificate Number Shares . By AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE H o m e B a n c S h a r e s , I n c . SEAL 1989 ARKANSAS fully paid and non-assessable Common Shares of the above Corporation transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by duly authorized Attorney upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. In Witness Whereof, the said Corporation has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and to be sealed with the Seal of the Corporation. COMMON SHARES COMMON SHARES Home BancShares, Inc. INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE 300,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK — $0.01 PAR VALUE Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President Secretary ZQ|CERT#|COY|CLS|RGSTRY|ACCT#|TRANSTYPE|RUN#|TRANS# DD-MMM-YYYY * * 000000* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 000000* * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Alexander David Sample **** Mr. Sample **** Mr. Sample **000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares*** *000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares**** 000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00 0000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000 000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0000 00**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****0 00000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****00000 0**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000 **Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000* *Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000** Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**Shares****000000**S ***ZERO HUNDRED THOUSAND ZERO HUNDRED AND ZERO*** MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE & MR. SAMPLE & MRS. SAMPLE ZQ00000000 Certificate Numbers 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 1234567890/1234567890 Total Transaction Num/No. 123456 Denom. 123456 Total 1234567 MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1 ADD 2 ADD 3 ADD 4 PO BOX 43004, Providence, RI 02940-3004 CUSIP/IDENTIFIER XXXXXX XX X Holder ID XXXXXXXXXX Insurance Value 1,000,000.00 Number of Shares 123456 DTC 12345678 123456789012345 THIS CERTIFICATE IS TRANSFERABLE IN CITIES DESIGNATED BY THE TRANSFER AGENT, AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.computershare.com 436893 20 0


LOGO

The IRS requires that the named transfer agent (“we”) report the cost basis of certain shares or units acquired after January 1, 2011. If your shares or units are covered by the legislation, and you requested to sell or transfer the shares or units using a specific cost basis calculation method, then we have processed as you requested. If you did not specify a cost basis calculation method, then we have defaulted to the first in, first out (FIFO) method. Please consult your tax advisor if you need additional information about cost basis. If you do not keep in contact with the issuer or do not have any activity in your account for the time period specified by state law, your property may become subject to state unclaimed property laws and transferred to the appropriate state. For value received, hereby sell, assign and transfer unto Shares Attorney Dated: 20 Signature: Signature: Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate, in every particular, without alteration or enlargement, or any change whatever. PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE) of the Shares represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint to transfer the said Shares on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. . HOME BANCSHARES, INC. THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE MORE THAN ONE CLASS OF STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH TO THE HOLDER OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE, UPON THE SHAREHOLDER’S WRITTEN REQUEST AND FREE OF CHARGE, INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, AND LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE TO EACH CLASS AND THE VARIATIONS IN RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, AND LIMITATIONS DETERMINED FOR EACH SERIES IN A CLASS (AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DETERMINE VARIATIONS FOR FUTURE SERIES). Signature(s) Guaranteed: Medallion Guarantee Stamp THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (Banks, Stockbrokers, Savings and Loan Associations and Credit Unions) WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: TEN COM—as tenants in common UNIF GIFT MIN ACT .Custodian (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT—as tenants by the entireties under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (State) JT TEN—as joint tenants with right of survivorship UNIF TRF MIN ACT— Custodian (until age) and not as tenants in common (Cust) under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (Minor) (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

Exhibit 4.20

FORM OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.,

an Arkansas corporation,

as Issuer

and

_________________,

as Trustee

SUBORDINATED

INDENTURE

Dated as of __________, 20___

Subordinated Debt Securities


Reconciliation and tie to Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

Section 310   (a)(1)    607
  (a)(2)    607
  (a)(5)    607
  (b)    604, 607
Section 311   (a)    604, 612
  (b)    604, 612
  (b)(2)    604, 612
Section 312   (a)    701, 702(1)
  (b)    702(1)
  (c)    702(2)
Section 313   (a)    703(1), 703(2)
  (b)    703(1)
  (c)    703(3)
  (d)    703(3)
Section 314   (a)    704, 1005
  (c)(1)    102
  (c)(2)    102
  (e)    102
Section 315   (a)    602
  (b)    601
  (c)    602
  (d)    602
  (e)    514
Section 316   (a)    104
  (a)(1)(A)    511
  (a)(1)(B)    512
  (b)    508
  (c)    104
Section 317   (a)(1)    505
  (a)(2)    504
  (b)    1003
Section 318   (a)    108

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Subordinated Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I.   
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION   

Section 101.

  Definitions      1  

Section 102.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      11  

Section 103.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      11  

Section 104.

  Acts of Holders      12  

Section 105.

  Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company      13  

Section 106.

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      14  

Section 107.

  Language of Notices      14  

Section 108.

  Conflict With Trust Indenture Act      14  

Section 109.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      15  

Section 110.

  Successors and Assigns      15  

Section 111.

  Separability Clause      15  

Section 112.

  Benefits of Indenture      15  

Section 113.

  Governing Law      15  

Section 114.

  Legal Holidays      15  

Section 115.

  Jury Trial Waiver      15  

Section 116.

  U.S.A. PATRIOT Act      16  
ARTICLE II.   
SECURITIES FORMS   

Section 201.

  Forms Generally      16  

Section 202.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      16  

Section 203.

  Securities in Global Form      17  
ARTICLE III.   
THE SECURITIES   

Section 301.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      18  

Section 302.

  Denominations      21  

Section 303.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      21  

Section 304.

  Temporary Securities      23  

Section 305.

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange      23  

Section 306.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      26  

Section 307.

  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      27  

Section 308.

  Persons Deemed Owners      28  

 

i


Section 309.

 

Cancellation

     28  

Section 310.

 

Computation of Interest

     29  

Section 311.

 

CUSIP Numbers

     29  
ARTICLE IV.   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   

Section 401.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     29  

Section 402.

 

Application of Trust Money

     31  

Section 403.

 

Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series

     31  
ARTICLE V.   
REMEDIES   

Section 501.

 

Event of Default

     33  

Section 502.

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     35  

Section 503.

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     36  

Section 504.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     36  

Section 505.

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     37  

Section 506.

 

Application of Money Collected

     38  

Section 507.

 

Limitation on Suits

     38  

Section 508.

 

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

     39  

Section 509.

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     39  

Section 510.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     39  

Section 511.

 

Control by Holders

     40  

Section 512.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     40  

Section 513.

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     40  

Section 514.

 

Undertaking for Costs

     41  
ARTICLE VI.   
THE TRUSTEE   

Section 601.

 

Notice of Defaults

     41  

Section 602.

 

Certain Rights and Obligations of Trustee

     41  

Section 603.

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     45  

Section 604.

 

May Hold Securities

     45  

Section 605.

 

Money Held in Trust

     45  

Section 606.

 

Compensation and Reimbursement

     45  

Section 607.

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests

     47  

Section 608.

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     47  

 

ii


Section 609.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      49  

Section 610.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      50  

Section 611.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      51  

Section 612.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      53  
ARTICLE VII.   
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY   

Section 701.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      53  

Section 702.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      53  

Section 703.

  Reports by Trustee      54  

Section 704.

  Reports by Company      54  
ARTICLE VIII.   
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES   

Section 801.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      55  

Section 802.

  Successor Corporation Substituted for Company      56  
ARTICLE IX.   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

Section 901.

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      56  

Section 902.

  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      57  

Section 903.

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      58  

Section 904.

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      58  

Section 905.

  Conformity With Trust Indenture Act      59  

Section 906.

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      59  

Section 907.

  Subordination Unimpaired      59  
ARTICLE X.   
COVENANTS   

Section 1001.

  Payment of Principal, Premium, if Any, and Interest      59  

Section 1002.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      60  

Section 1003.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      60  

Section 1004.

  Additional Amounts      62  

Section 1005.

  Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults      62  

Section 1006.

  Payment of Taxes and Other Claims      63  

Section 1007.

  Corporate Existence      63  

Section 1008.

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      64  

Section 1009.

  Calculations; Original Issue Discount      64  

 

iii


ARTICLE XI.   
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES   

Section 1101.

  Applicability of Article      64  

Section 1102.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      64  

Section 1103.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      65  

Section 1104.

  Notice of Redemption      65  

Section 1105.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      66  

Section 1106.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      67  

Section 1107.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      67  
ARTICLE XII.   
SINKING FUNDS   

Section 1201.

  Applicability of Article      67  

Section 1202.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities      68  

Section 1203.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      68  
ARTICLE XIII.   
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS   

Section 1301.

  Applicability of Article      69  
ARTICLE XIV.   
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS   

Section 1401.

  Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called      69  

Section 1402.

  Call, Notice and Place of Meetings      69  

Section 1403.

  Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings      70  

Section 1404.

  Quorum; Action      70  

Section 1405.

  Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings      71  

Section 1406.

  Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings      72  
ARTICLE XV.   
SUBORDINATION   

Section 1501.

  Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness      72  

Section 1502.

  Subrogation      75  

Section 1503.

  Obligation of Company Unconditional      75  

Section 1504.

  Payments on Securities Permitted      76  

Section 1505.

  Effectuation of Subordination by Trustee      76  

Section 1506.

  Knowledge of Trustee      76  

Section 1507.

  Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness      77  

Section 1508.

  Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired      78  

 

iv


ARTICLE XVI.   
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS   

Section 1601.

 

Securities in Foreign Currencies

     78  

Section 1602.

 

Exemption from Individual Liability

     78  

 

v


SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of                ,                (the “Indenture”), among HOME BANCSHARES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas (the “Company”), having its principal office at 719 Harkrider, Suite 100, Conway, Arkansas 72032, and                 (the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture and all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I.

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, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

  (3)

all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles 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 at the date of such computation;


  (4)

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

 

  (5)

the word “or” is not exclusive;

 

  (6)

all words in the singular include the plural and all words in the plural include the singular; and

 

  (7)

the word “including” means “including without limitation.”

Certain terms which are used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles.

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

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

“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. The terms “controlling” and “controlled” have the meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Agent” means any Security Registrar, Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent or Depository Custodian.

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any payment, tender, redemption, transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depository, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such payment, tender, redemption, transfer or exchange.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“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 Legal Holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each 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.

 

2


“Bank” means:

 

  (i)

any institution organized under the laws of the United States, any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa or the U.S. Virgin Islands which

 

  (a)

accepts deposits that the depositor has a legal right to withdraw on demand, and

 

  (b)

engages in the business of making commercial loans, or

 

  (ii)

any trust company organized under any of the foregoing laws.

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act for the Company hereunder.

“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, or any duly authorized committee thereof, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” except as may otherwise be provided herein or in any Security, means when used with respect to any Place of Payment, any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a Legal Holiday nor a day on which the Trustee or banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in that Place of Payment.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking S.A. and any successor thereto.

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

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

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

3


“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business for purposes of this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at                         , Attention: Home Bancshares, Inc., and for purposes of Section 1002 such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at 111 Fillmore Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: Home Bancshares, Inc., or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company and the Holders, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, limited liability companies and business trusts.

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

“Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as Depository by the Company pursuant to Section 301, which must be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, if then required by applicable law and regulation and, if so provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person or “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

“Depository Custodian” means the Trustee as custodian with respect to the global Securities or any successor entity thereto.

“Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in the currency of the United States, except as may otherwise be provided herein or in any Security.

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear Clearance System, and any successor thereto.

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

“Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or its delegee, and any successors thereto.

“Government Obligations” with respect to any Securities, unless otherwise specified herein or therein, means:

 

  (i)

direct obligations of the United States of America or the government or governments which issued the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which any Securities are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

4


  (ii)

obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such government or governments which issued the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such Securities are payable, the full and timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof;

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

“Holder” in the case of any Registered Security, means the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and with respect to any Security shall include the terms of such Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301; exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

“Independent Public Accountants” means accountants or a firm of accountants that are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the registered independent public accountants regularly retained by the Company or who may be other registered independent public accountants. Such accountants or firm shall be entitled to rely upon any Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to the Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.

“interest” with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity and, with respect to any Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

5


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

“Legal Holiday” except as otherwise may be provided herein or in any Securities, with respect to any Place of Payment or other location, means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies in such Place of Payment or other location are not authorized or obligated to be open.

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

“NASDAQ” means The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC and any successors thereto.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” except as otherwise provided herein or in any Security, means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

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

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

 

  (i)

Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation;

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

Securities, except to the extent provided in Section 403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 403 hereof; and

 

6


  (iv)

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

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes and for purposes of making the calculations required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 502 at the time of such determination or calculation; (B) the principal amount of any Security denominated other than in Dollars that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined by the Company as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (A) above) of such Security; and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such calculation or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded, and provided further that Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or 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 Security on behalf of the Company.

“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” with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified in or pursuant to Section 301(8) or Section 1002.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security.

 

7


“Principal Subsidiary Bank” means (i) any Subsidiary Bank, the consolidated assets of which as set forth in the most recent statement of condition of such Bank constitute 40% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets as determined from the most recent quarterly balance sheet of the Company or (ii) any Subsidiary Bank designated as a Principal Subsidiary Bank by the Board of Directors, provided that if the Federal Reserve notifies the Company that any Subsidiary Bank that is a Principal Subsidiary Bank applying the tests in clause (i) or (ii) above does not qualify as a “major subsidiary depository institution” within the requirements of the Federal Reserve’s risk-based capital guidelines or regulations applicable to bank holding companies, such Subsidiary Bank will not be a Principal Subsidiary Bank from and after the time the Company receives from the Federal Reserve such a notice.

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

“Redemption Price” with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

“Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered and the transfer or exchange thereof is registrable in the Security Register.

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

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office who at the time shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

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

 

8


“Senior Indebtedness” means:

 

  (i)

the principal and any premium or interest for money borrowed or purchased by the Company, including but not limited to indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

 

  (ii)

an obligation arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes;

 

  (iii)

reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities;

 

  (iv)

obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business);

 

  (v)

capital lease obligations;

 

  (vi)

any obligations associated with derivative products, including but not limited to securities contracts, foreign currency exchange contracts, swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements, interest rate agreements, foreign exchange rate agreements, options, commodity futures contracts, commodity option contracts and similar financial instruments;

 

  (vii)

obligations of others described in the preceding clauses that the Company has guaranteed or for which the Company is otherwise liable or that are secured by any lien on any of the Company’s property or assets; and

 

  (viii)

obligations to general creditors, as defined and required by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under its final Basel III capital rules in 78 F.R. 62018, Oct. 11, 2013 for subordinated debt to qualify as Tier 2 capital,

in each case, whether outstanding on the date this Indenture becomes effective, or created, assumed or incurred after that date, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation, or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the Securities or to other debt that is pari passu with or subordinate to the Securities.

Senior Indebtedness excludes any:

 

  (i)

trade accounts payables arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business;

 

  (ii)

any Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture, except if such Securities are not, or no longer are, subject to the subordination provision of the Indenture; or

 

  (iii)

any indebtedness that expressly states that it is junior to, or ranks equally in right of payment with, the Securities.

 

9


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

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

“Subsidiary” means any corporation of which at the time of determination the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock.

“Subsidiary Bank” means any Subsidiary which is a Bank.

“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; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issued after such date, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

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

“United States” except as otherwise provided herein or in any Security, means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

“United States Alien” except as otherwise provided herein or in any Security, 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.

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

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

 

10


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 an Officer’s 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 or any of them 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 and in any applicable Security (except Section 1005) shall include:

 

  (1)

a statement that the individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein and in any applicable Security 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 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 condition or covenant has been complied with; and

 

  (4)

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

 

11


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 or any Security, 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 agent duly appointed in writing. 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 of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1406.

Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or set forth or determined in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, pursuant to Section 301, a Holder, including a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy, or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

The Trustee may fix a record date, which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders, for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interest in any permanent global Security held by a Depository entitled under the procedures of such Depository to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders to the Trustee. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

 

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(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

(c) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option, by Board Resolutions, fix in advance a record date, which shall be not more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such Holders, for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date that is 90 days after such record date, any such Act previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

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

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

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

 

  (1)

the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office; 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, or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the Company addressed to the attention of its Treasurer at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Company.

 

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Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in any Security, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, 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 his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

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.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any global Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depository (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depository or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

Section 107. Language of Notices.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section 108. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act.

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed pursuant to Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

 

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Section 109. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

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

Section 110. Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 111. Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture, any Security 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 112. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or any Security, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent and their successors hereunder, the Holders of Securities and holders of Senior Indebtedness, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 113. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of                applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state.

Section 114. Legal Holidays.

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

Section 115. Jury Trial Waiver.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section 116. U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

The Company acknowledges 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 II.

SECURITIES FORMS

Section 201. Forms Generally.

Each Registered Security and temporary global Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Security, as evidenced by their execution of such Security.

Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

          Dated:     [Name of Trustee], as Trustee
    By:    
     

Authorized Signatory

 

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Section 203. Securities in Global Form.

If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, any such Security may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges pursuant to a schedule thereto. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein, pursuant to Applicable Procedures, or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein, pursuant to Applicable Procedures, or in the applicable Company Order.

The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the 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 regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 309 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security. The Company, the Trustee, and each Agent shall have no responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository. Subject to Section 301(20), the Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Depository Custodian with respect to the global Securities unless provided otherwise with respect to such series. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Paying Agent and Registrar shall act solely as agents of the Issuer, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder. The Trustee and each Agent are hereby authorized to act in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among the Depository or other beneficial owners of interests in any Security in global form) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee, or any of it respective agents, shall have responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by a Depository.

 

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The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Security in global form, a member of, or a participant in, the applicable Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of a Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Security in global form). The rights of beneficial owners in any Security in global form shall be exercised only through the applicable Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the applicable Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

ARTICLE III.

THE SECURITIES

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness as provided in Article XV.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,

 

  (1)

the title of the Securities and the series in which such Securities shall be included;

 

  (2)

any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such title or the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1502 or the terms of such Securities);

 

  (3)

whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities;

 

  (4)

whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially or otherwise in global form and, if so,

 

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  (i)

whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305,

 

  (ii)

the name of the Depository with respect to any global Security, and

 

  (iii)

the manner in which interest payable on a global Security will be paid;

 

  (5)

the date as of which any global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

  (6)

the date or dates, or the method, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal of such Securities is payable;

 

  (7)

the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

  (8)

the Place of Payment, if any in addition to or other than the Corporate Trust Office, of such Securities, the place where any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, and the place where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

  (9)

whether the Securities of the series or any of them are to be redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

  (10)

whether the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase Securities of the series or any of them pursuant to any sinking fund or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of the Securities of the series so redeemed or purchased;

 

  (11)

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

 

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  (12)

if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series or any of them which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

  (13)

if other than such currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public or private debts, the currency, composite currencies or currency unit or units in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts in respect of the Securities of the series or any of them shall be payable;

 

  (14)

if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts in respect of the Securities of the series or any of them are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency, composite currencies or currency unit or units other than that in which the Securities of the series or any of them are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

  (15)

whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Amounts), if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

 

  (16)

whether the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Amounts), if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or any Holder thereof or otherwise, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities or any of them are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election, if any, may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities or any of them are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities or any of them are to be so payable;

 

  (17)

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to the Securities of the series or any of them, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

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  (18)

the applicability, if any, of Section 403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 403;

 

  (19)

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

 

  (20)

if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent and/or Authenticating Agent with respect to the Securities of the series;

 

  (21)

whether any of the Securities of a series shall be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities; and

 

  (22)

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

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and the rate or rates of interest, if any, and Stated Maturity, the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided by the Company, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series were established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of such series. No Officers’ Certificate shall change the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or with respect to any series of Securities, except as the Trustee may agree in writing.

Section 302. Denominations.

Unless otherwise established with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the Registered Securities of each series, if any, denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities pursuant to Section 301.

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

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

 

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

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication, and, provided that the Board Resolution or Resolutions and Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, has been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

 

  (1)

an Opinion of Counsel stating, to the effect

 

  (a)

that the form or forms and terms of such Securities, if any, have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

  (b)

that all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been complied with and that such Securities, when completed by appropriate insertion and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and 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, this Indenture and such Securities will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and will entitle the Holders thereof to the benefits of the Indenture; provided that such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to the availability of equitable remedies; and

 

  (2)

an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 102 and also stating that, to the knowledge of the Person executing such certificate, no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

 

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Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 202 or 611 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 304.Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary Securities of such series which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the temporary Securities of such series, if any, shall be exchangeable upon request for definitive Securities of such series containing identical terms and provisions upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002, without charge to any Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to a temporary global Security, until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

Section 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept, at an office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 (the “Security Registrar”), a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of each series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such series. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as Security Registrar for each series of Securities. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, the Trustee shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times.

 

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Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such series pursuant to Section 1002, the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, 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 denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any global Security of any series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series only if

 

  (i)

the Securities Depository is at any time unwilling or unable or ineligible to continue as Securities Depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the date the Company is so notified in writing;

 

  (ii)

the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Security shall be so exchangeable; or

 

  (iii)

an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities and the Registrar has received a written request from the Depository to issue definitive securities.

If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of any authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depository or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository or such other depository, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge.

 

24


Upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged which shall be in the form of Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the Depository. However, no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of such series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of cancelled securities in effect as of the date of such disposition. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on

 

  (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 proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest,

interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer, exchange or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company shall not be required

 

25


  (i)

to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of such series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection;

 

  (ii)

to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed; or

 

  (iii)

to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms specified as contemplated by Section 301, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be repaid.

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 306, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount.

If there be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee

 

  (i)

evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security; and

 

  (ii)

such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless,

then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request in a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security. However, payment of principal of (and premium, if any), shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company and/or the Trustee may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

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

 

26


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

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, 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 Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

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

 

  (1)

The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities affected (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 such Registered Security and the date of the proposed payment. At the same time, the Company shall deposit on or with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment. When deposited, such money will be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in this clause (1). The Company shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of 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 providing the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee 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 such Registered Securities at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register

 

27


  not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Registered Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

  (2)

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

At the option of the Company, interest on Registered Securities of any series that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307 and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

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 Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

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 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 Sections 305 and 307) interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security, and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security be overdue. Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 309. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee or the Security Registrar, be delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar. Any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, as the case may be. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company

 

28


may have acquired in any manner whatsoever. All Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, as the case may be. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301. The Trustee shall dispose of cancelled Securities in accordance with its procedures for the disposition of cancelled securities in effect as of the date of such disposition, and certification of the disposition of all cancelled Notes shall be delivered to the Company upon cancellation upon request.

Section 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 311. CUSIP Numbers.

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

ARTICLE IV.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004). The Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

  (1)

either

 

  (a)

all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306; and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

29


  (b)

all Securities of such series that:

 

  (i)

have become due and payable; or

 

  (ii)

will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year;

 

  (iii)

will not become due and payable within one year of the date of the Company’s depositing of funds, as described in the succeeding paragraph, but with the giving of notice of such deposit to the Holders of the Securities; or

 

  (iv)

if redeemable at the option of the Company, such Securities 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), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust, lawful money of the United States or Government Obligations which, through the payment of interest and principal or other amounts in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide not later than the opening of business on the due dates of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, or a combination thereof, in an amount sufficient (if a combination involving Government Obligations, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accounting firm delivered to the Trustee) to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

  (2)

the Company 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 Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of any such series have been complied with.

 

30


In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met. In the event there are two or more Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all Trustees hereunder.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 606 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 402. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or this Section 402 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and any interest or any Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. Such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 403. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series.

If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for defeasance of Securities of any series pursuant to this Section 403, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Securities of such series and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such indebtedness, when

 

  (1)

either

 

  (a)

with respect to all Outstanding Securities of such series,

 

31


  (i)

the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for such purpose, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any), any Additional Amounts, and interest to the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date as contemplated by the penultimate paragraph of this Section 403, as the case may be; or

 

  (ii)

with respect to any series of Securities which are denominated in United States dollars, the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, Government Obligations in trust for such purpose, such amount of direct obligations of, or obligations the timely payment of the principal of and interest on which are fully guaranteed by, the United States of America and which are not callable at the option of the issuer thereof as will, together with the income to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, be sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any), any Additional Amounts, and interest to the stated Maturity or any Redemption Date as contemplated by the penultimate paragraph of this Section 403; 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 Securities of such series; and

 

  (2)

the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and

 

  (3)

the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and an Officer’s 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 on all Outstanding Securities of any such series have been complied with; and

 

  (4)

the Company has delivered to the Trustee

 

  (a)

a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of independent counsel that the holders of the Securities 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; and

 

32


  (b)

if the Securities of such series are then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, an Opinion of Counsel that the Securities of such series will not be delisted as a result of the exercise of this option.

Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in subsection (1)(a) of this Section shall be irrevocable and shall be made under the terms of a trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee. If any Outstanding Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption or repayment provisions or in accordance with any mandatory sinking fund requirement, 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. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge properly imposed on or assessed against the Trustee with respect to the cash or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Article IV or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which is held hereunder for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 403 with respect to all the Outstanding Securities of any series, the terms and conditions of such series, including the terms and conditions with respect thereto set forth in this Indenture (other than the provisions of Sections 305, 306, and 1002, and other than the right of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in this Section, payment of the principal (and premium, if any) of the interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities when such payments are due, and the rights, powers, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder) shall no longer be binding upon, or applicable to, the Company except those responsibilities and obligations which by the terms of the Indenture survive the termination of the Indenture; provided that the Company shall not be discharged from any payment obligations in respect of 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.

ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES

Section 501. Event of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or 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) unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified in the applicable Board Resolution or in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated hereby:

 

33


  (1)

default in the payment of any interest upon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of such series when such interest becomes or Additional Amounts become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

 

  (2)

default in the payment of the principal of (and premium and Additional Amounts, if any, and interest on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at Maturity or upon redemption, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or

 

  (3)

default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, if any, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

  (4)

default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty default in the performance or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities 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, or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, 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 Securities of that series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

  (5)

the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or a Principal Subsidiary Bank in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company, or any Principal Subsidiary Bank, bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank or of any substantial part of their property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of their affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

 

  (6)

the commencement by the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or

 

34


  the filing by it, of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank, or of any substantial part of their property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay their debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank in furtherance of any such action; or

 

  (7)

any other Event of Default provided in the Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.

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

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default under clauses (5) or (6) of Section 501 hereof with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal of all the Securities of that series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of that series, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable. All outstanding Securities will become due and payable immediately, only upon an Event of Default specified in clauses (5) or (6) of Section 501 hereunder.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article V provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

  (1)

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

 

  (a)

all overdue installments of interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of all Securities of such series;

 

  (b)

the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities;

 

35


  (c)

to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest or any Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities;

 

  (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 as provided in Section 606 hereof; and

 

  (2)

all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series have been cured or waived as provided in Section 512.

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

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 or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become 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, interest (or premium, if any, on) any Security at its Maturity and such default continues for 30 days;

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any), if any, and interest or Additional Amounts, if any, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any). In addition, the Company shall pay to the Trustee 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 Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

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 proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities

 

36


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 any overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

  (1)

to file and prove a claim for the whole amount or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and any Additional Amounts owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents or 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.

Any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities to make such payments to the Trustee or, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. The Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ committee or other similar committee.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security in any such proceeding.

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

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

 

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Section 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article, and 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 on account of principal (and premium, if any), interest or any Additional Amounts, upon presentation of the Securities 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 and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606;
   SECOND:    To holders of Senior Indebtedness in the manner provided in Article XV;
   THIRD:    To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest or any Additional Amounts payable 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 aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any), interest or any Additional Amounts, respectively;
   FOURTH:    The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

 

 

Section 507. Limitation on Suits.

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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

such Holder or Holders have offered security and/or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee 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 security and/or indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

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  (5)

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

it being understood and intended that these limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium and interest on the Security on or after the Maturity thereof and 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 or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on or any Additional Amounts in respect of such Security on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities specified in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment. Such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and each such Holder 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 each such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 509. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy. Every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall 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 510. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

 

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Section 511. Control by Holders.

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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction;

 

  (3)

such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities of such series (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders); and

 

  (4)

such direction shall not involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 512. Waiver of Past Defaults.

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

  (1)

in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of such series; or

 

  (2)

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

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

Section 513. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

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

 

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Section 514. Undertaking for Costs

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 514 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 508 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities of a series.

ARTICLE VI.

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of such default hereunder known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. However, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; provided, further, that in the case of default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, with respect to Securities of such series.

Section 602. Certain Rights and Obligations of Trustee.

 

  (a)

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual notice, 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 its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

  (b)

Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

  (i)

the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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  (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. However, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

  (c)

The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

  (i)

this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 602;

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Sections 102, 104, and 511.

 

  (d)

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 602.

 

  (e)

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 has reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

  (f)

Subject to the provisions of Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

  (i)

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

 

42


  (ii)

any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order or an Officer’s Certificate (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or Board Resolutions;

 

  (iii)

whenever in the administration of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, require and rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance thereon;

 

  (iv)

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

 

  (v)

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

 

  (vi)

the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, and shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance by the Company of any of its covenants in the Indenture, 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 at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

  (vii)

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

 

43


  (viii)

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

 

  (ix)

the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice from the Company or Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series of any event which is in fact such a default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities, the Company and this Indenture;

 

  (x)

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

 

  (xi)

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, or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve’s Fedwire 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;

 

  (xii)

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 furnish the Trustee with directions relating to any other matter requiring direction from the Company pursuant to this Indenture;

 

  (xiii)

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

 

  (xiv)

the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee.

 

44


Section 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and the information in any prospectus or prospectus supplement, including all attachments thereto, except information provided directly by the Trustee therein, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities and shall not be responsible for any statement in any document in connection with the sale of any series of Securities. Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Securities.

The Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate at the date of execution, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof or any funds paid to the Company pursuant to its direction in accordance with this Indenture.

Section 604. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

Section 605. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested.

The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder, except as otherwise agreed by it in writing with the Company.

Section 606. 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 as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Trustee in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

  (2)

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 reasonable 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

 

45


  (3)

to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any liability, claim, damage or expense including reasonable counsel fees and expenses and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part (as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction), arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any third-party claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder unless, and solely to the extent that, such failure materially prejudices the Company’s defense of such claim. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense; provided that if the defendants in any such claim include both the Company and the Trustee and the Trustee shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, or the Trustee has concluded that there may be any other actual or potential conflicting interests between the Company and the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the right to select separate counsel and the Company shall be required to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel. Any settlement which affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the written consent of the Trustee, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. Any settlement by the Trustee which affects the Company may not be entered into without the written consent of the Company, unless such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services of the Trustee are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

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The provisions of this Section 606 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. “Trustee” for the purposes of this Section 606 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

Section 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation permitted by Section 310(a)(1) and (5) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest, as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall take such action as is required pursuant to said Section 310(b). There shall be excluded from the operation of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(i) any series of Securities and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(i) are met.

Section 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

  (1)

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 pursuant to Section 609.

 

  (2)

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 609 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 such series.

 

  (3)

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and 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 removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

  (4)

If at any time:

 

  (a)

the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months; or

 

47


  (b)

the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of a Security; or

 

  (c)

the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;

then, in any such case,

 

  (i)

the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or

 

  (ii)

subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of any series for at least six months may, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

  (5)

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 609. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 609, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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  (6)

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.

Section 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

  (1)

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and 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. On the written request of the Company and/or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.

 

  (2)

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which

 

  (a)

shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates;

 

  (b)

if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee; and

 

49


  (c)

shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee.

Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, 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, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and each such successor Trustee without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on the written request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

  (3)

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 (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

  (4)

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 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto:

 

  (1)

any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated; or

 

  (2)

any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party; or

 

  (3)

any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of

 

50


  the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

Section 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents, which may be an Affiliate of the Company, with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue or exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.

Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall at all times

 

  (1)

be a corporation that would be permitted by Section 310(a)(1) and (5) of the Trust Indenture Act to be able to act as a trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

  (2)

be authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as such; and

 

  (3)

have a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of not less than $50,000,000.

If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section. If the Authenticating Agent has or shall acquire any conflicting interest, as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, with respect to the Securities of any series, the Authenticating Agent shall take such action as is required pursuant to said Section 310(b).

Without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent,

 

  (1)

any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated; or

 

  (2)

any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party; or

 

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  (3)

any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company. At such time, the Trustee shall also mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.

Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.

No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 606.

The provisions of Sections 308, 603 and 604 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

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

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

 

Dated: ________________

   

[Name of Trustee], as Trustee

   

By:

   
     

As Authenticating Agent

   

By:

   
     

Authorized Signatory

 

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If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102) by the Company, shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

Section 612. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE VII.

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

  (1)

semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for interest for each series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series; 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 so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

  (1)

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

  (2)

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

 

  (1)

Within 60 days after August 15 of each year commencing with the year following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act a brief report dated as of such August 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding August 15 and the date of this Indenture. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b) to the extent applicable.

 

  (2)

The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

 

  (3)

Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 704. Reports by Company.

The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall:

 

  (1)

file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

transmit to Holders within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

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 Officer’s Certificates or statements delivered pursuant to Section 1005).

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or Persons (whether or not affiliated with the Company), or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any conveyance, transfer or lease of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company). However,

 

  (1)

in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the entity 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 State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by the successor Person to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on or any Additional Amounts in respect of all the Securities and the performance of every other covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

  (2)

immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default or Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

  (3)

each of the Company and the successor Person has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article VIII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with, and each document and instrument delivered by the Company and each successor Person pursuant to this Section 801 constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and the successor Person.

 

55


Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted for Company.

Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person 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 Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease to another Person, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, 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 Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities contained;

 

  (2)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another Person as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 609(2);

 

  (3)

to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (if such covenants are for less than all series, stating that such covenants are for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Outstanding Securities;

 

  (4)

to add or eliminate Events of Default of any series of Securities, provided that such change or elimination shall not apply to any Outstanding Securities of any series;

 

  (5)

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 Outstanding Securities in any material respect;

 

56


  (6)

to secure the Securities or add obligors;

 

  (7)

to establish any form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities as permitted by Section 301, and to set forth the terms thereof;

 

  (8)

to provide for the issuance of uncertificated Securities of one or more series in the place of certificated Securities;

 

  (9)

to qualify or maintain qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

  (10)

to comply with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may be listed or traded.

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture. However, no such supplemental Indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

 

  (1)

change the Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof (including in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security the amount payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof) or any premium thereon or the rate of interest thereon, or change the method of computing the amount of principal thereof on any date, or change a Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium thereon or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Maturity or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, thereof (or, in the case of redemption or a repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be);

 

  (2)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain Defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;

 

  (3)

modify any of the provisions of this Section, or Sections 508, 511, 512 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 Security affected thereby;

 

57


  (4)

modify any of the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of any Security in a manner adverse to the capital treatment of the Securities, except to clarify ambiguities or to meet regulatory requirements for the Securities to qualify as Tier 2 capital or the equivalent for bank regulatory purposes; or

 

  (5)

modify or affect in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Securities the terms and conditions of the obligation of the Company in respect of the due and punctual payment of the principal of or premium or interest on the Securities.

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 cancelled and of no further effect.

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

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of 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.

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, a Company Request, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and, if and to the extent applicable, upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders of Securities, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company.

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 IX, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes. Every Holder of a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound by such supplemental indenture.

 

58


Section 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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

Section 907. Subordination Unimpaired.

No supplemental indenture entered into under this Article IX shall modify, directly or indirectly, the provisions of Article XV or the definition of Senior Indebtedness in Section 101 in any manner that might alter or impair the subordination of the Securities with respect to Senior Indebtedness then outstanding, unless each holder of such Senior Indebtedness has consented thereto in writing.

ARTICLE X.

COVENANTS

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if Any, and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any), interest on or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest or Additional Amounts shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, holds as of 12:00 noon Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all such amounts then due; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Paying Agent from the Company after 12:00 noon Eastern Time, on such due date, such funds will be distributed to such Persons within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

 

59


Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment,

 

  (1)

where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; and

 

  (2)

where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.

If the Securities of such series are listed on the Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent in London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the 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 such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company hereby designates as the Place of Payment for each series the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. Pursuant to Section 301(8) of this Indenture, the Company may subsequently appoint a place or places other than the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where such Securities may be payable.

Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any), or interest on, any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Person 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 for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any), or interest on, any Securities of that series, deposit with any 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.

 

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

 

  (1)

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

 

  (2)

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

 

  (3)

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

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent. 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.

Except as otherwise provided hereby or pursuant hereto, or as may be required by applicable abandoned property law, 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 and Additional Amounts on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust. The Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. However, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of Registered Securities for such series, 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 nor shall it be later than two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 1004. Additional Amounts.

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security of any such series the Additional Amounts as 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 Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms 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. Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium, or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal (and premium, if any) of or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders. In connection with any Holders who are United States Aliens and who are Holders of Securities of a series without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series, if any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities. The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section with respect to an applicable series, if any. 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 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 Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such an Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Amounts are payable. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether any Additional Amounts are payable, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of any Additional Amounts owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of any Additional Amounts. If the Company has paid Additional Amounts directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

Section 1005. Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

 

  (1)

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (which on the date hereof ends on December 31), commencing December 31, 2017, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that

 

62


  (a)

a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under such officer’s supervision; and

 

  (b)

to such officer’s knowledge, based on such review,

 

  (i)

the Company has fulfilled all of its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to such officer and the nature and status thereof; and

 

  (ii)

no event has occurred and is continuing which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, a default or an Event of Default, or, if such an event has occurred and is continuing, specifying each such event known to such officer and the nature and status thereof.

 

  (2)

The Company will deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible, and in any event, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default.

Section 1006. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent,

 

  (1)

all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary; and

 

  (2)

all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary. However, the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

Section 1007. Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises and the corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of each Principal Subsidiary Bank; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such corporate existence, right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as a whole and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

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Section 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 1005 and 1006 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 1009. Calculations; Original Issue Discount.

The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year for which reporting on Form 1099 OID is required (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

The Company shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Securities, including but not limited to determination of redemption price, premium, if any, and any additional amounts or other amounts payable on the Securities. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.

ARTICLE XI.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article XI.

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate and Stated Maturity, the Company shall, at least 30 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, deliver an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the Redemption Date, (iii) the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed, (iv) the Redemption Price (or manner of calculation if not then known), (v) such election has been duly

 

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authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company, and (vi) complies with any applicable covenants or conditions precedent set forth in this Indenture. Any redemption may be cancelled by the Company at any time prior to notice of redemption being sent to any Holder and thereafter shall be null and void.

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate, Stated Maturity and other terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, subject to Applicable Procedures, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the Depository and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series. However, no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein pursuant hereto.

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

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities 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 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing or sending in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities or sent to a Depository pursuant to Applicable Procedures in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

  (1)

the Redemption Date;

 

  (2)

the Redemption Price (or manner of calculation if not then known);

 

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  (3)

the CUSIP number, if any, provided that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities;

 

  (4)

if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

 

  (5)

in case any Registered Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;

 

  (6)

that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed only against tender of such Security and, unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, that interest and Additional Amounts, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

  (7)

the place or places where such Securities, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and

 

  (8)

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

A notice of redemption given as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company. At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the notice to be given as an exhibit thereto containing the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to 12:00 noon Eastern Time on 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 sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Paying Agent from the Company after 12:00 noon Eastern Time, on such due date, such funds will be distributed to such Persons within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

 

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Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (or any Additional Amounts) to the Redemption Date. However, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307. If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing). The Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the schedule to such global Security shall be adjusted as provided in Section 203, or the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depository or other depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

ARTICLE XII.

SINKING FUNDS

Section 1201. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article XII shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities.

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series

 

  (1)

deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company); and

 

  (2)

apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so credited.

Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series 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. However, 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 Securities of that series 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 Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment. The Company will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so

 

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credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officer’s Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE XIII.

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 1301. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article XIII, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

ARTICLE XIV.

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS

Section 1401. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of 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 Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1401, to be held at such time and at such place in [MEETING LOCATION]. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

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  (b)

In case at any time the Company, pursuant to Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of 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 Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purpose 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 Securities of any series, a Person shall be

 

  (a)

a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series; or

 

  (b)

a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders.

The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 1404. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In 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 the reconvening of any 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 Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

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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 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 action 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 Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

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

Section 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 Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. 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 Securities as provided in Section 1402(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairperson. A permanent chairperson and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

  (c)

At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him or her. However, no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairperson of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairperson of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

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  (d)

Any meeting of Holders of 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 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 Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairperson of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1402 and, if applicable, Section 1404. 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 XV.

SUBORDINATION

Section 1501. Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities, by its acceptance thereof, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities and the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness.

 

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Anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series to the contrary notwithstanding, the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to all Senior Indebtedness:

 

  (a)

In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding-up of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all principal, premium and interest on all Senior Indebtedness before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment on account of principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Amounts upon the Securities, and to that end (but subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provisions reflecting the rights conferred in the Securities upon Senior Indebtedness and the Holders thereof with respect to the subordinated indebtedness represented by the Securities and the Holders hereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive for application in payment thereof any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash or property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in any such proceedings in respect of the Securities after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution in respect of such Senior Indebtedness;

 

  (b)

In the event that any Security of any series is declared or otherwise becomes due and payable before its expressed maturity because of the occurrence of an Event of Default under clauses (5) or (6) of Section 501 hereof (under circumstances when the provisions of the foregoing clause (a) or the following clause (c) shall not be applicable), the holders of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time such Security so becomes due and payable because of such occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder shall, so long as such declaration has not been rescinded and annulled pursuant to Section 502, be entitled to receive payment in full of all principal of, and premium and interest on, all such Senior Indebtedness before the Holders of the Securities of such series are entitled to receive any payment on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest and Additional Amounts on the Securities of such series. However, nothing herein shall prevent the Holders of Securities from seeking any remedy allowed at law or at equity so long as any judgment or decree obtained thereby makes provision for enforcing this clause; and

 

  (c)

In the event that any default shall occur and be continuing with respect to any Senior Indebtedness permitting the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity thereof, if either

 

  (1)

notice of such default, in writing, shall have been given to the Company and to the Trustee, provided that judicial proceedings shall be commenced in respect of such default within 180 days in the case of a default in payment of principal or interest and within 90 days in the case of any other default after the giving of such notice, and provided further that only one such notice shall be given pursuant to this Section 1501(c) in any twelve months period; or

 

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  (2)

judicial proceedings shall be pending in respect of such default,

the Holders of the Securities and the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, for their benefit shall not be entitled to receive any payment on account of principal, premium, if any, or interest and Additional Amounts thereon (including any such payment which would cause such default) unless payment in full of all principal of, and premium and interest on, such Senior Indebtedness shall have been made or provided for. The Trustee, promptly upon receipt of any notice received by it pursuant to this Section 1501(c), shall send a copy of such notice to each Holder of Securities at the time outstanding as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Security Register.

In case despite the foregoing provisions, any payment or distribution shall, in any such event, be paid or delivered to any Holder of the Securities or to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, before all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for and so paid and delivered to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (or their duly authorized representatives) until all Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full.

The Company shall give written notice to the Trustee within five days after the occurrence of any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement or similar proceeding relative to the Company within the meaning of this Section 1501. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors or other liquidating agent making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness 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 XV.

The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of any such holder). In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Section 1501, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such person, as to the extent to which such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such person under this Section 1501, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such person pending judicial determination as to the right of such person to receive such payment.

 

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For purposes of this Article, the words, “cash or property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock or warrants to purchase shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated (at least to the extent provided in this Article with respect to the Securities) to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding; provided, that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the sale, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article VIII shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article VIII. This Section shall be subject to the further provisions of Section 1506.

Section 1502. Subrogation.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness to which the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities is in the circumstances subordinated as provided in Section 1501, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Securities shall be paid in full. As between the Company, its creditors other than holders of such Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, no such payment or distribution made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by virtue of this Article XV which otherwise would have been made to the Holders of the Securities shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of such Senior Indebtedness, it being understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

Section 1503. Obligation of Company Unconditional.

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities,

 

  (a)

is intended to or shall impair as between its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any), interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or

 

  (b)

is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness; or

 

  (c)

prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

75


Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization proceeding affecting the affairs of the Company is pending or upon a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

Section 1504. Payments on Securities Permitted.

Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), interest or any Additional Amounts on the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, except as otherwise provided in this Article XV.

Section 1505. Effectuation of Subordination by Trustee.

Each Holder of Securities, by his or her acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee in his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 1506. Knowledge of Trustee.

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to any Paying Agent of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article or would end such prohibition. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or which would end such prohibition, unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an officer of the Company, or by a holder or agent of a holder of Senior Indebtedness or by the trustee under any indenture pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness shall be outstanding, who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or agent or trustee, and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 602, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if on a date at least five Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the

 

76


payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice of prohibition provided for in this Section, then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date.

Regardless of anything to the contrary herein, nothing shall prevent (a) any payment by the Company or the Trustee to the Holders of Securities of amounts in connection with a redemption of Securities if (i) notice of such redemption has been given pursuant to Article XI prior to the receipt by the Trustee of written notice of prohibition as aforesaid, and (ii) such notice of redemption is given not earlier than 60 days before the redemption date, or (b) any payment by the Trustee to the Holders of Securities of amounts deposited with it pursuant to Sections 401 or 403.

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a representative or a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and if such evidence is not furnished the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 1507. Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness.

Except as otherwise provided in the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV with respect to any Senior Indebtedness at the time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series to the contrary, nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of or payment to the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 506 and 606.

With respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants, duties, or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee does not owe and shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders, the Company or any other Person monies or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

77


Section 1508. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired.

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination herein shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any non-compliance by the Company with the terms, provisions or covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

ARTICLE XVI.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1601. Securities in Foreign Currencies.

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a currency other than United States dollars shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee or its agents may determine.

Section 1602. Exemption from Individual Liability.

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

 

78


* * * * *

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

[Signature page follows]

 

79


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

 

HOME BANCSHARES, INC.

Issuer

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

[Name of Trustee], as Trustee

By:

   

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

80

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

425 WEST CAPITOL AVENUE, SUITE 1800

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS 72201-3525

TELEPHONE 501-688-8800

FAX 501-688-8807

December 3, 2021

Board of Directors

Home BancShares, Inc.

719 Harkrider, Suite 100

Conway, Arkansas 72032

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Home BancShares, Inc., an Arkansas corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement is being filed on the date hereof for the registration under the Securities Act of the following securities (the “Securities”), to be offered and sold from time to time in one or more offerings by the Company, as more fully described in the Registration Statement:

 

  i.

common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company;

 

  ii.

preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company;

 

  iii.

rights of the Company;

 

  iv.

warrants of the Company; and

 

  v.

one or more series of unsecured subordinated debt securities of the Company.

This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

In so acting we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) an executed copy of the Registration Statement on Form S-3, including the prospectus filed therewith constituting a part of the Registration Statement and the exhibits to the Registration Statement; (ii) those exhibits that have been incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement; (iii) the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the “Articles”); (iv) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”); (v) certain resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors with respect to the registration of the Securities; and (vi) such other documents, records, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

 

 

MITCHELL, WILLIAMS, SELIG, GATES & WOODYARD, P.L.L.C.  |  ATTORNEYS AT LAW

MITCHELLWILLIAMSLAW.COM


Board of Directors

Home BancShares, Inc.

December 3, 2021

Page 2

 

We have assumed that (i) the Securities to be offered by the Company will have been specifically authorized for issuance by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the requirements of applicable law and the Company’s Articles and Bylaws; (ii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, or exercise of any Securities being offered will have been duly authorized, created, and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, or exercise; (iii) the Registration Statement will have been deemed effective upon filing with the SEC or will have been otherwise declared effective by an appropriate order entered by the SEC; (iv) a prospectus supplement describing the Securities offered thereby will have been prepared and filed in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC; (v) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and solely in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement; (vi) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to the Securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (vii) the Securities will be duly signed, countersigned and authenticated by authorized persons, as required by applicable agreements and indentures; (viii) the issuance and sale of the Securities, and the Company’s performance of any related agreements, will not contravene or violate the Company’s Articles or Bylaws, violate any applicable law, rule or regulation, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (ix) any legally required filings with, or consents, approvals, authorizations and other orders of, the SEC and any court, regulatory authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company will have been made or obtained, as applicable, and the Company will comply with any requirements or restrictions imposed thereby.

With respect to the issuance and sale of any shares of common or preferred stock, we have assumed that (i) a sufficient number of shares of common or preferred stock, as applicable, are authorized and reserved or available for issuance; and (ii) that the consideration for the issuance and sale of such shares of common or preferred stock will consist of money paid, labor done or property actually received, as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof, and that such consideration will be no less than the par value of such stock.

With respect to the issuance and sale of any rights, warrants or series of debt securities, we have assumed that (i) the terms of such Securities and of their issuance and sale, and any agreements and other matters relating to such Securities, will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company; (ii) any agreements applicable to such Securities will have been validly executed and delivered by the parties thereto; and (iii) such Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with any applicable agreements. With respect to the issuance and sale of any series of debt securities, we have further assumed that (i) an indenture in the form of Exhibit 4.20 to the Registration Statement will have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and a trustee qualified to act as such under applicable law and such indenture will have been duly qualified under the Trust


Board of Directors

Home BancShares, Inc.

December 3, 2021

Page 3

 

Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”); (ii) a supplemental indenture applicable to such series of debt securities will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and the trustee, duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and the trustee, and duly qualified under the TIA; and (iii) the debt securities of such series will have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the trustee in accordance with the indenture and the applicable supplemental indenture.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing and the other limitations, qualifications and assumptions herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to any shares of common stock or preferred stock, such shares of common stock or preferred stock will, when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement thereto, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to any rights, such rights will, when and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement thereto, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

3. With respect to any warrants, such warrants will, when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement thereto, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

4. With respect to any series of debt securities, such debt securities when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement and any applicable prospectus supplement thereto, constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the laws of the State of Arkansas and the federal laws of the United States. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations.

Our opinions are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, marshalling, and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

This opinion letter represents the reasoned judgment of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., as to certain matters of law based upon facts presented to us or assumed by us and should not be considered or construed as a guaranty. This opinion letter speaks as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the delivery of this opinion letter.


Board of Directors

Home BancShares, Inc.

December 3, 2021

Page 4

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Mitchell, Williams, Selig,
Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.
MITCHELL, WILLIAMS, SELIG, GATES & WOODYARD, P.L.L.C.

Exhibit 15.1

Awareness of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

We acknowledge the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Home BancShares, Inc. (the Company) of our reports dated May 6, 2021, August 5, 2021, and November 4, 2021, included with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2021, respectively. Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), these reports should not be considered part of the registration statement prepared or certified by us within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

BKD, LLP
Little Rock, Arkansas
December 3, 2021

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered

Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Home BancShares, Inc. (the Company) of our report dated February 26, 2021, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, which report is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated February 26, 2021, on our audit of the internal control over financial reporting of the Company as of December 31, 2020, which report is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

BKD, LLP
Little Rock, Arkansas
December 3, 2021