As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2009 |
Registration No. 333- |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
________________
PHOTRONICS, INC.
(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
Connecticut | 06-0854886 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) |
Photronics, Inc.
15 Secor
Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
(203-775-9000)
(Address,
including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of
registrants principal executive
offices)
________________
Richelle E. Burr
Vice President,
Associate General Counsel
Photronics, Inc.
15 Secor Road
Brookfield, Connecticut
06804
(203-775-9000)
(Name, address, and telephone number
of agent for
service)
________________
Copies to:
Danielle Carbone, Esq.
Shearman & Sterling LLP
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY
10022
(212-848-4000)
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. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
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. o
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. o
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated Filer x | |
Non-accelerated filer o | Smaller reporting company o |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE | ||||
Proposed | ||||
Maximum | ||||
Aggregate | Amount of | |||
Title of Each Class of | Offering | Registration | ||
Securities to Be Registered | Price(1) | Fee(2) | ||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | ||||
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share | ||||
Debt Securities | ||||
Warrant(3) | ||||
Total | $100,000,000 | $5,580 |
(1) | An indeterminate aggregate offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices, either by the issuer or by selling securityholders. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities. | |
(2) | Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, the registration fee is calculated based on the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed in the table above, and the table does not specify information about the amount of any particular security to be registered. | |
(3) | Subject to note (1) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of warants to purchase shares of our common stock. |
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may decide.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED June 25, 2009
PROSPECTUS
PHOTRONICS, INC.
$100,000,000
Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants
We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock, warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, shares of our preferred stock or debt securities. We and/or selling securityholders may offer and sell the securities separately, together or as units, in separate classes or series in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale and set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering materials.
You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol PLAB.
Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus and our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The securities may be sold directly by us or the selling stockholders to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled Plan of Distribution. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, the names of such underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
____________________
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.
____________________
The date of this prospectus is June 25, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS | |
Page | |
About This Prospectus | 1 |
Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private | |
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 | 2 |
About Photronics, Inc. | 2 |
Risk Factors | 3 |
Use of Proceeds | 12 |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 13 |
Description of Debt Securities | 14 |
Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock | 33 |
Description of Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities | 35 |
Description of Warrants to Purchase Common or Preferred Stock | 36 |
Selling Stockholders | 38 |
Plan of Distribution | 38 |
Validity of the Securities | 40 |
Experts | 40 |
Where You Can Find More Information | 40 |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer from time to time the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described below under Information Incorporated by Reference before you invest in our securities.
This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we filed with the Commission. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the Commission as described below under Where You Can Find More Information.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus related to the applicable securities that is prepared by us or on our behalf or that is otherwise authorized by us. Neither we nor the selling stockholders have authorized any other person to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information that we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We will not use this prospectus to offer and sell securities unless it is accompanied by a supplement that more fully describes the securities being offered and the terms of the offering.
1
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Photronics, Inc. These statements are based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "projects", and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. In particular, any statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein, in press releases, written statements or other documents filed with the Commission, or in our communications and discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through meetings, phone calls and conference calls, regarding the consummation and benefits of future acquisitions, expectations with respect to future sales, financial performance, operating efficiencies and product expansion, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. These factors may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performances or achievements.
Factors that might affect such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, overall economic and business conditions; the demand and receipt of orders for our products; competitive factors in the industries and geographic markets in which we compete; changes in federal, state and international tax requirements (including tax rate changes, new tax laws and revised tax law interpretations); our ability to place new equipment in service on a timely basis; interest rate fluctuations and other capital market conditions, including changes in the market price of our common stock; foreign currency rate fluctuations; economic and political conditions in international markets; the ability to obtain additional financings; the ability to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with acquisitions and productivity programs; the timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions; the seasonal and cyclical nature of the semiconductor and flat panel display industries; the availability of capital; management changes; damage or destruction to our facilities by natural disasters, labor strikes, political unrest or terrorist activity; the ability to fully utilize our tools; our ability to receive desired yields, pricing, product mix, and market acceptance of our products; changes in technology; and our ability to obtain necessary export licenses. Any forward-looking statements should be considered in light of these factors. Accordingly, there is no assurance that our expectations will be realized. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements and do not assume an obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements.
Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented or incorporated by reference in this document.
ABOUT PHOTRONICS, INC.
We are one of the world's leading manufacturers of photomasks, which are high precision photographic quartz plates containing microscopic images of electronic circuits. Photomasks are a key element in the manufacture of semiconductors and flat panel displays ("FPDs"), and are used as masters to transfer circuit patterns onto semiconductor wafers and flat panel substrates during the fabrication of integrated circuits and a variety of FPDs and, to a lesser extent, other types of electrical and optical components. We currently operate principally from ten manufacturing facilities; two of which are located in Europe, two in Taiwan, one each in Korea, Singapore, and China; and three in the United States, including a state-of-the-art nanofab facility ("U.S. Nanofab") in Boise, Idaho, which commenced production during the second quarter of fiscal 2008. In January of 2009, we ceased the manufacture of photomasks at our facility in Manchester, United Kingdom.
We are a Connecticut corporation, organized in 1969. Our principal executive offices are located at 15 Secor Road, Brookfield, Connecticut 06804. Our telephone number is (203) 775-9000.
2
RISK FACTORS
We are dependent on the semiconductor industry which as a whole is volatile and could have a negative material impact on our business.
We sell substantially all of our photomasks to semiconductor designers, manufacturers and foundries, as well as to other high performance electronics manufacturers. We believe that the demand for photomasks depends primarily on design activity rather than sales volume from products using photomask technology. Consequently, an increase in semiconductor sales does not necessarily result in a corresponding increase in photomask sales. In addition, the reduced use of customized ICs, a reduction in design complexity, other changes in the technology or methods of manufacturing or designing semiconductors or a slowdown in the introduction of new semiconductor designs could reduce demand for photomasks even if there is increased demand for semiconductors. Further, advances in design and production methods for semiconductors and other high performance electronics could reduce the demand for photomasks. Historically, the semiconductor industry has been volatile, with sharp periodic downturns and slowdowns. These downturns have been characterized by, among other things, diminished product demand, excess production capacity and accelerated erosion of selling prices. The semiconductor industry began to experience a downturn in fiscal 2008, which we believe could continue through fiscal 2009, which had an adverse impact on our operating results in fiscal 2008 and the six-month period ended May 3, 2009.
Our sales of photomasks for use in fabricating high performance electronic products such as FPDs increased in fiscal 2008 as compared to fiscal 2007, however, decreased in the six-month period ended May 3, 2009 as compared to the same six-month period in the prior year. Our results may be negatively impacted if the FPD photomask market does not grow or if we are unable to serve this market successfully. As is the case with semiconductor photomask demand, we believe that demand for photomasks for FPDs depends primarily on design activity and, to a lesser extent upon an increase in the number of production facilities used to manufacture FPDs. As a result, an increase in FPD sales will not necessarily lead to a corresponding increase in photomask sales. The technology for fabricating FPDs continues to develop in order to increase the size and improve the resolution of FPDs. A slowdown in the development of new technologies for fabricating FPDs could reduce the demand for related photomasks even if demand for FPDs increases.
We incurred net losses in the six-month period ended May 3, 2009 and fiscal 2008, and we may incur future net losses.
We incurred net losses of $20.3 million in the six-month period ended May 3, 2009 and $210.8 million in fiscal 2008. These net losses were incurred due to the global recession and related severe downturn experienced by the semiconductor industry beginning in 2008 and, in fiscal 2008, the net loss includes significant non-cash charges for impairments of goodwill and long-lived assets. We cannot provide assurance of when we will return to profitability.
3
Our quarterly operating results fluctuate significantly and may continue to do so in the future which could adversely impact our business.
We have experienced fluctuations in our quarterly operating results and anticipate that such fluctuations will continue and could intensify in the future. Fluctuations in operating results may result in volatility in the prices of our securities, particularly our common stock and securities linked to the value of our common stock. Operating results may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including size and timing of orders and shipments, loss of significant customers, product mix, technological change, fluctuations in manufacturing yields, competition and general economic conditions. We operate in a high fixed cost environment and to the extent our revenues and asset utilization increase or decrease, operating margins will be positively or negatively impacted. Our customers generally order photomasks on an as-needed basis, and substantially all of our net sales in any quarter are dependent on orders received during that quarter. Since we operate with little backlog and the rate of new orders may vary significantly from month-to-month, our capital expenditures and expense levels are based primarily on sales forecasts. Consequently, if anticipated sales in any quarter do not occur when expected, capital expenditures and expense levels could be disproportionately high, and our operating results would be adversely affected. Due to the foregoing factors, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not necessarily meaningful and that these comparisons cannot be relied upon as indicators of future performance. In addition, in future quarters our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect the market prices of our common stock.
Our industry is subject to rapid technological change and we might fail to remain competitive, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The photomask industry has been, and is expected to continue to be characterized by technological change and evolving industry standards. In order to remain competitive, we will be required to continually anticipate, respond to and utilize changing technologies of increasing complexity in both traditional and emerging markets that we serve. In particular, we believe that, as semiconductor geometries continue to become smaller and FPDs become larger with improved performance, we will be required to manufacture increasingly complex photomasks. Additionally, demand for photomasks has been, and could in the future be, adversely affected by changes in methods of fabricating semiconductors and high performance electronics (that could affect the type or quantity of photomasks utilized), such as changes in semiconductor demand that favor field programmable gate arrays and other semiconductor designs that replace application-specific ICs. Additionally, increased market acceptance of alternative methods of IC designs onto semiconductor wafers, such as direct-write lithography, could reduce or eliminate the need for photomasks entirely in the production of semiconductors. Through the second quarter of fiscal 2009, direct-write lithography has not been proven to be a commercially viable alternative to photomasks, as it is considered too slow for high volume semiconductor wafer production. However, should direct-write or any other alternative methods of transferring IC designs to semiconductor wafers without the use of photomasks achieve market acceptance, our business and results of operations would be materially adversely affected. If we are unable to anticipate, respond to or utilize these or other changing technologies, due to resource, technological or other constraints, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
4
Further, should sales volumes decrease based upon the flow of design releases from our customers, we may have excess or underutilized production capacity that could significantly impact operating margins, or result in write-offs from asset impairments.
Our operations will continue to require substantial capital, which we may be unable to obtain.
The manufacture of photomasks requires substantial investments in high-end manufacturing capability at existing and new facilities. We expect that we will be required to continue to make substantial capital expenditures to meet the technological demands of our customers and to position us for future growth. Our capital expenditure payments for fiscal 2009 are expected to be in the range of $40 million to $50 million, of which $9 million was accrued as of May 3, 2009. Further, our credit facility has a limitation on capital expenditure payments. We cannot provide assurance that we will be able to obtain the additional capital required in connection with our operations on reasonable terms, if at all, or that any such expenditure will not have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our agreements with Micron have several risks; should either we or Micron not comply or execute under these agreements it could significantly disrupt our business and technology activities which could have a material effect on our operations or cash flows.
On May 5, 2006, Photronics and Micron entered into a joint venture known as MP Mask. The joint venture develops and produces photomasks for leading-edge and advanced next generation semiconductors. As part of the formation of the joint venture, Micron contributed its existing photomask technology center located at its Boise, Idaho, headquarters to MP Mask, LLC (MP Mask) and we invested $135.0 million in exchange for a 49.99% interest in MP Mask (to which $64.2 million of the original investment was allocated), a license for photomask technology of Micron and certain supply agreements. We invested an additional $2.6 million in 2008 and $3.5 million in 2007 in MP Mask for capital expenditure and working capital purposes, and we received two distributions from MP Mask of $5.0 million each in the six month period ended May 3, 2009 and in fiscal year 2008.
MP Mask is governed by a Board of Managers, appointed by Micron and Photronics. Since MP Masks inception, Micron, as a result of its majority ownership, has appointed the majority vote of the managers. The number of managers appointed by each party is subject to change as ownership interests change. Under the operating agreement relating to the MP Mask joint venture, through May 5, 2010, we may be required to make additional contributions to the joint venture up to the maximum amount defined in the operating agreement. However, should the Board of Managers determine that additional funding is required, the joint venture shall pursue its own financing. If the joint venture is unable to obtain its own financing it may request additional capital contributions from us. Should we choose not to make a requested contribution to the joint venture, our ownership interest may be reduced.
On May 19, 2009, a capital lease agreement with Micron for the U.S. Nanofab was canceled, at which time Photronics and Micron agreed to enter into a new lease agreement for the U.S. Nanofab building. Under provisions of the new lease agreement, quarterly lease payments were reduced, the lease term was extended, and ownership of the property will not transfer to us at the end of the lease term. As a result of the new lease agreement, we will initially reduce our lease obligations and the carrying value of our assets under capital leases by approximately $28 million. Including the $28 million reduction in carrying value of assets under capital leases, our total investment to date in the purchase and equipping of our U.S. Nanofab is approximately $156 million. The U.S. Nanofab began production in our second fiscal quarter of 2008.
5
Failure by us or Micron to comply or execute under any of these agreements, to capitalize on the use of existing technology or to further develop technology could result in a significant disruption to our business and technology activities, and could adversely affect our operations and cash flows.
We have been dependent on sales to a limited number of large customers; the loss of any of these customers or any reduction in orders from these customers could have a material adverse effect on our sales and results of operations.
Historically, we have sold a significant proportion of photomasks to a limited number of IC and FPD manufacturers. One customer, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., accounted for approximately 20% and 25% of our net sales in the six month period ended May 3, 2009 and in fiscal 2008, respectively. Our five largest customers, in the aggregate, accounted for 42% and 44% of net sales in the six month period ended May 3, 2009 and in fiscal 2008, respectively. The loss of a significant customer or any reduction or delay in orders from any significant customer, including reductions or delays due to customer departures from recent buying patterns, or market, economic, or competitive conditions in the semiconductor or FPD industries, could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and business prospects. The continuing consolidation of semiconductor manufacturers and economic downturn in the semiconductor industry may increase the likelihood of losing a significant customer and have an adverse effect on our financial performance and business prospects.
We depend on a small number of suppliers for equipment and raw materials and, if our suppliers do not deliver their products to us, we may be unable to deliver our products to our customers, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We rely on a limited number of photomask equipment manufacturers to develop and supply the equipment we use. These equipment manufacturers currently require lead times of up to 12 months between the order and the delivery of certain photomask imaging and inspection equipment. The failure of such manufacturers to develop or deliver such equipment on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Further, we rely on equipment manufacturers to develop future generations of manufacturing equipment to meet our requirements. In addition, the manufacturing equipment necessary to produce advanced photomasks could become prohibitively expensive.
We use high precision quartz photomask blanks, pellicles, and electronic grade chemicals in our manufacturing processes. There are a limited number of suppliers of these raw materials, and for production of certain high-end photomasks there is only one available supplier, and we have no long-term contract for the supply of these raw materials. Any delays or quality problems in connection with significant raw materials, particularly photomask blanks, could cause delays in shipments of photomasks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. The fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates with respect to prices of equipment and raw materials used in manufacturing also could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, although they have not been material to date.
6
We face risks associated with complex manufacturing processes, including the use of sophisticated equipment and manufacturing processes with complex technologies; should we be unable to effectively utilize such processes and technologies it could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our complex manufacturing processes require the use of expensive and technologically sophisticated equipment and materials, and are continuously modified in an effort to improve manufacturing yields and product quality. Minute impurities, defects or other difficulties in the manufacturing process can lower manufacturing yields and make products unmarketable. Moreover, manufacturing leading-edge photomasks is more complex and time consuming than manufacturing less advanced photomasks, and may lead to delays in the manufacturing of all levels of photomasks. We have, on occasion, experienced manufacturing difficulties and capacity limitations that have delayed our ability to deliver products within the time frames contracted for by our customers. We cannot provide assurance that we will not experience these or other manufacturing difficulties, or be subject to increased costs or production capacity constraints in the future, any of which could result in a loss of customers or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our debt agreements limit our ability to obtain financing and obligate us to repay debt.
As of May 3, 2009, we had $122.5 million outstanding under our revolving credit facility and $27.3 million outstanding under foreign loans. On May 15, 2009, the revolving credit facility was amended to, among other provisions, reduce the overall availability, extend the maturity date, reduce the required pay down amount in fiscal 2010, change the interest rate and change the financial covenants. Further, on June 8, 2009, we entered into a mirror credit facility in the U.S. for $27.2 million, which was used to repay our outstanding foreign loans on June 12, 2009. The financial covenants include, among others, a Senior Leverage Ratio, Total Leverage Ratio, Minimum Fixed Charge Ratio and minimum quarterly EBITDA levels. Existing covenant restrictions limit our ability to obtain additional debt financing and should we be unable to meet one or more of these covenants the bank may require us to repay the outstanding balances prior to the expiration date of the agreements.
Our ability to comply with the financial and other covenants in our debt agreements may be affected by worsening economic or business conditions, or other events. Should we be unable to meet one or more of these covenants, our lenders may require us to repay our outstanding balances prior to the expiration date of the agreements. We cannot assure that additional sources of financing will be available to us to pay off our long-term borrowings to avoid default. Should we default on any of our long-term borrowings, a cross default would occur on our other long-term borrowings, unless amended or waived.
7
Our prior and future acquisitions may entail certain operational and financial risks.
We have made significant acquisitions throughout our history. Acquisitions have focused on increasing our manufacturing presence in Asia, including our acquisition of Photronics Semiconductor Mask Corporation ("PSMC"), a Taiwanese photomask manufacturer, in 2000 and PKL, a Korean photomask manufacturer, in 2001 and increasing the technology base through the MP Mask joint venture between us and Micron in 2006. We may make additional acquisitions in the future. Acquisitions place significant demands on our administrative, operational and financial personnel and systems. Managing acquired operations entails numerous operational and financial risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of acquired operations, diversion of management's attention from other business concerns, managing assets in multiple geographic regions, amortization of acquired intangible assets and potential loss of key employees of acquired operations. Sales of acquired operations also may decline following an acquisition, particularly if there is an overlap of customers served by us and the acquired operation, and these customers transition to another vendor in order to ensure a second source of supply. Furthermore, we may be required to utilize our cash reserves and/or issue new securities for future acquisitions, which could have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share.
Our cash flow from operations and current holdings of cash and investments may not be adequate for our current and long term needs.
Our liquidity is highly dependent on our ability to receive orders, as we operate in a high fixed cost environment and the timing of capital expenditures, both of which can vary significantly from period to period. Depending on conditions in the IC semiconductor and FPD market, our cash flows from operations and current holdings of cash and investments may not be adequate to meet our current and long-term needs for capital expenditures, operations and debt repayments. Historically, in certain years we have used external financing to fund these needs. Due to conditions in the credit markets, some financing instruments used by us in the past are currently not available to us. We are evaluating alternatives to increase our capital, delaying capital expenditures and evaluating further cost reduction initiatives. However, we cannot assure that additional sources of financing would be available to us on commercially favorable terms should our capital requirements exceed cash available from operations and existing cash, short-term investments and cash available under our credit facility.
We may incur unforeseen charges related to the restructuring of our UK infrastructure or, we may fail to realize projected benefits related to this restructure or any other possible future facility closures or restructures.
In January 2009, we ceased the manufacture of photomasks at our facility in Manchester, United Kingdom to lower our operating costs and increase our manufacturing efficiencies. However, we cannot assure that this action will not result in unforeseen costs, disruptions in our operations, or other negative events that could result in our failing to realize the projected benefits of this restructure.
We cannot assure that there will not be additional facility closures or other restructurings in the near or long term. Further, we cannot assure that we will not incur significant charges should there be any additional future facility closures or restructures.
8
We operate in a highly competitive industry; should we be unable to meet our customers requirements for product quality, timelines of delivery or technical capabilities, it could adversely affect our sales.
The photomask industry is highly competitive, and most of our customers utilize more than one photomask supplier. Our competitors include Compugraphics, Inc., Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Hoya Corporation, Taiwan Mask Corporation, Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. and Toppan Chungwha Electronics. We also compete with semiconductor manufacturers' captive photomask manufacturing operations. We expect to face continued competition from these and other suppliers in the future. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources than we do. Also, when producing smaller geometry photomasks, some of our competitors may be able to more rapidly develop, produce, and achieve higher manufacturing yields than us. We believe that consistency of product quality and timeliness of delivery, as well as price, technical capability, and service, are the principal factors considered by customers in selecting their photomask suppliers. Our inability to meet these requirements could adversely affect our sales which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In the past, competition led to pressure to reduce prices which, we believe, contributed to the decrease in the number of independent manufacturers. This pressure to reduce prices may continue in the future. In addition, certain semiconductor manufacturers possess their own captive facilities for manufacturing photomasks, some of which market their photomask manufacturing services to outside customers as well as to their internal organizations.
Our substantial international operations are subject to additional risks.
International sales accounted for approximately 73% of our net sales for the six month period ended May 3, 2009, 77% in fiscal 2008, and 75% in fiscal 2007. We believe that maintaining significant international operations requires us to have, among other things, a local presence in the markets in which we operate. This requires a significant investment of financial, managerial, operational, and other resources. Since 1996, we have significantly expanded our operations in international markets by acquiring existing businesses in Europe, establishing manufacturing operations in Singapore, acquiring majority equity interests in photomask manufacturing operations in Korea and Taiwan and building a new manufacturing facility for FPD photomasks in Taiwan and a new photomask manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. As the served market continues to shift to Asia, we will continue to assess our manufacturing base and may close or open new facilities to adapt to these market conditions.
Operations outside the United States are subject to inherent risks, including fluctuations in exchange rates, political and economic conditions in various countries including the outbreak of war, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing international operations, longer accounts receivable payment cycles and potentially adverse tax consequences. These factors may have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate sales outside the United States and, consequently, on our business and results of operations.
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition.
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are reported in U.S. dollars. Our international operations have transactions and balances denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Korean won, New Taiwan dollar, Chinese renminbi, Japanese yen, Singapore dollar, euro and British pound. As a result of changes in foreign currency rates, we recorded an expense of $0.4 million in the six month period ended May 3, 2009 and a gain of $3.8 million in fiscal 2008. Further, as a result of the translation of foreign currency financial statements to U.S. dollars our net assets were reduced by $5.1 million during the six month period ended May 3, 2009, and by $62.2 million during fiscal 2008. In the event of significant foreign currency fluctuations, our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows may be adversely affected.
9
Our business depends on management and technical personnel, who are in great demand, and our inability to attract and retain qualified employees could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our success, in part, depends upon key managerial, engineering and technical personnel, as well as our ability to continue to attract and retain additional personnel. The loss of certain key personnel could have a material adverse effect upon our business and results of operations. There can be no assurance that we can retain our key managerial, engineering and technical employees, or that we can attract similar additional employees in the future. We believe that we provide competitive compensation and incentive packages to our employees.
We may be unable to enforce or defend our ownership and use of proprietary technology, and the utilization of our unprotected developed technology by our competitors could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial position.
We believe that the success of our business depends more on our proprietary technology, information and processes and know-how than on our patents or trademarks. Much of our proprietary information and technology relating to manufacturing processes is not patented and may not be patentable. We cannot offer assurance that:
We may become the subject of infringement claims or legal proceedings by third parties with respect to current or future products or processes. Any such claims or litigation, with or without merit, to enforce or protect our intellectual property rights or to defend ourselves against claimed infringement of the rights of others could result in substantial costs, diversion of resources and product shipment delays or could force us to enter into royalty or license agreements rather than dispute the merits of these claims. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.
We may be unprepared for changes to environmental laws and regulations and may have liabilities arising from environmental matters.
We are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations that impose various environmental controls on, among other things, the discharge of pollutants into the air and water and the handling, use, storage, disposal and clean-up of solid and hazardous wastes. Changes in these laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. Any failure by us to adequately comply with these laws and regulations could subject us to significant future liabilities.
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In addition, these laws and regulations may impose clean-up liabilities on current and former owners and operators of real property without regard to fault and these liabilities may be joint and several with other parties. In the past, we have been involved in remediation activities relating to our properties. We believe, based upon current information, that environmental liabilities relating to these activities or other matters are not material to our financial statements. However, there can be no assurances that we will not incur any material environmental liabilities in the future.
Our production facilities could be damaged or disrupted by a natural disaster or labor strike, either of which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Our facilities in Taiwan are located in a seismically active area. In addition, a major catastrophe such as an earthquake or other natural disaster, labor strikes, or work stoppage at any of our manufacturing facilities could result in a prolonged interruption of our business. Any disruption resulting from these events could cause significant delays in shipments of our products and the loss of sales and customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Our sales continue to be impacted by the global recession, and the health and stability of the general economy, which could adversely affect our operations and cash flows.
The global recession and other unfavorable changes in general economic conditions in the U.S. or international locations in which we do business, may reduce the demand for photomasks. For example, an economic downturn may lead to a decrease in demand for end products whose manufacturing process involves the use of photomasks. This may result in a reduction in new product design and development by semiconductor manufacturers, which could adversely affect our operations and cash flows.
Changes in our credit rating could adversely affect our financial position.
Our credit rating could be materially influenced by acquisitions, dispositions, other investment decisions, and the results of our operations in the near-term. Should our credit rating be downgraded, our cost and ability to raise needed working and investment capital could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
Additional taxes could adversely affect our financial results.
Our tax filings are subjected to audit by tax authorities in the various jurisdictions in which it does business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes that are subsequently resolved with the authorities or through the courts. Currently, we believe there are no outstanding assessments whose resolution would result in a material adverse financial result. However, we cannot offer assurances that unasserted or potential future assessments would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Our business could be adversely impacted by global or regional catastrophic events.
Our business could be adversely affected by terrorist acts, major natural disasters; or widespread outbreaks of infectious diseases, the outbreak or escalation of wars, especially in the Asian region where we generate a significant portion of our international sales. Such events in the geographic regions in which we do business, including political tensions within the Korean peninsula where a major portion of our foreign operations are located, could have material adverse impacts on our sales volume, cost of raw materials, earnings, cash flows and financial condition.
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The fair value of warrants issued on our common stock is subject to fluctuating with the market price of our common stock, and may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
On May 15, 2009, in connection with the most recent amendment to our credit facility, we issued 2.1 million warrants to purchase our common stock. The warrants are indexed to and potentially settled in our common stock and, it was determined, that they are to be recorded as a liability during the three months ending August 2, 2009 and to be subsequently reported at fair value. The warrants are each exercisable for one share of common stock and have an exercise price of $0.01. Therefore, changes in the market price of our common stock could result in a significant change in the fair value of the warrants, as charged or credited to other income (expense) in our statements of operations. Changes in the market price of our common stock may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations on a non-cash basis.
Warrants issued by us include a put provision, giving the holders the option to sell the warrants to us at approximately the market price of our common stock, which may have a material adverse effect on our cash flow.
The warrants discussed above include a put provision which may be exercised from May 15, 2012 through the expiration of the warrants on May 15, 2014. The put provision is only exercisable if our common stock is not traded on a national exchange or if our credit facility, which matures on January 31, 2011, has not been paid in full by another financing facility (new credit facility, debt and/or an equity securities, or capital contributions). The purchase of a significant amount of our common stock by us may have a material adverse effect on our cash flows.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as may be described otherwise in a prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, we will add the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus to our general funds and will use them for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding acquisitions or reducing or refinancing indebtedness. We will not receive any proceeds from any selling securityholders sale of our securities registered hereunder.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
Fiscal year ended | Fiscal year ended | Fiscal year ended | Fiscal year ended | Fiscal year ended | Six months ended | |||||||
October 31, 2004 | October 30, 2005 | October 29, 2006 | October 28, 2007 | November 2, 2008 | May 3, 2009 | |||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) | 3.7x | 5.7x | 4.5x | 4.4x | _ | _ |
(1) | For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings generally consist of the sum of our income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries and income of equity method investees, plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest, less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of capitalized expenses relating to indebtedness, and rent expense, representative of interest. Earnings before fixed charges were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $212.8 million for the fiscal year ended November 2, 2008 and by $19.0 million for the six-months ended May 3, 2009. |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. This section summarizes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that are common to all series. The specific terms relating to any series of our debt securities that we offer will be described in a prospectus supplement. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the series of debt securities offered. Because the terms of specific series of debt securities offered may differ from the general information that we have provided below, you should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement that contradicts any information below.
As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities will be governed by a document called an indenture. An indenture is a contract between a financial institution, acting on your behalf as trustee of the debt securities offered, and us. The debt securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, which we will enter into with a trustee. When we refer to the applicable indenture or indenture in this prospectus, we are referring to the indenture under which your debt securities are issued, as supplemented by the supplemental indenture applicable to your debt securities. The trustee has two main roles. First, subject to some limitations on the extent to which the trustee can act on your behalf, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default on our obligations under the applicable indenture. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us.
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Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, the following section is a summary of the principal terms and provisions that will be included in the indenture. This summary is not complete. Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities or the applicable indenture. If we refer to particular provisions in the indenture, such provisions, including the definition of terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as part of this summary. We urge you to read the indenture and any supplement thereto that are applicable to you because the indenture, and not this section, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. The form of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See Where You Can Find More Information for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.
For the purposes of this section, Photronics, we, us and our refer solely to Photronics, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
General
The debt securities offered hereby will be unsecured obligations of Photronics. The debt securities will be either our senior unsecured obligations issued in one or more series and referred to herein as the senior debt securities or our subordinated unsecured obligations issued in one or more series and referred to herein as the subordinated debt securities. The supplement to the indenture applicable to your debt securities will specify whether senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities are being offered by us, and the particular terms thereof, and the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the debt securities being offered. The senior debt securities will rank equal in right of payment to all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of Photronics. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the senior debt securities and the senior indebtedness of Photronics, as described below under Subordination.
The terms of our credit facility limit the amount of indebtedness we can incur.
You should read the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the series of debt securities offered. The terms of the debt securities described in such prospectus supplement will be set forth in the applicable indenture and may include the following, as applicable to the series of debt securities offered thereby:
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Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture pursuant to which the debt securities are issued will not contain any provisions that give you protection in the event we issue a large amount of debt, or in the event that we are acquired by another entity.
Redemption
If the debt securities are redeemable, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions for such redemption, including:
Conversion and Exchange
If any series of the debt securities offered are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock or other securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange, including:
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Form and Denomination of Debt Securities
Denomination of Debt Securities
Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities, if issued in registered form, will be denominated in U.S. dollars, in minimum denominations of $1,000 and multiples thereof.
Registered Form
We may issue the debt securities in registered form, in which case we may issue them either in book-entry form only or in certificated form. We will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities issued in book-entry form will be represented by global securities.
Bearer Form
We also will have the option of issuing debt securities in non-registered form, as bearer securities, if we issue the securities outside the United States to non-U.S. persons. In that case, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the mechanics for holding the bearer securities, including the procedures for receiving payments, for exchanging the bearer securities for registered securities of the same series and for receiving notices. The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe the requirements with respect to our maintenance of offices or agencies outside the United States and the applicable U.S. federal tax law requirements.
Holders of Registered Debt Securities
Book-Entry Holders
We will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities held in book-entry form will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee. The depositary or its nominee will hold such global securities on behalf of financial institutions that participate in such depositarys book-entry system. These participating financial institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the global securities either on their own behalf or on behalf of their customers.
Under the indenture, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized as the holder of that debt security. Consequently, for debt securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the debt securities, and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary or its nominee. The depositary will then pass along the payments that it receives to its participants, which in turn will pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners of the debt securities. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers or by law; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities or the terms of the indenture.
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As a result, investors will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositarys book-entry system, or that holds an interest through a participant in the depositarys book-entry system. As long as the debt securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.
Street Name Holders
In the event that we issue debt securities in certificated form, or in the event that a global security is terminated, investors may choose to hold their debt securities either in their own names or in street name. Debt securities held in street name are registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution chosen by the investor, and the investor would hold a beneficial interest in those debt securities through the account that he or she maintains at such bank, broker or other financial institution.
For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities, and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions will pass along the payments that they receive from us to their customers who are the beneficial owners pursuant to agreements that they have entered into with such customers or by law; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities or the terms of the indenture. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by the trustee or us, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means and who are, therefore, not the legal holders of the debt securities. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security, or has no choice in the matter because we are issuing the debt securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder of the debt securities, we have no further responsibility with respect to such payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend an indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture), we would seek the approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.
Notwithstanding the above, when we refer to you or your in this prospectus, we are referring to investors who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the legal holders or only indirect holders of the debt securities offered. When we refer to your debt securities in this prospectus, we mean the series of debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.
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Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, we urge you to check with that institution to find out:
Global Securities
A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms. Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities that we issue in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole legal holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account either with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the debt security, but an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
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Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investors rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investors financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. The depositary that holds the global security will be considered the legal holder of the debt securities represented by such global security.
If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
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Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in the global security will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form, referred to as certificated debt securities. After such an exchange, it will be up to the investor as to whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in street name. We have described the rights of direct holders and street name holders under Holders of Registered Debt Securities above. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security exchanged on termination of a global security for certificated debt securities to be held directly in their own names.
The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:
The applicable prospectus supplement may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by such prospectus supplement. If a global security were terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the trustee, would be responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security would be registered and, therefore, who would be the legal holders of those debt securities.
Form, Exchange and Transfer of Registered Securities
If we cease to issue registered debt securities in global form, we will issue them:
Holders may exchange their certificated securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.
Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the trustees office. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.
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Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership.
If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in your prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the location of the office through which any transfer agent acts.
If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and we redeem less than all the debt securities of that series, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.
If a registered debt security is issued in global form, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because it will be the sole holder of the debt security.
Payment and Paying Agents
On each due date for interest payments on the debt securities, we will pay interest to each person shown on the trustees records as owner of the debt securities at the close of business on a designated day that is in advance of the due date for interest. We will pay interest to each such person even if such person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. The designated day on which we will determine the owner of the debt security, as shown on the trustees records, is also known as the record date. The record date will usually be about two weeks in advance of the interest due date.
Because we will pay interest on the debt securities to the holders of the debt securities based on ownership as of the applicable record date with respect to any given interest period, and not to the holders of the debt securities on the interest due date (that is, the day that the interest is to be paid), it is up to the holders who are buying and selling the debt securities to work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price for the debt securities. It is common for purchase prices of debt securities to be adjusted so as to prorate the interest on the debt securities fairly between the buyer and the seller based on their respective ownership periods within the applicable interest period.
Payments on Global Securities
We will make payments on a global security directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holders right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described under Global Securities above.
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Payments on Certificated Securities
We will make interest payments on debt securities held in certificated form by mailing a check on each due date for interest payments to the holder of the certificated securities, as shown on the trustees records, as of the close of business on the record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, on the certificated securities by check at the office of the trustee in New York City, New York, and/or at other offices that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a notice to holders, against surrender of the certificated security. All payments by check will be made in next-day funds (that is, funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed).
Alternatively, if a certificated security has a face amount of at least $10,000,000, and the holder of such certificated security so requests, we will pay any amount that becomes due on such certificated security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by the holder at a bank in New York City, New York, on the applicable due date for payment. To request payment by wire transfer, the holder must give appropriate transfer instructions to the trustee or other paying agent at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payments, the instructions must be given by the person who is shown on the trustees records as the holder of the certificated security on the applicable record date. Wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.
Payment When Offices Are Closed
If payment on a debt security is due on a day that is not a business day, we will make such payment on the next succeeding business day. The indenture will provide that such payments will be treated as if they were made on the original due date for payment. A postponement of this kind will not result in a default under any debt security or indenture, and no interest will accrue on the amount of any payment that is postponed in this manner.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.
Events of Default
You will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs with respect to your debt securities and such Event of Default is not cured, as described later in this subsection.
What Is an Event of Default?
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the term Event of Default with respect to the debt securities offered means any of the following:
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An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture.
Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs
If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured within the applicable time period, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on all the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be rescinded by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series if certain conditions are met.
The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders. Additionally, subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, the trustee is not required to take any action under the applicable indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities unless such holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an indemnity). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conduct of any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.
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Before you are allowed to bypass your trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to your debt securities, the following must occur:
Notwithstanding the above, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt securities on or after the due date for payment.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may waive any past defaults other than:
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee, and how to declare or rescind an acceleration of maturity on their debt securities.
With respect to each series of debt securities, we will furnish to each trustee, each year, a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that, to their knowledge, we are in compliance with the provisions of the indenture applicable to such series of debt securities, or specifying an Event of Default.
Merger and Sale of Assets by Photronics
The indenture provides that Photronics may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another person, unless among other conditions:
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When such a person assumes Photronics obligations in such circumstances, subject to certain exceptions, Photronics shall be discharged from all obligations under the notes and the indenture.
Modification or Waiver
There are three types of changes we can make to any indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.
Changes Requiring Your Approval
First, there are changes that we cannot make to the terms or provisions of your debt securities without your specific approval. Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture, without your specific approval, we may not:
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Changes Not Requiring Approval
There are certain changes that we may make to your debt securities without your specific approval and without any vote of the holders of the debt securities of the same series. Such changes are limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not materially adversely affect the holders of the outstanding debt securities of such series in any material respect.
Changes Requiring Majority Approval
Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture, any other change to, or waiver of, any provision of an indenture and the debt securities issued pursuant thereto would require the following approval:
In each case, the required approval must be given in writing.
Further Details Concerning Voting
When taking a vote, we will decide the principal amount attributable to the debt securities in the following manner:
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Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore will not be eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment in full or their redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations with respect to such debt securities, as described below under DefeasanceFull Defeasance.
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series of debt securities, such vote or action may be taken only by persons shown on the trustees records as holders of the debt securities of the relevant series on such record date.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how their approval or waiver may be granted or denied if we seek their approval to change or waive the provisions of an applicable indenture or of their debt securities.
Defeasance
We may elect either:
Covenant Defeasance
In the event of covenant defeasance, you would lose the protection of some of our covenants in the indenture, but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay your debt securities.
Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture, to accomplish covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities offered:
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If we were to accomplish covenant defeasance, you could still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee were prevented from making payment. In fact, if an Event of Default that remained after we accomplish covenant defeasance occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and your debt securities became immediately due and payable, there might be a shortfall in our trust deposit. Depending on the event causing the default, you might not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.
Full Defeasance
If we were to accomplish full defeasance, you would have to rely solely on the funds or notes or bonds that we deposit in trust for repayment of your debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall in our trust deposit. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we were to become bankrupt or insolvent.
Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture, in order to accomplish full defeasance with respect to the debt securities offered:
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Subordination
Payment on the debt securities will, to the extent provided in the indenture, be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness. To the extent that we issue subordinated debt securities, such debt securities also are effectively subordinated to all debt and other liabilities, including trade payables and lease obligations, if any, of our subsidiaries.
Upon (i) any acceleration of the principal due on our subordinated debt securities or (ii) payment or distribution of our assets to creditors upon dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceedings, all principal, premium, if any, and interest or other amounts due on all senior indebtedness must be paid in full before the holders of our subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment.
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We may not make any payment on our subordinated debt securities if there has occurred (a) (i) a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on (including a default under any repurchase or redemption obligation with respect to) any senior indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period, (ii) any other event of default with respect to any senior indebtedness, permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof, and such event of default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist after written notice of such event of default had been given to us and the trustee by any holder of senior indebtedness or (b) a judicial proceeding pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, we make any payment to the trustee or any holder of our subordinated debt securities prohibited by the foregoing provisions and this fact has been made actually known, at or prior to the time of payment, to the trustee or the holder, as the case may be, such payment must be paid over forthwith to us or our trustee in bankruptcy, as the case may be.
We may resume payments and distribution on our subordinated debt securities upon the date which such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, unless there is a judicial proceeding pending with respect to any default in payment or event of default.
Because of the subordination provisions discussed above, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of our subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. This subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any event of default under the indenture.
The term senior indebtedness is defined in the indenture for the subordinated debt securities to mean the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such proceeding) on, and all fees and other amounts payable in connection with, the following, whether absolute or contingent, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, outstanding on the date of the indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed: (a) our indebtedness to banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions evidenced by credit or loan agreements, notes or other written obligations, (b) all of our other indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), which is (i) for money borrowed or (ii) evidenced by a note, security, debenture, bond or similar instrument, (c) our obligations as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles, (d) our obligations under interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars or similar agreements or arrangements, (e) our obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, (f) our obligations for the reimbursement of letters of credit to the extent such obligations are senior indebtedness under clauses (a) through (c) of this paragraph, and (g) renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, restatements and refundings of, or any indebtedness or obligation issued in exchange for any such indebtedness or obligation described in clauses (a) through (f) of this paragraph; provided, however, that senior indebtedness does not include any such indebtedness or obligation if the terms of such indebtedness or obligation (or terms of the instrument under which, or pursuant to which, it is issued) expressly provide that such indebtedness or obligation is not senior in right of payment to the debt securities offered hereby, or expressly provide that such indebtedness or obligation is pari passu with or junior to the debt securities offered hereby.
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If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference will set forth the approximate amount of our senior indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.
Information Concerning the Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under the indenture. We may maintain deposit accounts and conduct banking and other financing transactions with the trustee in the normal course of business.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
The following are brief summaries of certain material provisions of our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and by-laws. These summaries do not purport to be complete, and are subject to and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 2, 2008 (File No. 000-15451), which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See Where You Can Find More Information.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value, of which no shares are issued and outstanding, and 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of which 42,003,593 shares were issued and outstanding as of June 1, 2009.
Common Stock
The holders of shares of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders. At a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present, a majority of the voting power of the shares represented decides all questions, unless the matter is one upon which, by express provision of the certificate of incorporation, as amended, the by-laws or statute, a different vote is required. A plurality of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to elect the members of the Board of Directors.
The holders of common stock have no preemptive rights, nor are there any redemption rights provisions with respect to common stock. The shares offered by us, when issued and paid for, will be fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to further call or assessment by us.
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The holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors in its discretion out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to the payment of dividends on preferred stock, if any, then outstanding. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to the priority of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding.
At June 1, 2009, we had reserved 5,470,348 shares of common stock for issuance under our stock option plans and 2,087, 878 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of May 15, 2009.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority by resolution to issue up to 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares constituting any such series, the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend rights, dividend rate, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices, conversion rights and liquidation preferences of the shares constituting any series, without any further vote or action by the shareholders. For example, our board of directors is authorized to issue a series of preferred stock that would have the right to vote separately or with any other series of preferred stock on any proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation, as amended, or any other proposed corporate action including business combinations and other transactions. However, our board of directors currently does not contemplate the issuance of any preferred stock.
Certain Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock
At June 1, 2009, there were 107,996,407 shares of common stock that were available for issuance and 2,000,000 shares of unissued and undesignated preferred stock. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of proper corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital or facilitate corporate acquisitions.
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and undesignated preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management. Our board of directors can issue the preferred stock without shareholder approval, and with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting rights of the common shareholders.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Registrar & Transfer Company, Cranford, New Jersey.
Listing
Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol PLAB.
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES
The following summarizes the terms of debt warrants we may issue. We will issue the debt warrants under a debt warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as debt warrant agent, that we select at the time of issue.
Determination of Terms
We may issue debt warrants evidenced by debt warrant certificates under the debt warrant agreement independently or together with any debt securities we offer by any prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the debt warrants it covers. These terms may include:
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You may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and may present debt warrant certificates for registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, which will be listed in the prospectus supplement. Debt warrant holders, as such, do not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, except to the extent that the consent of debt warrant holders may be required for certain modifications of the terms of an indenture or form of the debt security, as the case may be, and the series of debt securities issuable upon exercise of the debt warrants. In addition, debt warrant holders are not entitled to payments of principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities.
Exercise of Debt Warrants
You may exercise debt warrants by surrendering the debt warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, with payment in full of the exercise price. Upon the exercise of debt warrants, the debt warrant agent will, as soon as practicable, deliver the debt securities in authorized denominations in accordance with your instructions. If less than all the debt warrants evidenced by the debt warrant certificate are exercised, the agent will issue a new debt warrant certificate for the remaining amount of debt warrants.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON OR PREFERRED STOCK
The following summarizes the terms of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants we may issue. This description is subject to the detailed provisions of a stock warrant agreement that we will enter into with a stock warrant agent we select at the time of issue.
General Terms
We may issue stock warrants evidenced by stock warrant certificates under the stock warrant agreement independently or together with any securities we offer by any prospectus supplement. If we offer stock warrants, the prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of the stock warrants it covers. These terms may include:
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The shares of common stock or preferred stock we issue upon exercise of the stock warrants will, when issued in accordance with the stock warrant agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Exercise of Stock Warrants
You may exercise stock warrants by surrendering to the stock warrant agent the stock warrant certificate, which indicates your election to exercise all or a portion of the stock warrants evidenced by the certificate. Surrendered stock warrant certificates must be accompanied by payment of the exercise price in the form of cash or a check. The stock warrant agent will deliver certificates evidencing duly exercised stock warrants to the transfer agent. Upon receipt of the certificates and the exercise price, the transfer agent will deliver a certificate representing the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchased. If you exercise fewer than all the stock warrants evidenced by any certificate, the stock warrant agent will deliver a new stock warrant certificate representing the unexercised stock warrants.
No Rights As Shareholders
Holders of stock warrants, as such, are not entitled to vote, to consent, to receive dividends or to receive notice as holders of common stock or preferred stock with respect to any meeting of such holders, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as holders of our common stock or preferred stock.
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
In connection with an amendment entered into on May 15, 2009 of our Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007, by and among us, as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, RBS Citizens, National Association, HSBC Bank USA, National Association, Citibank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., UBS Loan Finance LLC, and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent (collectively referred to as the bank lenders), we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 2,087,878 shares of our common stock pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of May 15, 2009 among us and the bank lenders (the Warrant Agreement). We also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 15, 2009 with the bank lenders, pursuant to which we agreed to register under the Securities Act, the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The warrants are exercisable for a period of 5 years and expire May 15, 2014. Forty percent of the warrants can be exercised as of May 15, and three additional twenty percent increments can be exercised after October 31, 2009, April 30, 2010 and October 31, 2010. The Warrant Agreement also allows for clawback of up to sixty percent of the warrants if we pay down debt beyond the step-down provisions in the Credit Agreement. The Warrant Agreement also contains restrictive put provisions after May 15, 2012 and calls provisions after May 15, 2013.
The selling stockholders are lenders under our credit agreement and affiliates of certain of the selling stockholders may have in the past and from time to time in the future provide other financial services to us in the future.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the selling stockholders and the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders as of May 15, 2009 that may from time to time be offered or sold pursuant to this prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, we deem warrants that are exercisable within 60 days of May 15, 2009, to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the warrants for the purpose of computing percentage ownership of that person, but we do not treat them as outstanding for the purpose of computing the ownership percentage of any other person.
Information concerning the selling stockholders may change from time to time and any changed information will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus if and when necessary. The selling stockholders may offer all, some or none of their shares of common stock. We cannot advise you as to whether the selling stockholders will in fact sell any or all of such shares of common stock. Because the selling stockholders may offer all or only some portion or none of their warrant shares and we do not know whether more than 835,151 of the warrants will become exercisable, we cannot estimate the amount or percentage of common stock that the selling stockholders will hold upon termination of the offering.
Maximum Number of | ||||||
Shares to be Sold | ||||||
Name and Address | Number of Shares | Percentage of Class (7) | Hereunder | |||
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 188,164 (1) | 0.45% | 188,164 (1) | |||
RBS Citizens, National Association | 122,534 (2) | 0.29% | 122,534 (2) | |||
HSBC Bank USA, National Association | 177,025 (3) | 0.42% | 177,025 (3) | |||
Citibank, N.A. | 162,574 (4) | 0.39% | 162,574 (4) | |||
Bank of America, N.A. | 118,017 (5) | 0.28% | 118,017 (5) | |||
UBS Loan Finance LLC | 66,837 (6) | 0.16% | 66,837 (6) |
(1) | Does not include 282,247 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. | |
(2) | Does not include 183,801 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. | |
(3) | Does not include 264,537 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. | |
(4) | Does not include 243,862 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. | |
(5) | Does not include 177,025 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. | |
(6) | Does not include 100,256 shares issuable pursuant to warrants that are not currently exercisable. |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities to one or more underwriters for public offering and sale by them or may sell the securities to investors directly or through agents or through a combination of any of these methods of sale. Our common shares or preferred shares may be issued upon conversion of our debt securities or in exchange for our debt securities. The securities that we distribute by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, at a fixed price or prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the related prospectus supplement. We have reserved the right to sell the securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so.
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Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. We also may, from time to time, authorize dealers, acting as our agents, to offer and sell the securities upon the terms and conditions described in the related prospectus supplement. Underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions, which may be changed from time to time, from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be stated in the related prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the applicable securities laws. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us to indemnification against and contribution towards certain civil liabilities, including any liabilities under the applicable securities laws.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any securities issued under this prospectus, other than our common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom the securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but the underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We do not know how liquid the trading market for any of our securities will be.
In connection with an offering of securities, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves sales of securities in excess of the principal amount of securities to be purchased by the underwriters in an offering, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress. Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities being offered. They may also cause the price of the securities being offered to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
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Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters or agents may be required to make in that respect.
Certain of the underwriters, dealers or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with, and perform services for us in the ordinary course of business for which they may receive customary fees and expenses.
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of any debt securities and warrants issued hereunder will be passed upon for our company and by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York and the validity of the common stock and preferred stock will be passed upon by Richelle E. Burr, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Photronics. Counsel for any underwriter or agent will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information we file with the SEC at its public reference rooms at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Our filings are also available to the public on the Internet, through a database maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol PLAB and our SEC filings can also be read at the following Nasdaq address: Nasdaq Operations, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this document the information we filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important business, financial and other information to you by referring you to other documents separately filed with the SEC. All information incorporated by reference is part of this document, unless and until that information is updated and superseded by the information contained in this document or any information incorporated later.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
1. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 16, 2009 for the fiscal year ended November 2, 2008;
2. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on March 12, 2009 for the quarter ended February 1, 2009;
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3. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on June 11, 2009 for the quarter ended May 3, 2009;
4. Our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 21, 2009 and May 26, 2009 (not including information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 of Form 8-K, which information is not incorporated by reference herein);
5. Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed in connection with our 2009 Meeting of Shareholders; and
6. The description of our common stock contained in Form S-8 filed with the SEC on June 18, 2008 (File No. 333-151763) and any amendments to such Registration Statement filed subsequently thereto, including all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
We also incorporate by reference all future filings we make with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (not including any information furnished under Items 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 of Form 8-K and other information that is identified as furnished rather than filed, which information is not incorporated by reference herein) after the date of this propectus and prior to the termination of the offering made hereby. Any statement contained in a document incorporated herein by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in a subsequently filed document incorporated herein by reference, modifies or superseded the statement. Any statement modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our internet website is located at http://www.photronics.com. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You also may request a copy of these filings (excluding exhibits unless specifically incorporated into those documents), at no cost, by writing or telephoning our Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the following address:
Photronics, Inc, |
Vice President, Marketing and |
Corporate Communications |
15 Secor Road |
Brookfield, CT 06804 |
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth all fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby (other than underwriting discounts and commissions). All of such expenses, except the SEC registration fee, are estimated.
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ | 5,580 | |
Legal fees and expenses | 100,000 | ||
Trustees fees and expenses | 20,000 | ||
Accounting fees and expenses | 150,000 | ||
Printing expenses | 20,000 | ||
Miscellaneous | 15,000 | ||
Total | $ | 310,580 |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Limitation on Liability of Directors
Under applicable Connecticut law, the Company shall provide for indemnification of its directors, officers, employees and agents. Applicable Connecticut law requires the Company to indemnify a director against judgments and other expenses of litigation when he is sued by reason of his being a director in any proceeding brought, other than on behalf of the corporation, if a director is successful on the merits in defense, or acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the corporation, and in all other cases that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or in a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In a proceeding brought on behalf of a corporation (a derivative action), a director is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation for reasonable expenses of litigation, if the director is finally adjudged not to have breached his duty to the corporation. In addition, a director is entitled to indemnification for both derivative and non-derivative actions, if a court determines, upon application, that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified. Finally, the Company maintains director and officer liability insurance which provides insurance for the Companys directors and officers in connection with claims brought against them in their capacity as such with the Company.
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Article Ninth of the Companys Certificate of Incorporation limits directors monetary liability for actions or omissions made in good faith, which are later determined to be a breach of their duty as directors of the Company. Article Ninth does not eliminate or limit a directors liability for breaches of fiduciary duty for actions or omissions which (i) involved a knowing and culpable violation of law; (ii) enabled a director or an associate (as defined in the Connecticut General Statute) to receive an improper personal economic gain; (iii) showed a lack of good faith and conscious disregard for his duty as a director under circumstances where the director was aware that his actions created an unjustifiable risk of serious injury to the Company; (iv) constituted a sustained and unexcused pattern of inattention that amounted to an abdication of his duty; or (v) involved the improper distribution of Company assets to its shareholders or an improper loan to an officer, director or 5% shareholder. Article Ninth also does not preclude suits for equitable relief, such as an injunction, nor would it shield directors from liability for violations of the federal securities laws. Moreover, Article Ninth does not limit the liability of directors for any act or omission that occurred prior to the date the Article became effective and does not limit the potential liability of officer-directors in their capacity as officers.
Item 16. Exhibits
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings
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(2) | That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | |||
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. | |||
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: | |||
(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and | ||||
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in 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 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; |
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(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 an undersigned Registrant; and | ||||
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. | ||||
b. | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. | |||
c. |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Brookfield, State of Connecticut, on June 24, 2009.
PHOTRONICS, INC. | |
By: | /s/ Sean T. Smith |
Sean T. Smith | |
Senior Vice President and Chief | |
Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Sean T. Smith and Richelle E. Burr as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to sign any Registration Statement that is to be effective on filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent, and each of them acting alone, full power of authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By: | /s/ Constantine Macricostas | June 24, 2009 | |
Constantine S. Macricostas | |||
Chairman | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
(Principal Executive Officer) | |||
By: | /s/ Sean T. Smith | June 24, 2009 | |
Sean T. Smith | |||
Senior Vice President | |||
Chief Financial Officer and Chief | |||
Accounting Officer | |||
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal | |||
Accounting Officer) |
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By: | /s/ Walter M. Fiederowicz | June 24, 2009 | |
Walter M. Fiederowicz | |||
Director | |||
By: | /s/ Joseph A. Fiorita, Jr. | June 24, 2009 | |
Joseph A. Fiorita, Jr. | |||
Director | |||
By: | /s/ George C. Macricostas | June 24, 2009 | |
George C. Macricostas | |||
Director | |||
By: | /s/ Willem D. Maris | June 24, 2009 | |
Willem D. Maris | |||
Director | |||
By: | /s/ Mitchell G. Tyson | June 24, 2009 | |
Mitchell G. Tyson | |||
Director | |||
By: | /s/ Sean T. Smith | June 24, 2009 | |
Sean T. Smith | |||
Attorney-in-Fact | |||
By: | /s/ Richelle E. Burr | June 24, 2009 | |
Richelle E. Burr | |||
Attorney-in-Fact |
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
* | To be filed by amendment or under a subsequent Current Report on Form 8-K. | |
| Previously filed. |
Exhibit 4.1
PHOTRONICS, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES
_____________
INDENTURE
Dated as of
__________________
_____________
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Trustee
CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture
Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |||
§ 310 | (a)(1) | 609 | ||
(a)(2) | 609 | |||
(b) | 609, 610 | |||
§ 312 | (c) | 701 | ||
§ 314 | (a) | 703 | ||
(a)(4) | 1005 | |||
(c)(1) | 102 | |||
(c)(2) | 102 | |||
(e) | 102 | |||
§ 315 | (b) | 516 | ||
§ 316 | (a) (last sentence) | 101 | ||
(a)(1)(A) | 502, 512 | |||
(a)(1)(B) | 513 | |||
(b) | 508 | |||
§ 317 | (a)(1) | 503 | ||
(a)(2) | 504 | |||
§ 318 | (a) | 111 | ||
(c) | 111 |
NOTE: This cross-reference table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |
ARTICLE ONE | |
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION | |
SECTION 101. Definitions | 1 |
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 10 |
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 10 |
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders | 11 |
SECTION 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company | 12 |
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver | 13 |
SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 14 |
SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns | 14 |
SECTION 109. Separability Clause | 14 |
SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture | 14 |
SECTION 111. Governing Law | 14 |
SECTION 112. Legal Holidays | 14 |
ARTICLE TWO | |
SECURITIES FORMS | |
SECTION 201. Forms of Securities | 14 |
SECTION 202. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication | 15 |
SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form | 15 |
ARTICLE THREE | |
THE SECURITIES | |
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 16 |
SECTION 302. Denominations | 20 |
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 20 |
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities | 21 |
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 23 |
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 25 |
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset | 26 |
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity | 28 |
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners | 29 |
SECTION 310. Cancellation | 29 |
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest | 30 |
SECTION 312. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities | 30 |
SECTION 313. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent | 32 |
SECTION 314. CUSIP Numbers | 33 |
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND
DISCHARGE
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 33 |
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds | 34 |
ARTICLE FIVE | |
REMEDIES | |
SECTION 501. Events of Default | 35 |
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 36 |
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 37 |
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 38 |
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons | 39 |
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected | 39 |
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits | 39 |
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest | 40 |
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 40 |
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 40 |
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 40 |
SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities | 41 |
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults | 41 |
SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 41 |
SECTION 515. Undertaking to Pay Costs | 41 |
SECTION 516. Notice of Defaults | 42 |
ARTICLE SIX | |
THE TRUSTEE | |
SECTION 601. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 42 |
SECTION 602. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. | 43 |
SECTION 603. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. | 44 |
SECTION 604. Trustee, Paying Agents or Security Registrar May Own Securities | 44 |
SECTION 605. Monies to Be Held in Trust | 44 |
SECTION 606. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee | 45 |
SECTION 607. Officers Certificate as Evidence | 46 |
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests of Trustee | 46 |
SECTION 609. Eligibility of Trustee | 46 |
SECTION 610. Resignation or Removal of Trustee | 46 |
SECTION 611. Acceptance by Successor Trustee | 47 |
SECTION 612. Succession by Merger, etc. | 48 |
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims | 48 |
SECTION 614. Trustees Application for Instructions from the Company | 49 |
SECTION 615. Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 49 |
ii
ARTICLE SEVEN | |
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY | |
SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders | 50 |
SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee | 51 |
SECTION 703. Reports by Company | 51 |
SECTION 704. Calculation of Original Issue Discount | 51 |
ARTICLE EIGHT | |
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER | |
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms | 52 |
SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted | 52 |
SECTION 803. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to the Trustee | 53 |
ARTICLE NINE | |
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | |
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 53 |
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders | 54 |
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 55 |
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 56 |
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act | 56 |
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures | 56 |
SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures | 56 |
SECTION 908. Effect on Senior Indebtedness | 56 |
ARTICLE TEN | |
COVENANTS | |
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 56 |
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency | 56 |
SECTION 1003. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustees Office | 57 |
SECTION 1004. Provisions as to Paying Agent | 57 |
SECTION 1005. Existence | 58 |
SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties | 58 |
SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims | 59 |
SECTION 1008. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 59 |
SECTION 1009. Compliance Certificate | 59 |
SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants | 60 |
SECTION 1011. Additional Amounts | 60 |
ARTICLE ELEVEN | |
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES | |
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article | 61 |
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 61 |
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed | 61 |
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption | 61 |
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price | 63 |
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 63 |
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part | 64 |
iii
ARTICLE TWELVE | |
SINKING FUNDS | |
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article | 64 |
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 64 |
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 65 |
ARTICLE THIRTEEN | |
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS | |
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article | 65 |
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities | 65 |
SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option | 66 |
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable | 66 |
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part | 67 |
ARTICLE
FOURTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
|
SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 67 |
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge | 67 |
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance | 68 |
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 68 |
SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other | |
Miscellaneous Provisions | 70 |
SECTION 1406. Reinstatement | 71 |
ARTICLE FIFTEEN | |
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES | |
SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called | 71 |
SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings | 72 |
SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings | 72 |
SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action | 72 |
SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings | 73 |
SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings | 74 |
iv
ARTICLE SIXTEEN | |
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES | |
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate | 74 |
SECTION 1602. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc. | 75 |
SECTION 1603. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness upon Acceleration of Securities | 76 |
SECTION 1604. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default | 76 |
SECTION 1605. Payment Permitted If No Default | 77 |
SECTION 1606. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness | 77 |
SECTION 1607. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights | 77 |
SECTION 1608. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination | 77 |
SECTION 1609. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions | 78 |
SECTION 1610. Notice to Trustee | 78 |
SECTION 1611. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent | 79 |
SECTION 1612. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness | 79 |
SECTION 1613. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustees Rights | 79 |
SECTION 1614. Article Applicable to Paying Agents | 79 |
EXHIBIT A - FORMS OF CERTIFICATION | A-1-2 |
v
INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of _________, between Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the Company ), having its principal office at 15 Secor Road, Brookfield, CT 06804, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, as trustee hereunder (the Trustee ), having its Corporate Trust Office at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286.
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated debt securities (the Securities ), issuable as provided in this Indenture, and all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done; and
WHEREAS, this Indenture will be subject to, and governed by, 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:
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Companys Securities and coupons:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms cash transaction and self-liquidating paper, as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(4) the words herein, hereof and hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and
(5) certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles.
Act , when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
Additional Amounts means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders 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; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Authenticating Agent means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 615.
Authorized Newspaper means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not such newspaper is also published on Saturdays, Sundays or 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, on any Business Day.
Bearer Security means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.
Board of Directors means the board of directors of the Company, the executive committee or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution that is delivered to the Trustee, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
Business Day, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any corporation, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that corporation.
2
Clearstream means Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and any successor thereto.
Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, Company shall mean such successor or successors. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.
Company Request and Company Order means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers.
Conversion Date has the meaning specified in Section 312(d).
Conversion Event means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities or (iii) any Currency unit (or composite currency) other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was established.
Corporate Trust Office means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Institutional Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
corporation includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.
coupon means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.
Currency means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the ECU, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any reorganized confederation or association of such governments.
Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Defaulted Interest has the meaning specified in Section 307(a).
Dollar or $ means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
ECU means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time to time by the Council of the European Communities.
3
Election Date has the meaning specified in Section 312(h).
Euroclear means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels Office, as operator of the Euroclear System, and any successor thereto.
European Communities means the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
European Monetary System means the European Monetary System established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European Communities.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Article Five.
Exchange Rate Agent , with respect to Securities of any series, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, a New York clearing house bank designated pursuant to Section 301 or Section 313.
Exchange Rate Officers Certificate means a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 302 in the relevant currency or currency unit), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation signed by any Officer of the Company.
Foreign Currency means any Currency, including, without limitation, the ECU, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
Government Obligations means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States or the government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation 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 means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.
4
Indenture means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301 and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part hereof.
Indexed Security means a Security as to which all or certain interest payments and/or the principal amount payable at Maturity are determined by reference to prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices, of securities, Currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities or by such other objective price, economic or other measures as are specified pursuant to Section 301 hereof.
interest , when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1011, includes such Additional Amounts.
Interest Payment Date , when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
Market Exchange Rate means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, (i) for any conversion involving a Currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant Currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, London or other principal market for such currency or currency unit in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any Currency or Currency unit by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such currency or currency unit shall be that upon which a nonresident issuer of securities designated in such Currency or Currency unit would purchase such Currency or Currency unit in order to make payments in respect of such securities.
5
Maturity , when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion, or otherwise.
Officer means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Company.
Officers Certificate means a written certificate signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of legal counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Company or the Trustee.
Original Issue Discount Security means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
Outstanding , when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;
(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 and any coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefore satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306, or Securities which have been exchanged for other Securities which 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 protected purchaser (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
6
provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) 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 purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency 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 as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above or (iii) below, respectively) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company, or any other obligor upon the Securities, or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in 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. 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 pledgees right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
Paying Agent means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities or coupons on behalf of the Company.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Place of Payment , when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by or pursuant to Sections 301 and 1002.
Predecessor Security, when used with respect to 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 mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.
7
Redemption Date , when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Redemption Price , when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Registered Security shall mean any Security which is registered in the Security Register.
Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.
Repayment Date means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Repayment Price means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.
Responsible Officer , when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee with 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 knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
Security or Securities has the meaning stated in the recitals of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities of any series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
Security Register and Security Registrar have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.
Senior Indebtedness means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such proceeding) on, and all fees and other amounts payable in connection with, the following, whether absolute or contingent, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed: (a) indebtedness of the Company to banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions evidenced by credit or loan agreements, notes or other written obligations, (b) all other indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), which is (i) for money borrowed or (ii) evidenced by a note, security, debenture, bond or similar instrument, (c) obligations of the Company as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles, (d) obligations of the Company under interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars or similar agreements or arrangements intended to protect the Company against fluctuations in interest or currency exchange rates, (e) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, (f) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of letters of credit to the extent such obligations are Senior Indebtedness under clauses (a) through (c) above, and (g) renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, restatements and refundings of, or any indebtedness or obligation issued in exchange for, any such indebtedness or obligation described in clauses (a) through (f) of this paragraph; provided that Senior Indebtedness shall not include any such indebtedness or obligation if the terms of such indebtedness or obligation (or the terms of the instrument under which, or pursuant to which, it is issued) expressly provide that such indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the Securities, or expressly provide that such indebtedness or obligation is pari passu with or junior to the Securities.
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Significant Subsidiary means, as of any date of determination, a Subsidiary of the Company that would constitute a significant subsidiary as such term is defined under Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Commission as in effect on the date of this Indenture.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other equity interest entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or managing general partner of which is such Person or a subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).
Special Record Date for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
Stated Maturity , when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest thereon is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 308.
Trust Indenture Act or TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture 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 or TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
Trustee means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.
United States means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
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United States person means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
Valuation Date has the meaning specified in Section 312(c).
Yield to Maturity means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. (a) Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel such action is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with; and, except in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1005) shall include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. (a) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion as 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.
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(b) Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations 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 as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company.
(c) Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
SECTION 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 of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the Act of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or 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 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 1506.
(b) The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may be proved in any manner that the Trustee deems reasonably sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) The ownership of Bearer Securities may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership of Bearer Securities may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
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(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. 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 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, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.
(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefore or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating 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, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
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SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. (a) Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders 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 shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
(b) If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities as shall be made in a manner approved by the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day, such publication to be not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication or, if published more than once, on the date of the first such publication.
(d) If by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given in a manner approved by of the Trustee, which notice shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
(f) 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 deemed the equivalent of notice given. 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.
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SECTION 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 108. 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 109. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon 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 110. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person (including any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder), other than the parties hereto, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 111. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
SECTION 112. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security or coupon, other than a provision in the Securities of any series established pursuant to Section 301 hereof which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so paid for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITIES FORMS
SECTION 201. Forms of Securities. The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and the related coupons shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution in accordance with Section 301, shall have such 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 or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.
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Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.
The definitive Securities and coupons 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 executing such Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or coupons.
Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustees authentication of Securities in that form or a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.
SECTION 202. Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. Subject to Section 615, the Trustees certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, | |
as Trustee | |
By | |
Authorized Officer |
SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form. If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as specified and contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security in global form shall represent the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified in such Security, and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon, and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented by such Security in global form may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. 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 or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement, delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
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The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 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 last sentence of Section 303.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified in such Security in global form.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 309 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security (i) in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register, or (ii) in the case of a permanent global Security in bearer form, Euroclear or Clearstream.
ARTICLE THREE
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. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series when issued from time to time):
(1) the form and title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities) and whether such Securities are senior or subordinated;
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(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305);
(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series shall be payable;
(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which such interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(5) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities, of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;
(6) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(7) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denomination or denominations in which any Bearer Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(8) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions set forth in Article Fourteen with respect to Securities of the series;
(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;
(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
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(11) if other than Dollar, the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be made or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;
(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, 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, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(13) whether the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more Currencies, other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are to be paid, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;
(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to any of the provisions of Section 1006) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;
(16) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series in certificated form 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 provided in Section 305, and, if Registered Securities of the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;
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(17) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary 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;
(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;
(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;
(20) the applicability, if any, of Article Sixteen to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Sixteen;
(21) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(22) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which, the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1011 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);
(23) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;
(24) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;
(25) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served; and
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(26) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act);
All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 303) and set forth in such Officers Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by or pursuant to Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination) shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities of such series, other than Bearer Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in a denomination of $5,000.
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer. The signature of any Officer on the Securities and coupons may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized Officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.
Securities or coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such Offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or coupons.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, together with any coupon appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided , however , that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; and provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture or such other certificate as may be specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent global Bearer Security, then, for purposes of this Section and Section 304, the notation of a beneficial owners interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owners interest in such permanent global Security. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate, maturity date, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue. 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 TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon:
(i) an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(c) that such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities and any coupons; and
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(ii) an Officers Certificate stating, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of this Section 303, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order, Opinion of Counsel or Officers Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.
Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.
No Security or coupon shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security or Security to which such coupon appertains a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 310 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities. (a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such 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 Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any non-matured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations; provided , however , that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 303. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
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(b) Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form. If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London office of a depositary or common depositary (the Common Depositary ), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).
Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the Exchange Date ), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary to the Trustee, as the Companys agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depositary, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301; and provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.
Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States.
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Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear and Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the Security Register ) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed Security Registrar for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and 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, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
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If (but only if) permitted by the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 303) set forth in the applicable Officers Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 301, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided , however , that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency 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 Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owners interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Companys agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided , however , that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption; and provided further that no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent 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 Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, 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 permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
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All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on (A) if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if such Securities are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if such Securities are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (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 Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor, provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefore a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon, 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 or coupon has been acquired by a protected purchaser (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code), the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon; provided , however , that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset. (a) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest, if any, on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided , however , that each installment of interest, if any, on any Registered Security may at the Companys option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 309, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee inside the United States.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest, if any, may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to each of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by the Common Depositary, for the purpose of permitting each of Euroclear and Clearstream to credit the interest, if any, received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.
In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
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Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called Defaulted Interest ) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof 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 of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an Optional Reset Date ). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the Reset Notice ) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity Date of such Security (each such period a Subsequent Interest Period ), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).
The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 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.
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity. The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an Extension Period ) up to but not beyond the date (the Final Maturity ) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the Original Stated Maturity ). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the Extension Notice ) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate, if any, applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustees transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Stated Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.
SECTION 309. 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 Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupon be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.
SECTION 310. Cancellation. All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and coupons and Securities and coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. 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. Cancelled Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of stating that such cancelled securities and coupons have been disposed of, unless by a Company Order the Company directs their return to it.
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SECTION 311. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
SECTION 312. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities. (a) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to Bearer Securities of any series, except as provided in paragraph (d) below, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Registered or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security or Bearer Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 312 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301.
(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 301, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustee of such series of Registered Securities not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 312(a). The Trustee for each such series of Registered Securities shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.
(c) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officers Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the Valuation Date ) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
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(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then with respect to each date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the Conversion Date ), the Dollar shall be the currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee of each such series of Securities and by such Trustee or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.
(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 312.
(f) The Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.
(g) The Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.
(h) For purposes of this Section 312, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
A Component Currency shall mean any Currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU.
A Specified Amount of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division, and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the ECU, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of Specified Amount ) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.
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Election Date shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable series of Registered Securities or at least 16 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be, or such other prior date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause 13 of Section 301 by which the written election referred to in Section 312(b) may be made.
All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities of any such decision or determination.
In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to the ECU or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent.
The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.
SECTION 313. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent. (a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 301 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Foreign Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, pursuant to Section 312.
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(b) No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the successor Exchange Rate Agent.
(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).
SECTION 314. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the CUSIP numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1011), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and 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 and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Securities and coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 1106, and (iv) Securities and coupons 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 605) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
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(B) all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(i) have become due and payable, or
(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and such coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, 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 Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 615 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 second paragraph of Section 605 shall survive.
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds. Subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of Section 605, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
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ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501. Events of Default. Event of Default , wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Sixteen; or
(2) a default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series or of any coupon appertaining thereto, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Sixteen; or
(3) a default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions of Article Sixteen; or
(4) a default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding 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 Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(A) commences a voluntary case,
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(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(C) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
The term Bankruptcy Law means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of and premium (if any) and accrued interest on all 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 specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.
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 provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)):
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(A) all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Outstanding Securities of that 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,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606; and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:
(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series and any related coupon when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity,
then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606.
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 Securities of such series 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 Securities of such series, wherever situated.
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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 and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial 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 of any series 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, premium or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be provided in the terms thereof)(and premium, if any) and interest, if any, 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 and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series and coupons to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee under Section 606.
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 or coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or coupon in any such proceeding.
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SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606;
SECOND: Subject to Section 1602, if Article Sixteen were applicable to the Securities as specified pursuant to Section 301, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, 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 and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupon shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 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 to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
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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 that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective due dates expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or coupon has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.
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SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities. 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, and
(3) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 502, 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 and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or any related coupons, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
SECTION 515. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder of Securities, or group of Holders of Securities, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent (10%) in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Article Fifteen, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of Securities for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security on or after the due date expressed in such Security.
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SECTION 516. 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 TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided , however , that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities and coupons of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities and coupons of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith and willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
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(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding determined as provided in Article Fifteen relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;
(d) whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-registrar with respect to the Securities;
(f) if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred; and
(g) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default hereunder unless it shall have been notified in writing of such Event of Default by the Company or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 602. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
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(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Securities shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby;
(e) 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, 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; and
(f) 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 by it with due care hereunder.
SECTION 603. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities (except in the Trustees certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 604. Trustee, Paying Agents or Security Registrar May Own Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.
SECTION 605. Monies to Be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Article Four and Section 1602, all monies received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as may be agreed in writing from time to time by the Company and the Trustee.
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Except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, 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 (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such principal, premium or interest on any Security, without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 606. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to from time to time in writing between the Company and the Trustee, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (or any officer, director or employee of the Trustee), in any capacity under this Indenture and its agents and any Authenticating Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith on the part of the Trustee or such officers, directors, employees and agent or Authenticating Agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities. The obligation of the Company under this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
When the Trustee and its agents and any Authenticating Agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to the Company occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.
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SECTION 607. Officers Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Section 601, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers Certificate delivered to the Trustee.
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests of Trustee. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
SECTION 609. Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (or if such Person is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000). If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 610. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and to the holders of Securities. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment sixty (60) days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Holders of Securities, the resigning Trustee may, upon ten (10) business days notice to the Company and the Holders of Securities, appoint a successor identified in such notice or may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or, if any Holder of Securities who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six (6) months may, subject to the provisions of Section 515, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of Securities who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six (6) months; or
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(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder of Securities; or
(iii) 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, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 515, any Holder of Securities who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six (6) months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee; provided that if no successor Trustee shall have been appointed and have accepted appointment sixty (60) days after either the Company or the Holders of Securities has removed the Trustee, the Trustee so removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee which shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless, within ten (10) days after notice to the Company of such nomination, the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Holder of Securities, or if such Trustee so removed or any Holder of Securities fails to act, the Company, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 610(a) provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 610 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 611.
SECTION 611. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 610 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amount then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 606, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of holders of particular Securities, to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 606.
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No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 611 unless, at the time of such acceptance, such successor trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 608 and be eligible under the provisions of Section 609.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 611, the Company (or the former trustee, at the written direction of the Company) shall mail or cause to be mailed notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the holders of Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten (10) days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 612. Succession by Merger, etc. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including any trust created by this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that in the case of any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 608 and eligible under the provisions of Section 609.
In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or Authenticating Agent appointed by such predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent appointed by such successor trustee may authenticate such Securities in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force that is provided in the Securities or in this Indenture; provided that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of the claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).
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SECTION 614. Trustees Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the holders of the Securities or holders of Senior Indebtedness under this Indenture, including, without limitation, under Article Sixteen hereof) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three (3) Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date) unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
SECTION 615. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustees 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 may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,500,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
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An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. 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 herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.
If an appointment of any Authenticating Agent 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 Trustees certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, | |
as Trustee | |
By: | |
as Authenticating Agent | |
By: | |
Authorized Officer |
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders. Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).
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SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee. Within 60 days after December 1 of each year commencing with the December 1 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such December 1 if required by TIA Section 313(a).
A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of the listing of the Securities on any stock exchange.
SECTION 703. Reports by Company. The Company will:
(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; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(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 the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(3) comply with all other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
SECTION 704. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. With respect to any Original Issue Discount Security issued pursuant to Section 301, if any, upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year.
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ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.02, 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 sale, conveyance or lease (or successive sales, conveyances or leases) of all or substantially all of the property of the Company, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company), authorized to acquire and operate the same and that shall be organized under the laws of the United States; provided that upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Securities, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the Person that shall have acquired or leased such property.
SECTION 802. Successor Person Substituted. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease and upon the assumption by the successor Person, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Securities and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, such successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of this first part. Such successor Person thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of Photronics, Inc. any or all of the Securities, issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Security that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Security that such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article Eight may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Securities and from its obligations under this Indenture.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
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SECTION 803. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to the Trustee.
The Trustee shall receive an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease and any such assumption complies with the provisions of this Article Eight.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or coupons, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided , however , that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registerable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
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(6) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any related coupons as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company); or
(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or
(8) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or
(9) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided that any such action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel delivered to the Trustee, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect.
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities and any related coupons under this Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1011 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the portion of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange or require the Company to purchase any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 301 herein; or
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(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 with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting; or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1010, 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; or
(4) if Article Sixteen were applicable to the Securities as specified pursuant to Section 301, modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
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.
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.
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any documents required by Section 102, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
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SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall, if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures. Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 902, the Company shall give notice thereof to Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1-6, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 908. Effect on Senior Indebtedness. No supplemental indenture shall adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness under Article Sixteen without the consent of such holder.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, on each of the Securities at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Securities. The Company covenants and agrees to pay interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, or (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) interest at the rate per annum specified in the Securities.
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. (a) The Company will maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or for conversion or redemption and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency not designated or appointed by the Trustee. 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 or the office of agency of the Trustee in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (which shall initially be The Bank of New York Mellon, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286).
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(b) The Company may also from time to time designate co-registrars and one or more offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
(c) The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as Paying Agent, Security Registrar and Custodian and each of the Corporate Trust Office and the office of agency of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, c/o The Bank of New York Mellon, located at One Wall Street, New York, New York 10286, shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes.
SECTION 1003. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustees Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in this Indenture, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 1004. Provisions as to Paying Agent. If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, or if the Trustee shall appoint such a Paying Agent, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities;
(ii) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and
(iii) that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.
The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum (in funds which are immediately available on the due date for such payment) sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit shall be received by the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on such date.
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(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor under the Securities) to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when the same shall become due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.
(d) Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Article Four.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for the actions of any other Paying Agents (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent) and shall have no control of any funds held by such other Paying Agents.
SECTION 1005. Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities.
SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Significant Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities.
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SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same may become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, (ii) all claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien or charge upon the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary and (iii) all stamp and other duties, if any, which may be imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein in connection with the issuance, transfer, exchange or conversion of any Securities or with respect to this Indenture; provided that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim (A) if the failure to do so will not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse impact on the Company, or (B) if the amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 1008. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, 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.
SECTION 1009. Compliance Certificate. (a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a certificate signed by either the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and the status thereof of which the signer may have knowledge.
(b) The Company will deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon becoming aware of (i) any default in the performance or observance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, or (ii) any Event of Default, an Officers Certificate specifying with particularity such default or Event of Default and further stating what action the Company has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
(c) Any notice required to be given under this Section or under Section 1610 shall be delivered to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office. In the event that the payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly provide written notice to the Trustee specifying the names and addresses of the holders of Senior Indebtedness if the Trustee (and not the Company) is to provide holders of Senior Indebtedness notice of such acceleration.
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SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition as specified pursuant to Section 301(15) for Securities of any series, in any covenants of the Company added to Article Ten pursuant to Section 301(14) or Section 301(15) in connection with Securities of a series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Securities, by Act of such Holders, 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 1011. Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of a Security of such series or any coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or payment of any related coupon 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 pursuant to Section 301 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 specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Companys principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series or any related coupons who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series or related coupons and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series or related coupons until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series or related coupons without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Companys not furnishing such an Officers Certificate.
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ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series issued on the same day with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.
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 Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security 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 such Security or portion thereof.
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Any notice that is mailed to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106,
(3) 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 Security or Securities to be redeemed,
(4) in case any 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 will receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,
(5) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,
(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,
(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,
(8) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee for such series and any Paying Agent is furnished,
(9) if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on this Redemption Date pursuant to Section 305 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made, and
(10) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any.
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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City 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, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 605) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.
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 in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall if the same were interest-bearing cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest, and provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided , however , that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.
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If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefore (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series, 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. However, if less than all the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a mandatory sinking fund payment, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an optional sinking fund payment. If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory 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 mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto and (2) 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 Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
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SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting 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, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers 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 30 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 THIRTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article. Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities. Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it will 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 605) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of, and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.
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SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option. Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an Option to Elect Repayment form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the Option to Elect Repayment form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holders attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefore specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable. If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided , however , that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; and provided further that, in the case of Registered Securities, installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.
If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefore as provided in Section 1302 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided , however , that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.
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If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part. Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 1403, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Companys exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, defeasance). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, which shall thereafter be deemed to be Outstanding only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, (B) the Companys obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 605 and 1002 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1011, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto. Money and securities held in trust pursuant to Section 1402 shall not be subject to Article Sixteen.
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SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Companys exercise of the above option applicable to this Section, the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenant specified with respect to any Outstanding Securities of any series of Securities established pursuant to Section 301 and any coupons appertaining to any such Securities, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, covenant defeasance), and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of a series and any coupons appertaining thereto:
(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.
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(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that either (i) as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related exercise of the Companys option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be), registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.
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SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of the second paragraph of Section 605, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 312(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 312(d) or 312(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.
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Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1406. Reinstatement. (a) If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 1405 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of the applicable series issued hereunder shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit has occurred pursuant to this Article Fourteen until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 1405.
(b) If the Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of the applicable series issued hereunder shall be revived and reinstated in accordance with this Section 1406, the Company shall be permitted, at its discretion to withdraw all or a portion of the deposits made by the Company pursuant to this Article Fourteen.
(c) If the Company elects not to withdraw any of the deposits made by the Company pursuant to this Article Fourteen, if and when the Trustee or Paying Agent is later permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 1405, the rights of the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of the applicable series to receive payments from the money or Government Obligations deposited by the Company pursuant to Article Fourteen and held by the Trustee or Paying Agent; provided that if the Company shall have made any payment of principal or interest on the Securities of any series because of the revival and reinstatement of its obligations, which payment is not sourced from any amounts deposited by the Company pursuant to Article Fourteen (such amount, in the aggregate, being referred to as the Company Paid Amount ), the Company shall be permitted, at its discretion, to withdraw all or a portion of the deposits made by the Company pursuant to this Article Fourteen up to the Company Paid Amount.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.
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SECTION 1502. 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 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding 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 1501, 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 in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
SECTION 1503. 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 (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding 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 1504. Quorum; Action. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman 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 1502(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 any 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 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 that series.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:
(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and
(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.
SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a 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. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the Person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.
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(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(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 chairman. A permanent chairman 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 the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.
(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 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 1506. 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 chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, 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 fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman 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
SIXTEEN
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate. In the event a series of Securities is designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 301 and except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 301, the Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of the Securities, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article Sixteen (subject to the provisions of Article Four), the indebtedness represented by the Securities and the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on each and all of the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness. Whenever in this Article Sixteen there is a reference, in any context, to the principal of any Securities as of any time, such reference shall be deemed to include reference to the redemption price payable in respect of such Securities to the extent that such redemption price is, was or would be so payable at such time, and express mention of the redemption price in any provision of this Article Sixteen shall not be construed as excluding the redemption price in those provisions of this Article Sixteen when such express mention is not made.
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SECTION 1602. Payment over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, etc. In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its creditors, as such, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, then and in any such event the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness in cash or other immediately available funds, or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or other immediately available funds or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to each holder of Senior Indebtedness with respect to its indebtedness, before the Holders of Securities are entitled to receive any payment on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up or event. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Trustee or any Holder of Securities shall have received any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, securities or other property, before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full or payment thereof provided for, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, have been made actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or, as the case may be, such a Holder of Securities, then and in such event such payment or distribution shall be paid over or delivered forthwith to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Person making payment or distribution of assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full, after giving effect o any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness. For purposes of this Article Sixteen only, the words cash, securities or other property shall not be deemed to include 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 reorganization or readjustment which shares of stock are subordinated in right of payment to all then outstanding Senior Indebtedness to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article Sixteen. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another Person upon the terms and conditions set forth in Article Eight shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company for the purposes of this Section if the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or which acquires by conveyance or transfer such properties and assets substantially as an entirety, as the case may be, shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions set forth in Article Eight.
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SECTION 1603. Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness upon Acceleration of Securities. In the event that any Securities are declared due and payable before their maturity, then and in such event the holders of the Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time such Securities so become due and payable shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or moneys worth, before the Holders of Securities are entitled to receive any payment by the Company on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or any Holder of Securities prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or, as the case may be, such a Holder of Securities, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the Company. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 1602 would be applicable.
SECTION 1604. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default. (a) In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on (including a default under any redemption or repurchase obligation with respect to) any Senior Indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period with respect thereto or in the event that any other event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing which would then permit the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to declare such Senior Indebtedness due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist after written notice to the Company and the Trustee by any holder of such Senior Indebtedness, or (b) in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default, then no payment shall be made by the Company on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Securities. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or any Holder of Securities prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may be, such a Holder of Securities, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the Company, in the case of the Trustee, or the Trustee, in the case of such a Holder of Securities. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 1602 would be applicable.
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SECTION 1605. Payment Permitted If No Default. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company referred to in Section 1602, or under the conditions described in Sections 1603 and 1604, from making payments at any time of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the Holders of Securities, if, at the time of such application by the Trustee, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee did not have knowledge that such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article Sixteen.
SECTION 1606. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 1607. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Article Sixteen 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 Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than 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) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the Company 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 Securities from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.
SECTION 1608. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder of a Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
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SECTION 1609. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions. No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder of any Senior Indebtedness, or by any non-compliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time for payment of, or renew, increase or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.
SECTION 1610. Notice to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article Sixteen or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. Notwithstanding anything in this Article Sixteen to the contrary, nothing shall prevent any payment by the Trustee to the holders of monies deposited with it pursuant to Article Fourteen, and any such payment shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 1602, 1603 or 1604. Subject to the provisions of Article Six, the Trustee shall been titled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee therefor). 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 Sixteen, 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 Sixteen, 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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SECTION 1611. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six, and the holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person 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 payment or 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 Sixteen.
SECTION 1612. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Sixteen and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
SECTION 1613. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustees Rights. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Article Six.
SECTION 1614. Article Applicable to Paying Agents. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term Trustee as used in this Article Sixteen shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article Sixteen in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided that Section 1613 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
* * * * *
79
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.
80
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized, have executed this Indenture on behalf of the respective parties hereto as of the date first above written.
PHOTRONICS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
81
EXHIBIT A
FORMS OF CERTIFICATION
EXHIBIT A-1
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY
PERSON ENTITLED
TO RECEIVE BEARER
SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST
PAYABLE
PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE
CERTIFICATE
[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]
This is to certify that, as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source ( United States person(s) ), (ii) are owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(iv) are herein referred to as financial institutions) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise Photronics, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.
As used herein, United States means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its possessions include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
We undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your Operating Procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.
This certificate excepts and does not relate to [U.S.$] _______ of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Global Security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.
We understand that this certificate may be required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.
Dated: | |
[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to (i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable] |
[Name of Person Making Certification] |
(Authorized Signatory) |
Name: |
Title: |
A-1-2
EXHIBIT A-2
FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY
EUROCLEAR AND
CLEARSTREAM IN CONNECTION
WITH THE EXCHANGE OF
A PORTION OF A
TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY
OR TO OBTAIN
INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR
TO THE EXCHANGE
DATE
CERTIFICATE
[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]
This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our Member Organizations) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, [U.S.$] _______ principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source ( United States person(s) ), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as financial institutions) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise Photronics, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, to the further effect, that financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.
As used herein, United States means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its possessions include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.
We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.
We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.
Dated: | |
[To be dated no earlier than the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable] |
[Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels Office,] as Operator of the Euroclear System [Clearstream] | |
By |
A-2-2
Exhibit 5.1
599 LEXINGTON AVENUE | NEW YORK | NY | 10022-6069
WWW.SHEARMAN.COM | T +1.212.848.4000 | F +1.212.848.7179
June 25, 2009
The Board of Directors
Photronics,
Inc.
15 Secor Road
Brookfield, Connecticut 06804
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut company (the Company), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) relating to the offering from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), of (i) common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (Common Shares), (ii) preferred shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (Preferred Shares), (iii) one or more series of debt securities of the Company (the Debt Securities) and (iv) warrants to purchase Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Debt Securities (the Warrants). The offering of the Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities and Warrants will be as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the Prospectus), as supplemented by one or more supplements to the Prospectus.
The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture (the Indenture) to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the Trustee), a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Warrants will be issued in one or more series pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a Warrant Agreement) to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent party thereto (each, a Warrant Agent).
In that connection, we have reviewed originals or copies of the following documents:
ABU DHABI | BEIJING | BRUSSELS | DÜSSELDORF | FRANKFURT | HONG KONG | LONDON | MENLO PARK | MUNICH |
NEW YORK | PARIS | ROME | SAN FRANCISCO | SÃO PAULO | SHANGHAI | SINGAPORE | TOKYO | TORONTO | WASHINGTON, DC |
SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP IS A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZED IN THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WHICH LAWS LIMIT THE PERSONAL LIABILITY OF PARTNERS.
June 25, 2009
Page 2
(a) The Indenture.
(b) A specimen of the Debt Securities.
The documents described in the foregoing clauses (a) and (b) of this paragraph are together referred to herein as the Opinion Documents.
We have also reviewed the following:
(a) The Registration Statement.
(b) The Prospectus.
(c) Originals or copies of such other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Company and agreements and other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.
In our review of the Opinion Documents and other documents, and otherwise for the purposes of this opinion, we have assumed:
(a) The genuineness of all signatures.
(b) The authenticity of the originals of the documents submitted to us.
(c) The conformity to authentic originals of any documents submitted to us as copies.
(d) As to matters of fact, the truthfulness of the representations made in the Opinion Documents and in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company.
(e) That the Opinion Documents are the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, other than the Company, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms.
(f) That:
(i) The Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
June 25, 2009
Page 3
(ii) The Company has the full power to execute, deliver and perform, and has duly executed and delivered, the Opinion Documents to which it is a party.
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Opinion Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) and do not:
(A) contravene its articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents;
(B) violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to it; or
(C) result in any conflict with or breach of any agreement or document binding on it.
(iv) No authorization, approval, consent or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery or performance by any of the Company of any of the Opinion Documents to which it is a party or, if any such authorization, approval, consent, action, notice or filing is required, it has been duly obtained, taken, given or made and is in full force and effect.
We have not independently established the validity of the foregoing assumptions.
Generally Applicable Law means the federal law of the United States of America, and the law of the State of New York (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or the transactions governed by the Opinion Documents. The term Generally Applicable Law does not include any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Opinion Documents or such transactions solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to the specific assets or business of any party to any of the Opinion Documents or any of its affiliates.
Based upon the foregoing and upon such other investigation as we have deemed necessary and subject to the assumptions and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that,
June 25, 2009
Page 4
1. The Indenture, when duly executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
2. When (i) the final terms of the Debt Securities have been duly established and approved and (ii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof, the Debt Securities will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms thereof and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
3. When (i) the necessary corporate actions have been taken by the Company to authorize the form, terms, execution and delivery of the Warrants, including the adoption of a Warrant Agreement relating thereto, and (ii) Warrants with such terms are duly executed and delivered against payment in the manner provided for in the Warrant Agreement pursuant to which the Warrants are to be executed and delivered and such Warrants have been countersigned by the applicable Warrant Agent, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
(a) Our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers).
(b) Our opinions in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above are also subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(c) Our opinions are limited to Generally Applicable Law, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.
This opinion letter is rendered to you in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
This opinion letter speaks only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise you of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact, that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinions expressed therein.
June 25, 2009
Page 5
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus under the caption Validity of the Securities. In giving this consent, we do not hereby 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 Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Shearman & Sterling LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
June 25, 2009
The Board of Directors
Photronics,
Inc.
15 Secor Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Gentlemen:
I am Associate General Counsel of Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut Company (the Company), and I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the Registration Statement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the offering from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), of (i) common shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (Common Shares), (ii) preferred shares, $.01 par value, of the Company (Preferred Shares), (iii) one or more series of debt securities of the Company (the Debt Securities,), and (iv) warrants to purchase Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Debt Securities (the Warrants and together with the Common Shares, the Preferred Shares and the Debt Securities, the Offered Securities). The offering of the Offered Securities will be as set forth in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement (the Prospectus), as supplemented by one or more supplements to the Prospectus.
In rendering this opinion, I have examined the Registration Statement. I have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of those documents and instruments filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, such corporate records of the Company, certificates or documents and have made such other investigations and reviewed such questions of law as I have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering this opinion.
In the examination of the foregoing and in rendering this opinion, I have assumed the genuineness, without independent investigation, of all signatures on all documents, the legal capacity of each signatory to such documents, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted for my examination as copies and the authenticity of all such documents.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications hereinafter set forth, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Common Shares have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when: (a) final resolutions shall have been duly adopted pursuant to authority granted by the Companys Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, authorizing the issuance and sale of the Common Shares, in conformity with the Companys Articles of Incorporation (the Articles), and the Common Shares are issued in a manner consistent therewith and assuming the Company shall have such number of Common Shares as are included in such offering or sale authorized and available for issuance; (b) the certificates, if any, representing the Common Shares in the form of the specimen certificate examined by me shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered; and (c) such Common Shares shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.
2. The Preferred Shares have been duly authorized and will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when: (a) final resolutions shall have been duly adopted pursuant to authority granted by the Companys Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, authorizing the issuance and sale of the Preferred Shares, in conformity with the Articles, and the Preferred Shares are issued in a manner consistent therewith and assuming the Company shall have such number of Preferred Shares as are included in such offering or sale authorized and available for issuance; (b) all corporate action necessary for the issuance and sale of the shares of Preferred Shares has been taken, including the adoption and filing of an amendment to the Articles relating thereto; (c) the certificates, if any, representing the Preferred Shares shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered; and (d) such Preferred Shares shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor.
3. The Debt Securities and Warrants have been duly authorized.
This opinion is limited to matters of the laws of the State of Connecticut and United States federal law. Accordingly, I express no opinion as to the law of any other domestic or foreign jurisdiction. This opinion is rendered as of the date hereof and I assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion to reflect any circumstances which may hereafter come to my attention with respect to such opinion and statements set forth above, including any changes in applicable law which may hereafter occur. Furthermore, this opinion is limited to the opinions expressly stated herein. No implication shall be drawn from anything herein that has the effect of extending any such opinion beyond what is expressly stated in such opinion.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of my name under the heading Validity of the Securities in the Prospectus.
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Richelle E. Burr |
Associate General Counsel Photronics, Inc. |
2
EXHIBIT 12
PHOTRONICS, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO
FIXED
CHARGES
(in thousands, except ratio
data)
Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year | Fiscal Year | Six Months | ||||||||||||||||
Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | ||||||||||||||||
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | May 3, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
Earnings | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before | |||||||||||||||||||||
income taxes, minority interest in income of | |||||||||||||||||||||
consolidated subsidiaries and equity in income of | |||||||||||||||||||||
equity method investees | $ | 41,045 | $ | 55,345 | $ | 45,230 | $ | 23,848 | $ | (212,358 | ) | $ | (19,079 | ) | |||||||
Fixed charges, per below | 15,581 | 11,873 | 12,887 | 7,026 | 13,245 | 9,403 | |||||||||||||||
Amortization of capitalized interest | 588 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 109 | 49 | |||||||||||||||
Capitalized interest | (200 | ) | (550 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total earnings, as defined | $ | 57,214 | $ | 67,289 | $ | 58,188 | $ | 30,745 | $ | (199,554 | ) | $ | (9,627 | ) | |||||||
Fixed charges | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expensed and capitalized | $ | 12,249 | $ | 9,016 | $ | 10,328 | $ | 4,984 | $ | 11,757 | $ | 7,551 | |||||||||
Amortization and capitalized expenses related to | |||||||||||||||||||||
indebtedness | 2,474 | 1,869 | 1,588 | 1,146 | 671 | 1,525 | |||||||||||||||
Rental expense, representative of interest | 858 | 988 | 971 | 896 | 817 | 327 | |||||||||||||||
Total fixed charges, as defined | $ | 15,581 | $ | 11,873 | $ | 12,887 | $ | 7,026 | $ | 13,245 | $ | 9,403 | |||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) | 3.7x | 5.7x | 4.5x | 4.4x | | |
(1) | Earnings before fixed charges were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $212.8 million for the fiscal year ended November 2, 2008 and by $19.0 million for the six-months ended May 3, 2009. |
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 our reports dated January 14, 2009, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Photronics, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company), and the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Photronics, Inc. and subsidiaries for the year ended November 2, 2008, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Stamford, CT
June 23, 2009
FORM T-1 |
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
Washington, D.C. 20549 |
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY |
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A |
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE |
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE |
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO |
SECTION 305(b)(2) |__| |
____________________ |
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON |
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter) |
New York | 13-5160382 |
(State of incorporation | (I.R.S. employer |
if not a U.S. national bank) | identification no.) |
One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. | 10286 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
____________________
PHOTRONICS,
INC.
(Exact name of
obligor as specified in its charter
)
Connecticut | 16-1387862 |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization) | identification no.) |
15 Secor Road | |
Brookfield, Connecticut | 06804 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
____________________
Debt
Securities
(Title of the indenture securities
)
1. | General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee: | |||
(a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. | |||
Name | Address |
Superintendent of Banks of the State of | One State Street, New York, N.Y. |
New York | 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. |
12223 | |
Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. |
10045 | |
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | Washington, D.C. 20429 |
New York Clearing House Association | New York, New York 10005 |
(b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. | |||
Yes. | ||||
2. | Affiliations with Obligor. | |||
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. | ||||
None. | ||||
16. | List of Exhibits. | |||
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Act") and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d). | ||||
1. | A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735). | |||
4. |
A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195). |
|||
6. |
The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735). |
|||
7. |
A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
- 2 -
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 23rd day of June, 2009.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON | |||
By: | /S/ | SHERMA THOMAS | |
Name: | SHERMA THOMAS | ||
Title: | ASSISTANT TREASURER |
- 3 -
EXHIBIT 7 |
Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.
10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2009, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.
Dollar Amounts | ||
ASSETS | In Thousands | |
Cash and balances due from depository | ||
institutions: | ||
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency | ||
and coin | 3,141,000 | |
Interest-bearing balances | 66,775,000 | |
Securities: | ||
Held-to-maturity securities | 6,949,000 | |
Available-for-sale securities | 26,839,000 | |
Federal funds sold and securities purchased | ||
under agreements to resell: | ||
Federal funds sold in domestic offices | 1,007,000 | |
Securities purchased under agreements to | ||
resell | 72,000 | |
Loans and lease financing receivables: | ||
Loans and leases held for sale | 0 | |
Loans and leases, net of unearned | ||
income | 31,311,000 | |
LESS: Allowance for loan and | ||
lease losses | 418,000 | |
Loans and leases, net of unearned | ||
income and allowance | 30,893,000 | |
Trading assets | 8,140,000 | |
Premises and fixed assets (including | ||
capitalized leases) | 1,129,000 | |
Other real estate owned | 8,000 | |
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries | ||
and associated companies | 796,000 | |
Not applicable | ||
Intangible assets: | ||
Goodwill | 4,878,000 | |
Other intangible assets | 1,546,000 | |
Other assets | 10,833,000 | |
Total assets | 163,006,000 |
I, Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Thomas P. Gibbons, | |
Chief Financial Officer |
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
Gerald L. Hassell | |||
Robert P. Kelly | Directors | ||
Catherine A. Rein |