SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 16, 2016

 


 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

001-36878

20-8627710

(State or other jurisdiction

(Commission File No.)

(I.R.S. Employer ID No.)

of incorporation)    

 

813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100

Birmingham, Alabama 35209

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (205) 313-8100

 

 

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

 


 

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

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 
 

 

 

Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

Underwriting Agreement – Public Offering of Subordinated Notes

 

On May 16, 2016, National Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Company, National Bank of Commerce, a national banking association and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a Stifel Company (the “Underwriter”), for the issuance and sale by the Company of $25 million aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Notes”). The Company registered the offering and sale of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-210687) (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which became effective on May 9, 2016, and a related prospectus supplement dated May 16, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on May 17, 2016. The closing of the issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes is expected to occur on May 19, 2016.

   

The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be approximately $24.6 million, after giving effect to the underwriting discount and estimated expenses of the offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, including financing organic growth and investments in, or acquisitions of, bank and non-bank financial services companies.  

 

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company. It also provides for customary indemnification by each of the Company and the Underwriter against certain liabilities arising out of or in connection with the sale of the Notes.

 

The foregoing summary of the Underwriting Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

Subordinated Notes – Supplemental Indenture

 

The Notes will be issued under an Indenture dated May 19, 2016 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2016, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The terms of the Notes are set forth in the Indenture, which will govern the Notes.

 

Unless previously redeemed, the Notes will bear interest (i) from, and including, the initial date of issuance to, but excluding, June 1, 2021 at a fixed rate equal to 6.0% per year, and (ii) from, and including, June 1, 2021 to the stated maturity date, at a floating rate equal to the three-month LIBOR determined on the determination date of the applicable interest period plus 479 basis points. Interest on the Notes will be payable on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2016, through June 1, 2021, and thereafter on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year through the stated maturity date or earlier redemption date. The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, after June 1, 2021, and in whole but not in part upon the occurrence of certain events, in each case at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

There will be no right of acceleration of maturity of the Notes in the case of default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes or in the performance of any other obligation of the Company under the Indenture or other security issued by the Company. The Indenture will provide that holders of the Notes may accelerate payment of indebtedness only upon the Company’s insolvency, receivership, conservatorship, reorganization or similar proceedings, or if there is a liquidation or winding up of the Company’s business.

 

The Notes will represent unsecured, subordinated obligations of the Company and will rank: (i) junior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to any existing and all future senior indebtedness of the Company; (ii) equally in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation with any future unsecured indebtedness of the Company the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with the Notes; and (iii) senior in right of payment and upon the Company’s liquidation to any indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior to the Notes. In addition, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and will be effectively subordinated to all of the existing and future indebtedness, deposits and other liabilities and preferred equity of the Company’s current and future subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the Company’s bank subsidiary’s liabilities to its depositors, liabilities to general creditors and liabilities arising during the ordinary course or otherwise.

 

The foregoing summaries of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes are not complete, and are each qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete text of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the form of Note, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

 

 
 

 

 

Item 2.03

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

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)          Exhibits

 

Exhibit No .

Description

   

1.1

Underwriting Agreement dated May 16, 2016 by and among National Commerce Corporation, National Bank of Commerce and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
   

4.1

Indenture dated May 19, 2016 between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.

   

4.2

First Supplemental Indenture dated May 19, 2016, between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.

   

4.3

Form of 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due June 1, 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.2).
   

5.1

Opinion of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. regarding legality of securities being registered.

   

12.1

Computation of Ratios of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges.

   

23.1

Consent of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

 
 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

May 19, 2016

 

/s/  William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 
 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit No .

Description

   

1.1

Underwriting Agreement dated May 16, 2016 by and among National Commerce Corporation, National Bank of Commerce and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
   

4.1

Indenture dated May 19, 2016 between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.

   

4.2

First Supplemental Indenture dated May 19, 2016, between National Commerce Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar.

   

4.3

Form of 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Note due June 1, 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.2).
   

5.1

Opinion of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. regarding legality of securities being registered.

   

12.1

Computation of Ratios of Consolidated Earnings to Fixed Charges.

   

23.1

Consent of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

   

Exhibit 1.1

   

 

$25,000,000

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

May 16, 2016

 

 

KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.

as Representative of the Underwriter

c/o Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

787 Seventh Avenue

4th Floor

New York, New York 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

National Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the underwriter named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriter ”), for whom you are acting as representative (the “ Representative ”), and the Underwriter agrees to purchase pursuant to this Underwriting Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), an aggregate of $25,000,000 of the Company’s 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “ Securities ”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture thereto relating to the Securities, to be dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and the Trustee (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”).

 

The Company has prepared and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-210687) pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), including a base prospectus registering the offer and sale from time to time of certain securities, including the Securities, under the 1933 Act (the “ Base Prospectus ”). Such registration statement, including all pre-effective amendments thereto and all post-effective amendments filed before execution of this Agreement and the information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein at such time by the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “ 1933 Act Regulations ”) is referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement .” From and after the date and time of filing of any registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (a “ Rule 462(b) Registration Statement ”), the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Company has also filed, or proposes to file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 424(b) ”) a preliminary prospectus supplement specifically relating to the offer and sale of the Securities and containing the Base Prospectus, which is hereinafter called the “ Preliminary Prospectus ,” and the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “ Pricing Prospectus .” The “ Pricing Disclosure Package ” means the Pricing Prospectus, together with any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), when considered together as of 3:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement (the “ Applicable Time ”). Any “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means (i) the Term Sheet (as defined below) and (ii) any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in clause (h)(i) of Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”)) relating to the Securities, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the records of the Company pursuant to Rule 433(g). The “ Term Sheet ” means a pricing term sheet substantially in the form of Schedule III hereto. The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the final prospectus supplement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities in the form first furnished to the Underwriter for use in confirming sales of the Securities, are collectively referred to herein as the “ Prospectus .” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”).

 

 
 

 

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules, exhibits and other information which are incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the execution of this Agreement; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, after the execution of this Agreement.

 

Section 1.

 

(a)     The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, if any, as follows:

 

(i)     At the time the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission and at the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, the Company met the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act.

 

 
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(ii)     The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became effective upon filing; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any post-effective amendments thereto, has been issued, no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information from the Company has been satisfied in all material respects; at the time of filing the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined under Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“ Rule 405 ”).

 

(iii)     (A) Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ 1939 Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act, and did not, does not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (B) the Prospectus (including any prospectus wrapper) as of its date, did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the representations and warranties in clauses (A) and (B) above shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any post-effective amendments thereto, the Prospectus or the Pricing Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information provided by the Underwriter is that identified as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission. Each Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and each Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriter for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(iv)     The Pricing Disclosure Package (including any prospectus wrapper), as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representative in writing, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated therein by reference, and each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information provided by the Underwriter is that identified as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

 
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(v)     The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure so to qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse change, or any development that would be expected to result in a material adverse change, on the general affairs, condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, prospects, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity, assets, liabilities or results of operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

(vi)     Each subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405) of the Company (each, a “ Subsidiary ”), has been duly incorporated (or organized) and is validly existing as a corporation or other organization (or, in the case of National Bank of Commerce (the “ Bank ”), as a national banking association in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation (or organization), with power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation (or other organization) for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which its owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock (or other ownership interests) of each Subsidiary has been duly and validly authorized and issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the Subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

(vii)     All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through one or more other Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equitable right. None of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary were issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any shareholder of the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, arising by operation of law, or under the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary or under any agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party.

 

 
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(viii)     The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock and consolidated long term debt ( i.e. , a maturity greater than one year) of the Company as of March 31, 2016 is as set forth in the Prospectus under “Capitalization.” There have not been any subsequent issuances of capital stock of the Company since such date (except issuances of common stock pursuant to exercises of stock options under the Company’s incentive compensation plans that were adopted or assumed prior to such date). There have been no long-term borrowings by the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries since such date.

 

(ix)     As of the Closing Date the Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute a valid, legal and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity). The Indenture has been, and at the Closing Date will be, duly qualified under the 1939 Act. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor as provided for in this Agreement, will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); the Securities will be in the form contemplated by, and will be entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture.

 

(x)     This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(xi)     The Company and each Subsidiary has been and is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, all applicable regulations and orders of, or agreements with, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve ”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“ FDIC ”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “ OCC ”), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act (the “ CRA ”), the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, all other applicable fair lending laws or other laws relating to discrimination, Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “ Bank Secrecy Act ”), and the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency), except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 
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(xii)     The issue and sale of the Securities, the execution of this Agreement by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject, except for conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults as would not be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other organization documents) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the 1933 Act of the Securities and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriter.

 

(xiii)     Porter Keadle Moore, LLC, which has certified the financial statements (which term when used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto), filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, of the Company and the Subsidiaries, are (i) independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“ PCAOB ”), (ii) in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X under the 1933 Act and (iii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn.

 

(xiv)     The financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries on the basis stated in the Registration Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“ GAAP ”) consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein; and the selected financial data, the summary financial data and the capitalization information included in the Pricing Disclosure Package present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements included in the Registration Statement.

 

 
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(xv)     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, earthquakes, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (A) there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, (B) there has not been any material adverse change, or any development that could be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, operations, assets, liabilities or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise (a “ Material Adverse Change ”), (C) there have been no transactions entered into by, and no obligations or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, incurred by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, which are material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise and (D) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(xvi)     Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is party or subject to, or has received any written notice that any of them may or will become subject or party to any investigation with respect to, any cease-and-desist order, written agreement, consent agreement, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that in any material respect (considered on a consolidated basis) currently relates to or restricts the conduct of their business or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy, their credit policies or their management (each, a “ Regulatory Agreement ”), nor has the Company or any of the Subsidiaries been advised in writing by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any examination of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. As used herein, the term “ Regulatory Agency ” means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depository institutions, or holding companies of depository institutions, or engaged in the insurance of depository institution deposits, or engaged in the regulation and enforcement of consumer financial services, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other federal or state governmental agency, authority or instrumentality having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

 
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(xvii)     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is (A) in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other organization documents), (B) in violation of any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (C) in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, except, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), where any such violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xviii)     Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all real and personal property owned by it, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any Subsidiary; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary are held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(xix)     Other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or the Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or would prevent or impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

 

(xx)     The Company and each Subsidiary possesses all permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “ Permits ”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the businesses now operated by them; the Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Permits and all of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except, in each case, where the failure so to comply or where the invalidity of such Permits or the failure of such Permits to be in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or material modification of any such Permits.

 

(xxi)     The Company and each Subsidiary owns or possesses all inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), trade names, service names, service marks, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned or licensed by any of them or which is necessary for the conduct of, or material to, any of their respective businesses (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”), and the Company is unaware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Intellectual Property; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has infringed or is infringing the intellectual property of a third party, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of a claim by a third party to the contrary.

 

 
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(xxii)     No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or the Subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent. The Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any Subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxiii)     The Company and each Subsidiary is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged, including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and each Subsidiary against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the Company has no reason to believe that either it or any Subsidiary will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxiv)     The Company and each Subsidiary has made and keeps books, records and accounts, which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement is in conformity with GAAP and is updated as necessary to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(xxv)     Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus, (A) the Company has not been advised of (1) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls, or (2) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries, and (B) there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 
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(xxvi)     The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act), which (A) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the 1934 Act are being prepared; (B) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (C) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

(xxvii)     All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and the Subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law, except insofar as the failure to file such returns, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any Subsidiary except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined.

 

(xxviii)     There are no statutes, regulations, documents or contracts of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required.

 

(xxix)     There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any Subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

 

(xxx)     All of the information provided to the Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities is true, complete, correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules, and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct.

 

(xxxi)     Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any statute or any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, production, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “ environmental laws ”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

 

 
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(xxxii)     Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary for employees or former employees of the Company and its affiliates has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). No “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any such plan, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such employee benefit plan were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, the Subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan,” or (B) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(xxxiii)     There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

(xxxiv)     There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.

   

(xxxv)     The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

 

 
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(xxxvi)     The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date and completion of distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering materials in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities, other than the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and, subject to compliance with Section 3(a)(iv), (xiv)and (xv) hereof, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(xxxvii)     The statistical, market and industry-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from sources to the extent required.

 

(xxxviii)     The Securities will conform, in all material respects, to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package.

 

(xxxix)     Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(xl)     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any Subsidiary (A) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (B) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any domestic government official, “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”) or employee from corporate funds; (C) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA or any applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery statute or regulation; or (D) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any domestic government official, such foreign official or employee; and the Company and the Subsidiaries and the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(xli)     The operations of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries are, and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

 
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(xlii)     Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, or any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that currently is the subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(xliii)     Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(xliv)     Each financial or operational projection or other “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the 1933 Act or Section 21E of the 1934 Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (A) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances, and (B) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading.

 

(xlv)     Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

(xlvi)     The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and meets in all material respects the applicable requirements for qualification as such. The Company is a “financial holding company” as such term is defined in 12 C.F.R. § 225.81. The activities of the Subsidiaries are permitted of subsidiaries of bank holding companies and financial holding companies under applicable law and the rules and regulations of the Federal Reserve set forth in Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Bank holds the requisite authority to do business as a national banking association with banking powers under the laws and regulations administered by the OCC. The Bank has been duly chartered and is validly existing as a national banking association. The Bank is the only depository institution Subsidiary of the Company and the Bank is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The activities of the Bank are permitted under the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of organization.

 

 
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(xlvii)     The Company and the Bank have no knowledge of any facts and circumstances, and has no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, that would cause the Bank: (A) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the CRA and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of lower than “satisfactory”; or (B) to be deemed to be operating in violation, in any material respect, of the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by OFAC or any other anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation.

 

(xlviii)     Since January 1, 2013, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries have filed all material reports, registrations and statements, together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the OCC, and any other applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities, except where the failure to file any such report, registration or statement would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All such reports and statements filed with any such regulatory body or authority are collectively referred to herein as the “ Company Reports .” As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied as to form in all material respects with all the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the OCC and any other applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities, as the case may be.

 

(xlix)     As of March 31, 2016, the Bank met or exceeded the standards necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the FDIC’s regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

 

(l)     Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or subject to any formal agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or order issued by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the OCC or any other bank regulatory authority that imposes any restrictions or requirements not generally applicable to bank holding companies or commercial banks.

 

(li)     Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Bank and each of its subsidiaries has properly administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary, including accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor, in accordance with the terms of the governing documents, applicable federal and state law and regulation and common law. Neither the Bank nor any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees has committed any breach of trust or fiduciary duty with respect to any such fiduciary account that would reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the accountings for each such fiduciary account are true and correct and accurately reflect the assets of such fiduciary account.

 

(lii)     The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to the legal maximum, the Bank has paid all premiums and assessments required by the FDIC and the regulations thereunder and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

 
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(liii)     Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such contract or agreement, which threat of termination or non-renewal has not been rescinded as of the date hereof.

 

(liv)     The Company has complied with, and is in compliance with, the provisions of that certain Florida act relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as Section 517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations thereunder or is exempt therefrom.

 

(lv)     Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, no Subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such Subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other Subsidiary.

 

The Company has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1(a). The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriter, may rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

(b)     The Bank represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(i)     The Bank has been duly chartered and is validly existing as a national banking association and has been duly qualified as a foreign bank for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where failure to qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)     Neither the Bank nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or governing documents or (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Bank or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries is subject (collectively, the “ Bank Instruments ”), except where any such default, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 
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(iii)     The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Bank, compliance by the Bank with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will not contravene, conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any Bank Instrument, nor does or will any such action contravene, conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of the articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Bank or any statute, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental entity having jurisdiction over the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties.

 

The Bank has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1(b). The Bank acknowledges that the Underwriter and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 5 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriter, may rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

Section 2.

 

(a)     Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company, the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto, at a purchase price equal to 98.75% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (the “ Purchase Price ”).

 

(b)     It is understood that the Underwriter proposes to offer the Securities for sale to the public upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

(c)     Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made not later than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on May 19, 2016, or at such time on such later date not more than five Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representative shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representative and the Company (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “ Closing Date ”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Underwriter against payment by the Underwriter of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Such payment shall be made against delivery, at such time, of one or more global notes representing the Securities to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, to be held initially for the account of the Underwriter.

 

Section 3.

 

(a)     The Company further covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

 

 
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(i)     Prior to the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement (which the Representative will promptly confirm orally to the Company), the Company will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (A) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (B) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or for additional information, (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (E) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act. With respect to the Securities, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B of the 1933 Act Regulations, will prepare the Prospectus in the form approved by the Representative, will effect the filings required under Rule 424(b) in the manner and within the time period specified therein (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such Prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other order impairing the offer and sale of the Securities and, if any stop order or other order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof as soon as possible.

 

(ii)     During the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations or any similar rule), the Company (A) will furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed time of filing of any proposed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, a copy of each such amendment or supplement, and (B) will not amend or supplement the Registration Statement without the Representative’s prior written consent. Prior to amending or supplementing any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the time of filing or use of the proposed amendment or supplement, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement. The Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Representative’s prior written consent. The Company shall file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such rule.

 

(iii)     The Company will prepare the Term Sheet, containing solely a description of the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, and after affording the Representative the opportunity to comment thereon, file the Term Sheet with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

 

 
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(iv)     The Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without the Representative’s prior written consent. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company as such Underwriter may reasonably request. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172) in connection with sales of the Securities (but in any event if at any time through and including the Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representative’s prior written consent.

 

(v)     The Company will use its best efforts to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities, provided that nothing in this Section 3(a)(v) shall require the Company to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not already so qualified or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

 

(vi)     The Company has delivered to the Underwriter, without charge, as many written and electronic copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, prior to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the 1933 Act, such number of written and electronic copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriter will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

 
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(vii)     The Company will make generally available (within the meaning of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act) to its security holders and to the Representative as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the end of its fiscal quarter in which the first anniversary date of the effective date of the Registration Statement occurs, an earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

(viii)     The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Pricing Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(ix)     The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and paying agent for the Securities.

 

(x)     The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the 1933 Act or any similar rule), file on a timely basis with the Commission and the Nasdaq Global Select Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the 1934 Act.

 

(xi)     The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Securities in such a manner as would require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

(xii)     If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company will file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement, and at the time of filing either to pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or to give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111 under the 1933 Act Regulations.

 

(xiii)     If so requested by the Representative, the Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one (1) business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to the Representative an “electronic Prospectus” to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. As used herein, the term “electronic Prospectus” means a form of Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (A) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the Representative and the other Underwriter to offerees and purchasers of the Securities, (B) it shall disclose the same information as such paper Preliminary Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and (C) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow investors to store and have continuously ready access to such Preliminary Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus at any future time, without charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet generally). The Company hereby confirms that, if so requested by the Representative, it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed with the Commission an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of such paper Preliminary Prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus to such investor or representative.

 

 
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(xiv)     The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representative, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405, other such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representative is listed on Schedule II hereto.

 

(xv)     The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending; the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic “road show” (as defined in Rule 433).

 

(xvi)     During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date or the date on which the Underwriter receives full payment in satisfaction of any claim for indemnification or contribution to which they may be entitled pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement, neither the Company nor the Bank shall, without the prior written consent of the Representative, take or permit to be taken any action that could result in the Bank’s common stock becoming subject to any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien or encumbrance; provided, that this covenant shall not prevent the Company from pledging or otherwise encumbering the Bank’s common stock in connection with the establishment of a Company-level credit facility or line of credit, and, provided further, that this covenant shall be null and void if the Federal Reserve, the FDIC or any federal or state bank regulator or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Bank, by regulation, policy statement or interpretive release or by written order or written advice addressed to the Bank and specifically addressing the provisions of Section 7 hereof, permits indemnification of the Underwriter by the Bank as contemplated by such provisions.

 

Section 4.      The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter that, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors; (ii) filing fees and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriter and dealers; (iii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iv) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 3(a)(v), including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (v) all costs and expenses incurred by the Underwriter in connection with determining its compliance with the rules and regulations of FINRA related to the Underwriter’s participation in the offering and distribution of the Securities, including any related filing fees and the legal fees of, and disbursements by, counsel to the Underwriter; (vi) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates representing the Securities to the Underwriter, including any transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriter; (vii) the cost and charges of any registrar or paying agent; (ix) the transportation and other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company undertaken in connection with the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show and travel and lodging expenses of the representatives, employees and officers of the Company and (ix) and all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 4.

 

 
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Section 5.      The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder to purchase the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)     The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the 1933 Act and in accordance with Section 3(a)(i) hereof; all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433 under the 1933 Act; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or the Prospectus or any part thereof, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission or any state securities commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representative’s reasonable satisfaction.

 

(b)     The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date and the Company shall have complied with all agreements and all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)     Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of (i) any downgrading, (ii) any intended or potential downgrading, or (iii) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded to the Securities by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Inc.

 

 
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(d)     (i) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (A) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (B) there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representative so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities being delivered at such Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus.

 

(e)     The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of two executive officers of the Company, at least one of whom has specific knowledge about the Company’s financial matters, satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect (A) set forth in Section 5(b) (with respect to the respective representations, warranties, agreements and conditions of the Company) and Section 5(c), (B) that none of the situations set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 5(d) shall have occurred and (C) that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and, to the knowledge of the Company, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated by the Commission.

 

(f)     Porter Keadle Moore, LLC shall have furnished to the Representative a letter, dated the date of this Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(g)     On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received from Porter Keadle Moore, LLC a letter, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter or letters furnished pursuant to Section 5(f), except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be not more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

 

(h)     On the Closing Date, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C., counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative its favorable written opinion, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel for the Underwriter may reasonably request.

 

(i)     On the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company with respect to certain financial matters regarding the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and to such further effect as counsel for the Underwriter may reasonably request.

 

 
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(j)     On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the opinion of Covington & Burling LLP, counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, dated as of such date.

 

(k)     FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and conditions.

 

(l)     On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative shall reasonably request.

 

(m)     On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by any of federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities being delivered at such Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 9, by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in Section 4, Section 7 and Section 9.

 

Section 6.      This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

 

Section 7.      (a) The Company and the Bank jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Term Sheet any free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the 1933 Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, as originally filed or any amendment thereof, the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter is the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

 
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(b)     The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, as originally filed or any amendment thereof, the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof, or any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information in the Prospectus contained in the last paragraph on the cover page concerning the terms of the offering and the third sentence of the sixth paragraph and the first and fifth sentences of the seventh paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

 

 
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(c)     Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) hereof of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such Section, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnified party). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, which counsel, in the event of indemnified parties under Section 7(a), shall be selected by the Representative. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)     If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other from the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriter on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

 
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The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. The obligations of the Company and the Bank in this Section 7(d) to contribute are joint and several. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)     The obligations of the parties to this Agreements contained in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

Section 8.      Notwithstanding anything herein contained, this Agreement may be terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 9, in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice given to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (a) trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental or regulatory authority, (b) trading of any securities of or guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (c) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities or a new restriction materially adversely affecting the distribution of the Securities shall have become effective, (d) there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions or (e) there has occurred any other Material Adverse Change, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable to market the Securities to be delivered on the Closing Date or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities.

 

 
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If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 8, such termination will be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and Section 9 hereof; provided that the provisions of Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

Section 9.

 

(a)     The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriter set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

 

(b)     If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5 or Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of any of the Securities by the Underwriter is not consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 4, the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriter pursuant to Section 6 and the provisions of Section 9 shall remain in effect and, if any Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 1 and all obligations under Section 4, Section 5 and Section 7 shall also remain in effect.

 

(c)     If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriter under Section 5 or Section 8 or otherwise because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any condition of the Underwriter’s obligations cannot be fulfilled, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

Section 10.      The Underwriter covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) a “free writing prospectus” prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not, but for such actions, be required to be filed by the Company under Rule 433(d).

 

Section 11.      This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company, the Bank and the Underwriter. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. No purchaser of Securities from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

Section 12.      All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt thereof by the recipient if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriter shall be given to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., 787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10019, (fax no.: (212) 582-1592); Attention: General Counsel. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at National Commerce Corporation, 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 (fax no.: (205) 313-2141); Attention: William E. Matthews, V.

 

 
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Section 13.      This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 14.      THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO SUCH STATE’S PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

 

Section 15.

 

(a)     The parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction of and venue in the state and federal courts located in the City of New York, New York, in connection with any dispute related to this Agreement or any transaction or other matter contemplated hereby.

 

(b)     The Company and the Bank acknowledge and agree that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Bank on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, the Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or the Bank or their shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Bank with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or the Bank on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company or the Bank except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, and (iv) the Company and the Bank have consulted their own legal and financial advisors to the extent that they have deemed appropriate. The Company and the Bank agree that each will not claim that the Underwriter, or any of them, have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or the Bank, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

(c)     The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 
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(d)     Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriter imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

(e)     This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Bank and the Underwriter with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(f)     The Company, the Bank and the Underwriter hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 
29

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument will become a binding agreement among the Company, the Bank and the Underwriter.

 

  Very truly yours,  
     

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

Name: William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

Title: Vice Chairman and CFO

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

Name: William E. Matthews, V

 

 

 

Title: Vice Chairman and CFO

 

 

 

 

 

 

Company and Bank Signature Page

 

 

 

   

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representative in New York, New York as of the date first above written.

 

KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.  
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Lisa Schultz

 

 

Name: Lisa Schultz

 

 

Title:  Managing Director

 

 

 

Representative Signature Page

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

 

 

Underwriter

 

 

Aggregate Dollar

Amount of

Securities to be

Purchased

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 

 

$25,000,000

     

Total

 

  $25,000,000

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Pricing term sheet in substantially the form of Schedule III.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration Statement No. 333-210687

May 16, 2016

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

$25,000,000

6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026


 

FINAL TERM SHEET

 

Issuer:

National Commerce Corporation

   

Security:

6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Notes”)

   

Rating:*

BBB- (Kroll)

   

Principal Amount:

$25,000,000

   

Pricing Date:

May 16, 2016

   

Settlement Date:

May 19, 2016 (T+3)

   

Stated Maturity Date:

June 1, 2026

   

Interest Payment Dates:

Each June 1 and December 1, commencing December 1, 2016, through June 1, 2021, and thereafter March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year through the Stated Maturity Date, unless in any case previously redeemed.

   

Interest Payment Record Dates:

The interest payable on any fixed rate interest payment date will be paid to the holder in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the May 15 and November 15 (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding such fixed rate interest payment date. The interest payable on any floating rate interest payment date will be paid to the holder in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on the February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding such floating rate interest payment date.

   

Interest Rate:

Unless previously redeemed, the Notes will bear interest (i) from, and including, the settlement date to, but excluding, June 1, 2021, at a fixed rate equal to 6.0% per year and (ii) from, and including, June 1, 2021, at an annual floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR, as determined quarterly on the determination date for the applicable interest period, plus 479 basis points (4.79%).

 

 

 

 

Price to Public:

100% of Principal Amount

   

Underwriting Discount:

1.25% of Principal Amount

   

Net Proceeds to Issuer (after underwriting discount, but before expenses):

$24,687,500

   

Day Count Convention:

30/360 to but excluding June 1, 2021, and, thereafter, a 360-day year and the number of days actually elapsed.

   

Optional Redemption:

Subject to obtaining prior approval of the Federal Reserve, to the extent that such approval is then required, the Issuer may, at its option, beginning with the Interest Payment Date of June 1, 2021 and on any scheduled Interest Payment Date thereafter, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Any partial redemption will be made on a pro rata basis, by lot or by any other method that the trustee deems fair and appropriate.

   
  In addition, in certain circumstances the Issuer may have the option to redeem the Notes upon the occurrence of events described in the prospectus supplement under the heading “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption and Redemption Upon Special Events.”
   

Subordination:

The Notes will be subordinate in right of payment to all senior indebtedness of the Issuer as described in the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

   

Denominations:

$2,000 minimum denomination and $1,000 integral multiples thereof.

   

CUSIP/ISIN:

63546L AA0 / US63546LAA08

   

Sole Book-Running Manager:

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company

_________

* Note: A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating agency has its own methodology for assigning ratings and, accordingly, each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

 

 
Schedule III-2

 

 

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a preliminary prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and prospectus if you request it by calling Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. toll-free at (800) 966-1559.

 

 
Schedule III-3

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Opinion of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.

 

(i)     The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement as provided therein.

 

(ii)     The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in the State of Alabama.

 

(iii)     Each Subsidiary is a corporation or limited liability company validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign entity for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or limited liability company interests of each Subsidiary are owned by the Company, directly or through the Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, or other encumbrance.

 

(iv)     The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(v)     The Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(vi)     Subject to the Enforceability Exceptions defined below, the Indenture constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

 

(vii)     The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture and have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when the Securities have been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and issued and delivered by the Company against the purchase price therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions defined below.

 

 
A-1

 

 

(viii)     The Indenture and the Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and such descriptions are accurate in all material respects.

 

(ix)     The issue and sale of the Securities under the Underwriting Agreement, the execution of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not (A) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to us to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject, (B) result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other organizational documents) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (C) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body known to us as having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their properties.

 

(x)     No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except the registration under the 1933 Act of the Securities and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriter.

 

(xi)     To our knowledge, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other organizational documents), or (ii) in violation of any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or (iii) in violation of any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or (iv) in default in the performance of any obligation contained in any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound, except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), where any such violation or default, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xii)     Other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is the subject which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and, to our knowledge no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

 

 
A-2

 

 

(xiii)     The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all material Permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the businesses now operated by them; and, to our knowledge, the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Permits, and all of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect.

 

(xiv)     The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); all material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the 1933 Act has been filed with the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 433 under the 1933 Act; and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued under the 1933 Act, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.

 

(xv)     To our knowledge, there are no statutes or regulations that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that are not described as required.

 

(xvi)     The Registration Statement, on the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement as provided in Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act, and the Prospectus, as of the date thereof, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and with the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(xvii)     The statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes,” “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” and “Certain ERISA Considerations,” insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the laws, regulations, legal matters, agreements or other documents referred to therein, as of their respective dates and, with respect to the Prospectus, the date hereof, are accurate in all material respects and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein.

 

(xviii)     The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

 
A-3

 

 

In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, we have participated in discussions with your representatives and those of the Company and its independent accountants. On the basis of the information that we gained in the course of the performance of our representation of the Company in connection with these matters, we confirm to you that nothing that came to our attention in the course of such representation has caused us to believe that, insofar as relevant to the offering of the Securities:

 

(a)     the Registration Statement, as of its most recent effective date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(b)      the Prospectus, including any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or

 

(c)      any of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, as of the Applicable Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 
A-4

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate

 

1.      I, together with the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, am (a) responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial accounting and reporting for the Company and the Subsidiaries, (b) responsible for oversight and supervision of the Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ financial and accounting functions and staff, (c) knowledgeable about the internal accounting records and accounting practices, systems, policies and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries and (d) responsible for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements and related notes in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

2.     No consolidated financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to March 31, 2016 are available.

 

3.     I have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package. The financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package have been prepared in accordance with the Company’s applicable internal control over financial reporting processes and procedures and have been reviewed by the undersigned. The Circled Information (as defined below) fairly presents in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods indicated, to the extent that the Circled Information relates to the financial position and results of operations of the Company, and is not subject to material modifications or adjustments.

 

 

4.     I, or members of my staff who are responsible for the Company’s financial and accounting records, have reviewed each of the items identified on certain pages of the Pricing Disclosure Package attached hereto as Annex A (the “ Circled Information ”), and have compared those items to the Company’s accounting and corporate records, reports, books, schedules and analyses, and found each of them to be in agreement or verified the mathematical accuracy of the Circled Information that was derived from the data in such records. In each case, the Circled Information has been appropriately derived from the Company’s accounting and corporate records, reports books, schedules and analyses, fairly presents in all material respects the aforementioned information for the periods presented and is, as of the date of this certificate, a true and accurate statement or measurement of the data that it is intended to represent for the periods presented, in all material respects.

   

5.     As of the date hereof, there were no material changes in the Company’s capital stock, increases in long term debt, or decreases in total assets, deposits or allowance for loan losses or stockholders’ equity of the Company, as compared with amounts shown in the March 31, 2016 unaudited consolidated balance sheet included in the Pricing Prospectus, except for changes, increases or decreases that the Pricing Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur.

 

 
B-1 

 

 

6.     For the period from March 31, 2016 to the date hereof, there were no material decreases in consolidated net income, net interest income or noninterest income or any material increase in noninterest expense, income tax expense or the provision for loan losses, except in all instances for changes, increases or decreases that the Registration Statement discloses have occurred or may occur.

 

7.     No event has occurred or condition exists that gives me reason to doubt the accuracy of the information referenced in the numbered paragraphs above or in any of the financial information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package.

 

 

B-2

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

———

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of

May 19, 2016

 

———

DEBT SECURITIES

 

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

Trustee

 

 
 

 

 


 

CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET*

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act and Indenture

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

 

Indenture Section

§ 310(a)

 

10.04(a), 15.02

§ 310(b)

 

10.01(e), 10.04(b), 10.05(1), 15.02

§ 311(a)

 

10.01(e), 10.11, 15.02

§ 311(b)

 

10.01(e), 10.11, 15.02

§ 312

 

13.02(d), 15.02

§ 312(b)

 

10.10, 13.02(d), 15.02

§ 312(c)

 

10.10, 13.02(d), 15.02

§ 313

 

9.01(a), 15.02

§ 313(a)

 

9.01(a), 15.02

§ 313(b)

 

9.01(a), 15.02

§ 314

 

9.02, 15.01, 15.02

§ 314(e)

 

15.01(b), 15.02

§ 315(a)

 

10.02(b), 15.02

§ 315(b)

 

10.03, 15.02

§ 315(c)

 

10.02(a), 15.02

§ 315(d)

 

10.02(c), 15.02

§ 315(e)

 

7.08, 15.02

§ 316

 

15.02

§ 316(a)(1)

 

7.06, 15.02

§ 316(c)

 

13.02(d), 15.02

§ 317

 

15.02

§ 317(a)(1)

 

7.03, 15.02

§ 317(a)(2)

 

7.04, 15.02

§ 317(b)

 

6.03, 15.02

§ 318

 

15.02

 

*This cross-reference sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

 
 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS*

 

 

 

PAGE

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Definitions

1

 

ARTICLE II

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Terms of the Securities

8

Section 2.02

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

8

Section 2.03

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent

9

 

ARTICLE III

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

9

Section 3.02

Denominations

11

Section 3.03

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

11

Section 3.04

Temporary Securities

13

Section 3.05

Paying Agent and Registrar

14

Section 3.06

Transfer and Exchange

14

Section 3.07

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

17

Section 3.08

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

17

Section 3.09

Cancellation

18

Section 3.10

Computation of Interest

18

Section 3.11

Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities

18

Section 3.12

Judgments

19

Section 3.13

CUSIP Numbers

19

 

ARTICLE IV

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Applicability of Right of Redemption

19

Section 4.02

Selection of Securities to be Redeemed

19

Section 4.03

Notice of Redemption

20

Section 4.04

Deposit of Redemption Price

21

Section 4.05

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

21

Section 4.06

Securities Redeemed in Part

21

 

ARTICLE V

SINKING FUNDS

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Applicability of Sinking Fund

21

Section 5.02

Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation

21

Section 5.03

Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price

22

Section 5.04

Application of Sinking Fund Payment

22

 

ARTICLE VI

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

Section 6.01

Payments of Securities

23

Section 6.02

Maintenance of Offices and Agencies

23

Section 6.03

To Hold Payments in Trust

23

 

 
 

 

 

Section 6.04

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

24

Section 6.05

Compliance Certificate

25

Section 6.06

Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities

25

Section 6.07

Statement by Officers as to Default

25

 

ARTICLE VII

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Events of Default

25

Section 7.02

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

26

Section 7.03

Other Remedies

27

Section 7.04

Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact

28

Section 7.05

Priorities

28

Section 7.06

Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults

28

Section 7.07

Limitation on Suits

29

Section 7.08

Undertaking for Costs

29

Section 7.09

Remedies Cumulative

29

     

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Evidence of Action of Securityholders

30

Section 8.02

Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities

30

Section 8.03

Persons Deemed Owners

30

Section 8.04

Effect of Consents

31

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

 

 

Section 9.01

Reports by Trustee

31

Section 9.02

Reports by the Company

31

Section 9.03

Securityholders’ Lists

31

 

ARTICLE X

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 10.01

Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity

32

Section 10.02

Duties of Trustee

34

Section 10.03

Notice of Defaults

35

Section 10.04

Eligibility; Disqualification

35

Section 10.05

Resignation and Notice; Removal

35

Section 10.06

Successor Trustee by Appointment

36

Section 10.07

Successor Trustee by Merger

37

Section 10.08

Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate

37

Section 10.09

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

37

Section 10.10

Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders

38

Section 10.11

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

38

 

ARTICLE XI

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

38

Section 11.02

Discharge or Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations

39

Section 11.03

Repayment to Company

40

Section 11.04

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

40

Section 11.05

Deposits to Be Held in Escrow

40

 

 
 

 

 

Section 11.06

Application of Trust Money

41

Section 11.07

Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies

41

     

ARTICLE XII

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

 

Section 12.01

No Personal Liability

41

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

 

 

Section 13.01

Without Consent of Securityholders

42

Section 13.02

With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations

43

Section 13.03

Trustee Protected

44

Section 13.04

Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture

44

Section 13.05

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

45

Section 13.06

Conformity with TIA

45

 

ARTICLE XIV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 14.01

Agreement to Subordinate

45

Section 14.02

Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities

45

Section 14.03

No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

47

Section 14.04

Payments on Securities Permitted

47

Section 14.05

Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

48

Section 14.06

Notices to Trustee

48

Section 14.07

Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

48

Section 14.08

Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

48

Section 14.09

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

49

Section 14.10

Satisfaction and Discharge; Discharge and Covenant Defeasance

49

Section 14.11

Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

49

 

ARTICLE XV

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

 

 

Section 15.01

Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent

49

Section 15.02

Trust Indenture Act Controls

50

Section 15.03

Notices to the Company and Trustee

50

Section 15.04

Notices; Waiver of Notice

51

Section 15.05

Legal Holiday

51

Section 15.06

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

51

Section 15.07

Effects of Headings and Table of Contents

51

Section 15.08

Successors and Assigns

51

Section 15.09

Separability Clause

51

Section 15.10

Benefits of Indenture

51

Section 15.11

Counterparts Originals

52

Section 15.12

Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury

52

Section 15.13

Certain Tax Information

52

Section 15.14

USA Patriot Act

52

 

 
 

 

 

INDENTURE dated as of May 19, 2016, among NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “ Securities ”) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof for the benefit of each other and the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities (and, to the extent the provisions of Article XIV are applicable to the Securities of any series, the benefit of Senior Indebtedness with respect to the Securities of such series), each party agrees and covenants as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

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

 

(b) unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(c) 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

 

(d) references to “Article” or “Section” or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture.

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01 shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

 

Affiliate ,” with respect to any specified Person, shall mean 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.

 

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Security Custodian or other agent appointed pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any payment, tender, redemption, transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for the series of Securities all or part of which is evidenced by such Global Security that apply to such payment, tender, redemption, transfer or exchange.

 

 
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Authenticating Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.09.

 

Board of Directors ” shall mean either the board of directors of the Company or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

 

Board Resolution ” shall mean a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or by a committee of the Board of Directors to the extent that any such committee has been authorized by the Board of Directors to establish or approve the matters contemplated) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification. References to any matter in this Indenture being established in, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution shall include actions taken and matters established pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions.

 

Business Day ,” means, unless otherwise provided by the Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

Capital Stock ” shall mean:

 

(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

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

 

Company Order ” shall mean a written order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, any President, any Co-President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or Assistant Controller, the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office ,” or other similar term, shall mean the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, 10161 Centurion Parkway N., 2 nd Floor, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, 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 such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Covenant Defeasance ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.02.

 

Currency ” shall mean U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.

 

 
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Default ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 10.03.

 

Defaulted Interest ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b).

 

Depositary ” shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, each Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01(p) until one or more successor Depositaries shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

Designated Currency ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.12.

 

Discharged ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.02.

 

Event of Default ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Exchange Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Exchange Rate ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.01.

 

Floating Rate Security ” shall mean a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Foreign Currency ” shall mean a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.

 

GAAP ,” with respect to any computations required or permitted hereunder, shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time; provided, however if the Company is required by the SEC to adopt (or is permitted to adopt and so adopts) a different accounting framework, including but not limited to the International Financial Reporting Standards, “GAAP” shall mean such new accounting framework as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, in each case, those accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

 

Global Security ” shall mean any Security that evidences all or part of a series of Securities, issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depositary for such series or its nominee in accordance with Section 3.03 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 3.03(f) and any other legend required by the Depositary for such series.

 

Holder ” and “ Holder of Securities ” are defined under “Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder.”

 

Indebtedness ” shall mean:

 

(1) all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities for borrowed money, including overdrafts, foreign exchange contracts, currency exchange agreements, interest rate protection agreements, and any loans or advances from banks, or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, other than any account payable or other accrued current liability or obligation incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services;

 

(2) all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances;

 

(3) all obligations and liabilities in respect of leases required in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the Company’s balance sheet;

 

 
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(4) all obligations and other liabilities under any lease or related document in connection with the lease of real property which provides that the Company is contractually obligated to purchase or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and thereby guarantee a minimum residual value of the leased property to the lessor and the Company’s obligations under the lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase the leased property;

 

(5) all obligations with respect to an interest rate or other swap, cap or collar agreement or other similar instrument or agreement or foreign currency hedge, exchange, purchase agreement or other similar instrument or agreement;

 

(6) all direct or indirect guarantees or similar agreements in respect of, and the Company’s obligations or liabilities to purchase, acquire or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of others of the type described in clauses (1) through (5) above;

 

(7) any indebtedness or other obligations described in clauses (1) through (6) above secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance existing on property which is owned or held by the Company; and

 

(8) any and all refinancings, replacements, deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any indebtedness, obligation or liability of the kind described in clauses (1) through (7) above.

 

Indenture ” or “ this Indenture ” shall mean 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, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided, further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

Individual Securities ” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01(p).

 

interest ” shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, interest payable on any Securities, and with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

 

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

 

Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Maturity ,” with respect to any Security, shall mean the date on which the principal or an installment of principal of such Security shall become due and payable as therein and herein provided, whether by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

 
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Members ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.03(h).

 

non-payment default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.03(b) hereof.

 

Officer’s Certificate ” shall mean a certificate signed by any President, any Co-President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or any Assistant Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.01 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

Opinion of Counsel ” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by one or more legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company, or may be one or more other counsel that meets the requirements, to the extent applicable to such opinion, provided for in Section 15.01.

 

Optional Sinking Fund Payment ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Original Issue Discount Security ” shall mean any Security that is issued with “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any successor provision, and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which 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 (in each case other than pursuant to Section 11.02); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(c) Securities as to which the Company’s obligations have been Discharged pursuant to Section 11.02 or as to which Covenant Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 11.02, except, in each case, to the extent provided in Section 11.02; and

 

(d) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided , however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series with respect to which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice that such Securities are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).

 

 
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Paying Agent ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Payment Blockage Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.03(b) hereof. 

 

payment default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.03(a) hereof.

 

Person ” shall mean an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

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

 

Predecessor Security ” shall mean, with respect to any Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

Record Date ” shall mean, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, the close of business on any date specified in such Security for the payment of interest pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Redemption Date ” shall mean, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security, which, in the case of a Floating Rate Security, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, shall be an Interest Payment Date only.

 

Redemption Price ,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, shall mean the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the applicable Security and this Indenture.

 

Register ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Registrar ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Responsible Officer ” of the Trustee hereunder shall mean any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer or any other officer associated with the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

SEC ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.

 

Securities Act ” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Security ” or “ Securities ” shall have the meaning stated in the recitals and shall more particularly mean one or more of the Securities duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Security Custodian ” shall mean the custodian with respect to any Global Security appointed by the Depositary, or any successor Person thereto.

 

Securityholder ” or “ Holder of Securities ” or “ Holder ,” shall mean the Person in whose name Securities shall be registered in the Register.

 

 
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Senior Indebtedness ” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (x) Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed other than (a) any Indebtedness of the Company which when incurred, and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Indebtedness to any employee of the Company, (d) any liability for taxes, (e) Trade Payables and (f) any Indebtedness of the Company which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company, and (y) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such Indebtedness. For purposes of this definition of “ Senior Indebtedness ,” the phrase “subordinated in right of payment” means debt subordination only and not lien subordination, and accordingly, (i) unsecured indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to secured indebtedness merely by virtue of the fact that it is unsecured, and (ii) junior liens, second liens and other contractual arrangements that provide for priorities among holders of the same or different issues of indebtedness with respect to any collateral or the proceeds of collateral shall not constitute subordination in right of payment.

 

Special Record Date ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b)(i).

 

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

 

Subsidiary ,” when used with respect to any Person, shall mean:

 

(a) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(b) any partnership (i) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (ii) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

Subsidiary Bank ” means any Subsidiary that is a banking subsidiary of the Company.

 

Successor Company ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.06(h).

 

Trade Payables ” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities).

 

Trust Indenture Act ” or “ TIA ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 13.06 and except to the extent any amendment to the Trust Indenture Act expressly provides for application of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect on another date.

 

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

 

U.S. Dollars ” shall mean such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

U.S. Government Obligations ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.02.

 

 
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United States ” shall mean the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

ARTICLE II

 

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 2.01 Terms of the Securities

 

(a) The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the form set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or not prohibited by this Indenture, 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 prohibited by 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 securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

(b) The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

 

(a) Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.

 

(b) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(c) The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Date of authentication: ___________

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

 

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 
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Section 2.03 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent. If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

Date of authentication: ___________

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

 

 

By:

[NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT]

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series . The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);

 

(b) 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 transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 13.05);

 

(c) the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;

 

(d) 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, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or another class or series of securities or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series (including if such Securities were originally issued at a discount), 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 any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

(e) if other than U.S. Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms concerning such payment;

 

(f) if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

 
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(g) if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;

 

(h) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

(i) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

 

(j) the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the Currency or Currencies in which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(k) if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02;

 

(m) the guarantors, if any, of the Securities of the series, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, and the release of the guarantors), if any, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate guarantees of such Securities;

 

(n) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued;

 

(o) the applicability, non-applicability or variation of Article XI with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(p) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities, and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for individual securities in definitive, non-global form registered in the name or names of Persons other than such Depositary or a nominee or nominees thereof (“ Individual Securities ”);

 

(q) the form of the Securities of the series;

 

(r) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes to this Indenture, if any, to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

(s) whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

 

(t) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

 

 
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(u) any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to Securities of such series as agreed in writing by the Company and the Trustee;

 

(v) any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 13.01, 13.02 and 13.04 which applies to Securities of such series;

 

(w) provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

(x) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VII which applies to Securities of the series;

 

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

 

(z) if any payment or other obligations on Securities of such series or guarantees thereof are to be secured by any property, the nature of such security and provisions related thereto;

 

(aa) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of this Indenture with respect to such series); and

 

(bb) exchange rate calculation agents, conversion agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such series.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in an Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.

 

Section 3.02 Denominations . In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities issued hereunder shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.

 

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

(a) The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any President, any Co-President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents, its Controller or one of its Assistant Controllers, its Treasurer or one of its Assistant Treasurers, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities and, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the forms and terms of the Securities of such series. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities in accordance with the Company Order. The Company Order shall specify the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of such Securities is to be authenticated.

 

(c) In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 10.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(i) an Officer’s Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 15.01; and

 

 
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(ii) an Opinion of Counsel delivered in accordance with Section 15.01 and which shall also state (subject to any assumptions or qualifications deemed necessary by counsel providing such Opinion of Counsel):

 

(1) that the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to any necessary assumptions or qualifications, including, without limitation, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

 

(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any series are not to be originally issued at the same time, then the documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.03(c) must be delivered only once prior to the authentication and delivery of the first Security of such series;

 

(f) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or the applicable Security Custodian or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect (or to such other effect as may be required by such Depositary):

 

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE (I) BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR (II) BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR THE DEPOSITARY TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE &CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

 
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TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Security Custodian, as provided in this Indenture, or on a schedule to such Global Security.

 

(g) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as such Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

(h) Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Security Custodian under such Global Security, and the Depositary (or its nominee) may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, each Agent and any of their respective agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, each Agent or any of their respective agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security. The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

Section 3.04 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 that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Any such temporary Security may be in the form of one or more Global Securities, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security or Securities in lieu of which it is issued.

 

(b) If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such 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 such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. 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.

 

(c) Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the Individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this Section 3.04 or Section 3.06, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.

 

 
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Section 3.05 Paying Agent and Registrar .

 

(a) The Company will maintain in each place or places specified for any series of Securities, if any, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”), where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (the “ Registrar ”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture (other than service of process) may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange (the “ Register ”). The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(b) The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such specified place or places), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such Agent. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent or Registrar

 

(c) The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar and Paying Agent for each series of Securities until such time as another Person is appointed as such. If, at any time, the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Registrar shall make available to the Trustee ten (10) days prior to each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request the names and addresses of the Holders as they appear in the Register.

 

Section 3.06 Transfer and Exchange .

 

(a) Transfer.

 

(i) Upon surrender for registration of transfer or exchange of any Security of any series at the Registrar the Company shall execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations. The transfer or exchange of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered in the Register at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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

 

(b) Exchange of Global Securities for Individual Securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Individual Securities.

 

(i) Individual Securities shall be issued to all owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security in exchange for such interests if: (A) at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03(g) and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and the Registrar an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.

 

 
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In connection with the exchange of an entire Global Security for Individual Securities pursuant to this subsection (b), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities of authorized denominations.

 

(ii) The owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to receive an Individual Security in exchange for such interest if an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities has occurred and is continuing. Upon receipt by the Security Custodian and Registrar of instructions from such beneficial owner given via the Depositary for such Global Security requesting the issuance of one or more Individual Securities in the amount of such beneficial owner’s beneficial interest in such Global Security pursuant to the instructions of the Depositary:

 

(A) the Security Custodian and Registrar shall notify the Company and the Trustee of such instructions, identifying the owner and amount of such beneficial interest in such Global Security identified by the Depositary;

 

(B) the Company shall promptly execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver to such beneficial owner Individual Securities in an equivalent amount to such beneficial interest in such Global Security; and

 

(C) the Security Custodian shall decrease such Global Security by such amount in accordance with the foregoing. In the event that the Individual Securities are not issued to each such beneficial owner promptly after the Registrar has received a request from the Holder of a Global Security to issue such Individual Securities, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial Holder of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial Holder’s Securities as if such Individual Securities had been issued.

 

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

 

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

 

(B) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

(iv) In any exchange provided for in clauses (i) through (iii), the Company will execute and the Trustee will, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and deliver Individual Securities in registered form in authorized denominations.

 

(v) Upon the exchange in full of a Global Security for Individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Individual Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

 
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(c) 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 for such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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

 

(e) No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities. The Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or charge to the Holders.

 

(f) The Company and the Registrar shall not be required to (i) register, transfer or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 4.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission, or (ii) register, transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

(g) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer or exchange of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, each Agent or any of their respective agents may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for all purposes whatsoever, and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any of their respective agents shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

(h) In case a successor Company (“ Successor Company ”) has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article XIII, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered pursuant to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Company, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the Successor Company with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the Successor Company, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor Company pursuant to this Section 3.06 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such Successor Company, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time Outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

(i) Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder’s Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities laws.

 

(j) None of the Trustee or any Agents shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(k) None of the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any of their respective agents shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, any Member of, or a participant in, the relevant Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the relevant Depositary or any nominee or participant or Member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in any Global Securities or with respect to the delivery to any agent member or other participant, Member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than relevant Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Global Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All payments to be made to Holders in respect of Global Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the Holders (which shall be the relevant Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the relevant Depositary, subject to its applicable rules and procedures. The Trustee, any Agent or any of their respective agents may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the relevant Depositary with respect to its agent members and other Members, participants and any beneficial owners. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any of their respective agents shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made by the relevant Depositary on account of beneficial interests in a Global Security. Interests in a Global Security shall be transferred on the relevant Depositary’s book entry settlement system.

 

 
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Section 3.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

 

(a) If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and each Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution. In every case, the applicant for a replacement Security shall furnish the Company, the Trustee and each Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by and satisfactory to them to save each of them harmless.

 

(b) In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay the amount due on such Security in accordance with its terms.

 

(c) 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 respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.08 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

 

(a) Interest on any 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 such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date. Payment of interest on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder; provided, however, that payments in respect of Global Securities shall be made to the Depositary therefor in accordance with its Applicable Procedures.

 

(b) Any interest on any Security 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 Holder on the relevant Record Date by virtue of his, her or its having been such a Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

 

 
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(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “ Special Record Date ”), which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to the Holders of such Securities not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been given as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).

 

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities 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.

 

(c) Subject to the provisions set forth herein relating to Record Dates, each Security delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Section 3.09 Cancellation . Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or credit against any sinking fund or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and shall be promptly canceled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company upon its request therefor. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest . Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 3.11 Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities .

 

(a) Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of such series will be made in U.S. Dollars.

 

(b) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any decision or determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency will be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon exchange rates, determined as specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such decision or determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.

 

 
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(c) Any decision or determination to be made regarding exchange rates shall be made by an agent appointed by the Company; provided, that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such decision or determination. All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding exchange rates shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 3.12 Judgments . The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the “ Designated Currency ”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

 

Section 3.13 CUSIP Numbers . The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice (including any notice of redemption or exchange) with respect to such series provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such notice, redemption or exchange shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 4.01 Applicability of Right of Redemption . Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

Section 4.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .

 

(a) If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed, and, if less than all of the Securities of such series are to be redeemed, thereupon the Trustee shall select the particular Securities of such series to be redeemed from the Outstanding Securities of such series not theretofore called for redemption; provided, however, that in respect of any Securities represented by a Global Security, the Securities to be redeemed shall be selected in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the relevant Depositary, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series. The Trustee shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Company in writing of the Securities and portions of Securities so selected.

 

 
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(b) 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 that has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company or any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

 

Section 4.03 Notice of Redemption .

 

(a) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article, in the manner provided in Section 15.04. In the event the Company requests that the Trustee deliver notice of redemption to the Holders, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required to be delivered in such notice pursuant to this Section 4.03 and request the Trustee to deliver the notice of redemption at least 5 Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be delivered to the Holders (unless a shorter period is acceptable by the Trustee). Any notice so given shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series.

 

(b) All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available) and shall state:

 

(i) such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;

 

(ii) the Redemption Date;

 

(iii) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price is not then known, the manner of calculation thereof;

 

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

 

(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and that, if applicable, interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

(vi) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

(vii) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

 

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

 

 
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(c) If the Redemption Price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as described in the terms of the Securities, will be set forth in a Company Order delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date.

 

Section 4.04 Deposit of Redemption Price . On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 6.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 4.05 Securities Payable on Redemption Date . Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price; provided, however, that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.

 

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

 

Section 4.06 Securities Redeemed in Part . Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its 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 like tenor and form, 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; except that if a Global Security is so redeemed, the balance of such Global Security shall be reduced in accordance with the Applicable Procedures. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 5.01 Applicability of Sinking Fund .

 

(a) Redemption of Securities permitted or required pursuant to a sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series by the terms of such series of Securities shall be made in accordance with such terms of such series of Securities and this Article, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

(b) The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “Optional Sinking Fund Payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.02.

 

Section 5.02 Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation . The Company may, at its option, satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, in whole or in part, with respect to a particular series of Securities by (a) delivering to the Trustee Securities of such series in transferable form theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or redeemed at the election of the Company pursuant to Section 4.03 or (b) receiving credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation with an amount equal to the 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. If the Company shall elect to so satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate, which shall designate the Securities (and portions thereof, if any) so delivered or credited and which shall be accompanied by such Securities (to the extent not theretofore delivered) in transferable form. In case of the failure of the Company, at or before the time so required, to give such notice and deliver such Securities the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation shall be paid entirely in moneys.

 

 
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Section 5.03 Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price . In addition to the sinking fund requirements of Section 5.02, to the extent, if any, provided for by the terms of a particular series of Securities, the Company may, at its option, make an Optional Sinking Fund Payment with respect to such Securities. Unless otherwise provided by such terms, (a) to the extent that the right of the Company to make such Optional Sinking Fund Payment shall not be exercised in any year, it shall not be cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year, and (b) such optional payment shall operate to reduce the amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation as to Securities of the same series. If the Company intends to exercise its right to make such optional payment in any year it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days (or such shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company will exercise such optional right, and specifying the amount which the Company will pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Such Officer’s Certificate shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 5.04 Application of Sinking Fund Payment .

 

(a) If the sinking fund payment or payments made in funds pursuant to either Section 5.02 or 5.03 with respect to a particular series of Securities plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in funds with respect to such series shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request, or such equivalent sum for Securities denominated other than in U.S. Dollars), it shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date next following the date of such payment, unless the date of such payment shall be a sinking fund payment date, in which case such payment shall be applied on such sinking fund payment date, to the redemption of Securities of such series at the redemption price specified pursuant to Section 4.03(b). A sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said funds, as nearly as may be, shall be selected for redemption on such sinking fund payment date in accordance with Section 4.02 and the Company shall give or, thereupon cause notice of redemption of such Securities to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 4.03(a) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company, except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being redeemed for the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next sinking fund payment received in funds by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.04. Any and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

(b) On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time on each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee a sum equal to all interest accrued to but not including the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 5.04.

 

(c) The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities of such series shall theretofore have been given in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if funds sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Article. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund at the time any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all the Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys are required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.04.

 

 
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ARTICLE VI

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

Section 6.01 Payments of Securities . The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, on each series of Securities, and the interest which shall have accrued thereon, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture.

 

Section 6.02 Maintenance of Offices and Agencies . The Company shall maintain each office or agency required under Section 3.05. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency.

 

Section 6.03 To Hold Payment in Trust .

 

(a) If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate will segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard. Upon any proceeding under any federal bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.

 

(b) If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any series of Securities, then prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as aforesaid, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company will deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities will promptly notify the Trustee of its payment or failure to make such payment.

 

(c) If the Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 6.03, that such Paying Agent shall:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) Anything in this Section 6.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or 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 by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 6.03, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent.

 

(e) Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order, 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 amounts 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 a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 6.04 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets . Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:

 

(a) The Company will not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to any other Person, unless (i) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such Successor Company expressly assumes, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by such Successor Company prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all other obligations to the Holders and the Trustee under this Indenture or under the Securities to be performed or observed by the Company; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to any series of Securities; and (iii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent set forth in this Indenture relating to the consummation of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and, if applicable, entering into of such supplemental indenture have been met. Clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to (A) any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease between or among the Company and one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, (B) any merger of the Company into any Subsidiary of the Company or (C) any merger of the Company into an Affiliate of the Company for the purpose of the Company reincorporating or reorganizing.

 

(b) Upon any consolidation of the Company with or merger of the Company into any other Person, or any sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any other Person, in accordance with this Section 6.04, the Successor Company shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor Company had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of and discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such Successor Company may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board or officer of any Successor Company hereunder. In the event of any such sale, conveyance or transfer, but not any such lease, the Company (or any Successor Company which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 6.04) shall be relieved of and discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.

 

 
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Section 6.05 Compliance Certificate . Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, which, as of the date hereof ends December 31, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or secretary as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture (which compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, in the event of any Default, specifying each such Default and the nature and status thereof of which such person may have knowledge. Such certificates need not comply with Section 15.01 of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.06 Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities . Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with a covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VIII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (unless modification or waiver of such covenant or condition requires the consent of the Holder of each Security affected thereby, in which case, the consent of each such Holder shall be required), either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 6.07 Statement by Officers as to Default . The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.01 Events of Default . Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term “Event of Default” as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean one of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:

 

(a) the failure of the Company to pay any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become payable, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

(b) the failure of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of such series, when and as the same shall become payable, whether at Maturity as therein expressed, by call for redemption (otherwise than pursuant to a sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture or otherwise;

 

(c) the failure of the Company to pay a sinking fund installment, if any, when and as the same shall become payable by the terms of a Security of such series, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

(d) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the Subsidiary Bank in an involuntary case under the United States federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company, the Subsidiary Bank or of substantially all the property of the Company or the Subsidiary Bank or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the Company’s or the Subsidiary Bank’s affairs, which decree or order shall have remained unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;

 

 
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(e) the commencement by the Company or the Subsidiary Bank of a voluntary case under the United States federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable United States federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company or the Subsidiary Bank to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company or the Subsidiary Bank to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or the Subsidiary Bank or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or the Subsidiary Bank in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(f) the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01;

 

provided, however, that (other than with respect to a payment default) no event described above shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder until a written notice of any such event is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice refers to the facts underlying such event, the Securities of the relevant series, the Company and this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, if the principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a Foreign Currency and such Foreign Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities of such series by making such payment in U.S. Dollars in an amount equal to the equivalent in U.S. Dollars of the amount payable in such Foreign Currency, as determined by the Company’s agent in accordance with Section 3.11(c) hereof by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Foreign Currency (“ Exchange Rate ”), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. Dollars where the required payment is in a Foreign Currency will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

 

Section 7.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment .

 

(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(d) or 7.01(e)) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued but unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(d) or 7.01(e) occurs and is continuing, then, in every such case, the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all of the Securities then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.

 

(b) The provisions of Section 7.02(a) are subject to the condition that, at any time after the principal of all the Securities of such series, to which any one or more of the above-described Events of Default is applicable, shall have been so declared to be due and payable, 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 Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:

 

 
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(i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay:

 

(A) all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a) (provided, however, that all sums payable under this clause (A) shall be paid in U.S. Dollars);

 

(B) all arrears of interest, if any, upon all the Securities of such series (with interest, to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by such Securities at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities); and

 

(C) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon; and

 

(ii) every other Default and Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.06.

 

(c) No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

(d) For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

 

Section 7.03 Other Remedies . If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 days to pay any installment of interest on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption (other than pursuant to the sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, or shall fail for a period of 30 days to make any required sinking fund payment as to a series of Securities, then, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of such series, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding the whole amount which then shall have become due and payable on all the Securities of such series, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a).

 

In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law. Every recovery in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding. All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.

 

 
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Section 7.04 Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact . The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it shall deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every taker or Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a); provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding; provided further that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

Section 7.05 Priorities . Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VII shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 10.01(a).

 

Second: Subject to Article XIV, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Outstanding Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.

 

Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.06 Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 10.01 and 10.02, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee determines that the action so directed is in conflict with this Indenture or may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining in such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability, provided further that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

 
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Section 7.07 Limitation on Suits . No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless (a) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more of the Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, (b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, (c) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, (d) the Trustee, for 60 days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (e) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee during such 60 day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.

 

Section 7.08 Undertaking for Costs . All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee or the Company, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or the interest on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.

 

Section 7.09 Remedies Cumulative . No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VII to the Trustee and to the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be. In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver or for any other reason or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.

 

 
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ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 8.01 Evidence of Action of Securityholders . Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depositary for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company).

 

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities . Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

 

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.

 

(b) The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.

 

(c) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the requirement is a reasonable one.

 

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.

 

Section 8.03 Persons Deemed Owners .

 

(a) The Company, the Trustee, each Agent and any of their respective agents shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any of their respective agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary. All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.

 

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

 

 
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Section 8.04 Effect of Consents . After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

Section 9.01 Reports by Trustee .

 

(a) So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided therein. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each May 15, beginning May 15, 2016, deliver to Holders a brief report which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a). The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent applicable.

 

(b) The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.01, file a copy of such report with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange, if any. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when, as and if the Securities become listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

(c) The Company will reimburse the Trustee for all expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.01 and of Section 9.02.

 

Section 9.02 Reports by the Company . The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, unless available on EDGAR, any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 30 days after the same is filed with the SEC.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall be under no obligation to determine if and when the Company has complied with its obligations under this Section 9.02.

 

Section 9.03 Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a) semi-annually, within 15 days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

 

 
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ARTICLE X

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 10.01 Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity . The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:

 

(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any Agent capacity in which it acts). The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee (including the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

 

The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and representatives for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any Agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person), except those attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 10.01(a), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of and interest on any Securities. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 10.01(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the termination of this Indenture and any satisfaction and discharge under Article XI. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (d) or (e) of Section 7.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

(b) The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. 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.

 

(c) The Trustee may, at the Company’s expense, consult with counsel of its selection, and any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such Opinion of Counsel.

 

(d) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee may conclusively rely upon, a Company Order or an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).

 

 
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(e) Subject to Section 10.04, the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

 

(f) 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 or the investment of any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

(g) Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.

 

(h) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(i) The Trustee shall not be under any 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 the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless one or more of the Holders of the Securities shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.

 

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

 

(k) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice at its Corporate Trust Office of such Default or Event of Default from the Company or any Holder, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

 

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

 

(m) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to each other Agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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

 

(o) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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

 

 
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(q) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by its agents and attorneys and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

(r) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any liability or responsibility with respect to, or obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to the Company’s compliance with any covenant under this Indenture (other than the covenant to make payment on the Securities).

 

Section 10.02 Duties of Trustee .

 

(a) If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall 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 such person’s own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

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

 

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

 

(c) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own bad faith or willful misconduct, except that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary,

 

(i) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (b) of this Section;

 

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

 

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

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

 

 
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(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 10.02.

 

Section 10.03 Notice of Defaults . Within 90 days after the occurrence thereof, and if the Trustee is deemed to have knowledge thereof in accordance with Section 10.01(k), the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, by transmitting such notice to Holders in accordance with Section 15.04, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “Default” being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 7.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section). Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become payable, or to make any mandatory sinking fund payment as to Securities of the same series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice, if and so long as a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 10.04 Eligibility; Disqualification .

 

(a) The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

(b) The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(i) any series of Securities under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(i) are met. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) 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 (including the provisions thereof allowing the Trustee to apply to the Commission for permission not to resign) and this Indenture. If Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 10.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.

 

Section 10.05 Resignation and Notice; Removal . The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company 31 days’ notice in writing. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee. Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.

 

If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 10.04 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

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

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by 31 days’ prior written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series) may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of reasonable compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all reasonable expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder. The Trustee’s rights to indemnification provided in Section 10.01(a) shall survive its resignation or removal.

 

Section 10.06 Successor Trustee by Appointment .

 

(a) In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed (unless the Trustee shall be removed as provided in Section 10.05, in which event the vacancy shall be filled as provided in said subdivision), or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or if a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or if 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 with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series) or, in case all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, by an instrument in writing, shall appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 10.04 and 10.05, upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder. After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of that or those series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be given to the Holders of Securities of such series, but any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series so appointed shall, immediately and without further act, be superseded by a successor Trustee appointed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, by an instrument or instruments in writing signed in duplicate by each of such Holders and filed, one original thereof with the Company and the other with the successor Trustee, if such appointment be made prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the giving of such notice by the Company, or by such receivers, trustees or assignees.

 

(b) If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not within 31 days thereafter have been appointed by the Company or by the Holders of the Securities of such series or if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 31 days after such appointment shall have been made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(c) Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations with respect to such series of such predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 10.01(a). Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 10.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee or the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations.

 

 
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Section 10.07 Successor Trustee by Merger . Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, 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 10.08 Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate . Subject to the provisions of Section 15.01 with respect to the certificates required thereby, 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 suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate or a Company Order with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate or Company Order, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

Section 10.09 Appointment of Authenticating Agent . The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “ Authenticating Agent ”) acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. 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.

 

Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Article X, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article X, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article X.

 

 
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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 Article X, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and 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 10.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 10.09.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 10.09.

 

Section 10.10 Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders . Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to such communications.

 

Section 10.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company . The Trustee is subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series, shall, upon Company Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, when:

 

(a) either:

 

(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 6.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

 

 
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(A) have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 10.01 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (a)(i) of this Section with respect to Securities of such series, the obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Section 6.03(e), 11.05 and 11.06 shall survive.

 

Section 11.02 Discharge or Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations . At the Company’s option, either (a) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged from its obligations with respect to Securities of any series on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (b) the Company shall be deemed to have effected Covenant Defeasance with respect to Securities of any series at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied (and such action or event under clause (a) or (b) of this paragraph in no circumstance may be construed as an Event of Default under Section 7.01):

 

(a) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations that through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient without reinvestment, in the written opinion of an internationally recognized and independent firm of public accountants or investment bank delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of and premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due;

 

(b) no Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit); and

 

(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate as required by Section 15.01 and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this Section and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such action had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged, accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

 
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“Discharged” means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 6.02, 11.05 and 11.06 and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the obligations of the Company in connection therewith.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States 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 the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, that, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” with respect to the Securities of any series means that the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 6.04 and Section 9.02 with respect to Securities of such series (and, if so specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other specified covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 3.01), whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or any such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or any 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 with respect to such series of Securities. Securities of any series with respect to which Covenant Defeasance has been effected pursuant to this Section 11.02 shall thereafter be deemed to be not Outstanding for the purposes of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such Section or any such other covenant with respect to the Securities of such series, but shall continue to be deemed to be Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).

 

Section 11.03 Repayment to Company . The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon Company Order any excess moneys or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time, including any such moneys or obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 11.05. The provisions of Section 6.03(e) shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 11.02.

 

Section 11.04 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 11.05 Deposits to Be Held in Escrow . Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 11.02 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 11.03 and 11.06) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement. If any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption in the name, and at the expense, of the Company. The agreement shall provide that, upon satisfaction of any mandatory sinking fund payment requirements, whether by deposit of moneys, application of proceeds of deposited U.S. Government Obligations or, if permitted, by delivery of Securities, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess moneys pursuant to Section 11.03 all funds or obligations then held under the agreement and allocable to the sinking fund payment requirements so satisfied.

 

 
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If Securities of a series with respect to which such deposits are made may be subject to later redemption at the option of the Company or pursuant to optional sinking fund payments, the applicable escrow trust agreement may, at the option of the Company, provide therefor. In the case of an optional redemption in whole or in part, such agreement shall require the Company to deposit with the Trustee on or before the date notice of redemption is given funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Securities to be redeemed together with all unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Upon such deposit of funds, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 11.03 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of exercise of optional sinking fund payment rights by the Company, such agreement shall, at the option of the Company, provide that upon deposit by the Company with the Trustee of funds pursuant to such exercise the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 11.03 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement for such series and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.06 Application of Trust Money .

 

(a) Neither the Trustee nor any other Paying Agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon. Subject to Section 6.03(e), any moneys so deposited for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after the date of the maturity of the Securities of such series or the date fixed for the redemption of all the Securities of such series at the time outstanding, as the case may be, shall be repaid by the Trustee or such other Paying Agent to the Company upon its written request and thereafter, anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any rights of the Holders of Securities of such series in respect of which such moneys shall have been deposited shall be enforceable only against the Company, and all liability of the Trustee or such other Paying Agent with respect to such moneys shall thereafter cease.

 

(b) Subject to the provisions of the foregoing paragraph, any moneys which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other Paying Agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other Paying Agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys shall have been deposited; but such moneys need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 11.07 Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall be as set forth in the Company Order or established in the supplemental indenture under which the Securities of such series are issued.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

Section 12.01 No Personal Liability . No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, partner, stockholder, other equity holder, officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor entity, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely obligations of the Company, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, partner, stockholder, other equity holder, officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor entity, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, partner, stockholder, other equity holder, officer, director, employee or controlling person, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor entity is, by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders thereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities, expressly waived and released.

 

 
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ARTICLE XIII

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 13.01 Without Consent of Securityholders . Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company 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 and the Company, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:

 

(a) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

(b) to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to fewer than all such series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable), and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith;

 

(c) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide, change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

 

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

 

(e) to evidence the succession of a Successor Company to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;

 

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 10.06(c);

 

(g) to secure any series of Securities or to release any collateral or lien securing Securities of any series in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series;

 

(h) to evidence any changes to this Indenture pursuant to Sections 10.05, 10.06 or 10.07 hereof as permitted by the terms thereof;

 

(i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof;

 

 
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(j) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(k) to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities or to release guarantors from their guarantees of Securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities;

 

(l) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities;

 

(m) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;

 

(n) 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, the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any other series of Securities in any material respect;

 

(o) to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

 

(p) to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 13.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 13.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding.

 

Section 13.02 With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations .

 

(a) With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Company and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series, no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,

 

(i) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to a supplemental indenture;

 

(ii) reduce the rate of (or change the calculation of the rate) or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

 

(iii) change any of the redemption or repurchase terms and conditions applicable to any Security;

 

(iv) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security;

 

(v) reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

 
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(vi) reduce the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof;

 

(vii) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security;

 

(viii) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

 

(ix) make any change to Section 6.06, Section 7.06, the last sentence of Section 7.07 or this Section 13.02(a), 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; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 6.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 10.06 and 13.01(f); or

 

(x) modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.

 

(b) A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any 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.

 

(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 13.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

(d) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section. Such record date shall not be more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or waiver or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 13.02, the Company shall give a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities. Any failure of the Company to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

Section 13.03 Trustee Protected . Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 15.01 stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 13.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 13.04 Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIII, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

 
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Section 13.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities . Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 13.06 Conformity with TIA . Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.01 Agreement to Subordinate . In the event a series of Securities is designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01, and except as otherwise provided in an Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of such series, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, by his, her or its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities of such series is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness. Each Holder of such Securities designated as subordinated may be fully subordinated to interests held by the United States government in the event that the Company enters into a bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding. In the event a series of Securities is not designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01, this Article XIV shall have no effect upon the Securities of such series. References to “Securities” in this Article XIV shall be deemed to refer to subordinated Securities, subject to the provisions of this Article XIV.

 

Section 14.02 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities .

 

(a) Subject to Section 14.01, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

 

(i) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of such series of Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and

 

(ii) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XIV shall be paid by the liquidation trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

 

 
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(iii) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or his, her or its representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, as calculated by the Company, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

(b) Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such holder have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness) to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XIV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XIV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XIV of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 14.05, shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereof and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XIV.

 

(c) In the event of the acceleration of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture, no payment or distribution shall be made to the Trustee or any Holder of Securities in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (including, but not limited to, the Redemption Price with respect to the Securities called for redemption in accordance with Article IV of this Indenture), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by Section 14.04, until all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. If payment of the Securities is accelerated pursuant to this Indenture, then the Company or the Trustee shall promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness of the acceleration at the addresses set forth in the notice from the agent, trustee or custodian for such Senior Indebtedness delivered to the Company and the Trustee, unless there are no payment obligations of the Company thereunder and all obligations thereunder to extend credit have terminated or expired (of which the Company has notified the Trustee in writing).

 

(d) For purposes of this Section 14.02, the words, “cash or, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of Capital Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Capital Stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other Person provided for by a plan of arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated (at least to the extent provided in this Article XIV with respect to the Securities of such) to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new Person, if any, resulting from any such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, adversely altered by such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment. 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 sale, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its property and assets to another Person upon the terms and conditions provided in Section 6.04 hereof shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 14.02 if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Section 6.04.

 

 
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Section 14.03 No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness . No payment shall be made with respect to the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a series (including, but not limited to, the Redemption Price with respect to such Securities of a series to be called for redemption in accordance with Article IV of this Indenture), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by Section 14.04 hereof, if:

 

(a) a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, rent or other obligations due (a “ payment default ”) on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing (or, in the case of Senior Indebtedness for which there is a period of grace, in the event of such a default that continues beyond the period of grace, if any, specified in the instrument or lease evidencing such Senior Indebtedness), unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist; or

 

(b) a default, other than a payment default (a “ non-payment default ”), on Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of the default (a “ Payment Blockage Notice ”) from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee.

 

No non-payment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice unless the non-payment default is based on facts or events arising after the date of delivery of such Payment Blockage Notice.

 

The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in respect of such series of Securities upon the earlier of:

 

(1) in the case of a payment default, the date which such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, or

 

(2) in the case of a non-payment default, the date on which such non-payment default is cured or waived or ceases to exist and 179 days after the date on which the Payment Blockage Notice is received by the Trustee if the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness has not been accelerated.

 

Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof. This Section 14.03 shall be subject to the further provisions of Section 14.06 hereof.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by this Section 14.03, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, but only to the extent that the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Senior Indebtedness, and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 14.04 Payments on Securities Permitted . Subject to Section 14.01, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 14.02 and 14.03, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or assets deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any fact prohibiting the making of such payment from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee on or before the third Business Day prior to the date fixed for such payment.

 

 
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Section 14.05 Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination . Subject to Section 14.01, each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XIV and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 14.06 Notices to Trustee . The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV. Subject to Section 14.01, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XIV or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to presume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 14.06 with respect to any such moneys or assets on or before the third Business Day prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys or assets may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys or assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it after the third Business Day prior to such date. Subject to the provisions of Section 10.02, the Trustee shall be entitled 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 on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XIV, 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 XIV 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. Regardless of anything to the contrary herein, nothing shall prevent (a) any payment by the Company or the Trustee to the Securityholders of amounts in connection with a redemption of Securities if (i) notice of such redemption has been given pursuant to Article IV prior to the receipt by the Trustee of written notice of prohibition as aforesaid, and (ii) such notice of redemption is given not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, or (b) any payment by the Trustee to the Securityholders of amounts deposited with it pursuant to Article XI.

 

Section 14.07 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 14.01, the Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XIV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XIV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 7.05 or 10.01.

 

Section 14.08 Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 14.01, any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee. No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article XIV or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

 

 
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Section 14.09 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent . Subject to Section 14.01, upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XIV, the Trustee 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, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, 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 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 XIV.

 

Section 14.10 Satisfaction and Discharge; Discharge and Covenant Defeasance . Subject to Section 14.01, amounts and U.S. Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article XI and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 14.02 or 14.03 shall not be subject to this Article XIV.

 

Section 14.11 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness . With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XIV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company, or any other Person, moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XIV or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.01 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent .

 

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

 

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 6.05 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the view or opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the view or opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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

 

 
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(d) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

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

 

(f) 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 15.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 15.03 Notices to the Company and Trustee . Any notice, demand or other communication authorized by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be in writing and sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be in writing and mailed, delivered or telefaxed:

 

(a) in the case of such notice, demand or other communication to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with the Company, to the Company at 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham, Alabama 35209, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, Facsimile No.: ( 205) 313-2141 or at such other address or other facsimile number or e-mail address as the Company may designate from time to time by notice to the Trustee; and

 

(b) in the case of such notice, demand or other communication to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with the Trustee, to the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, Facsimile No.: ( 904) 645-1921 or such other facsimile number or e-mail address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company.

 

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

 

 
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Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be in the English language.

 

Section 15.04 Notices; Waiver of Notice . Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided):

 

(a) in the case of any Holder of an Individual Security, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register; provided , that in the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder; or

 

(b) in the case of any Holder of a Global Security, if transmitted to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of such Depositary.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail; neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.

 

Section 15.05 Legal Holiday . Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.

 

Section 15.06 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan agreement or debt agreement of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Any such indenture, loan agreement or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 15.07 Effects 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 15.08 Successors and Assigns . All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 15.09 Separability Clause . In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 15.10 Benefits of Indenture . Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities and, as to any series of Securities to which Article XIV is applicable, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.

 

 
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Section 15.11 Counterparts Originals . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile transmission or by transmission as a PDF e-mail attachment shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF e-mail attachment shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 15.12 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury . This Indenture and the Securities shall be deemed to be contracts made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State.

 

THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.

 

The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Indenture aND the Securities brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

The Company agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Company at its address specified in this Indenture or at such other address of which the Trustee shall have been notified in writing pursuant thereto.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES.

 

Section 15.13 Certain Tax Information . In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“ Applicable Tax Law ”) that a foreign financial institution, or issuer, trustee, paying agent, holder or other institution is or has agreed to be subject to related to this Indenture, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee sufficient information about Holders or other applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) that is reasonably requested by the Trustee so the Trustee can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Tax Law and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Tax Law for which the Trustee shall not have any liability other than any liability or losses as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The terms of this Section 15.13 shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

Section 15.14 USA Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in, accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

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

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION,

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

By:

/s/ William E. Matthews, V

 

Name:

 William E. Matthews, V

 

Title:

 Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

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

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

 

Name:

 Lawrence M. Kusch

 

Title:

 Vice President

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

Exhibit 4.2

   

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

and

 

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

 

as Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 19, 2016

 

to

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 19, 2016

 

6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026

 

 
 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of May 19, 2016, between NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., a national association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered the Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2016 (the “ Base Indenture ” and, as hereby supplemented and amended, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the establishment from time to time of series of the Company’s unsecured debt securities, which may be debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “ Securities ”) and the issuance from time to time of Securities under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, Section 13.01(p) of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture to the Base Indenture to establish the form and terms of Securities of a series thereunder as permitted by Section 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company desires to establish a new series of Securities under the Indenture to be known as its “6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026” (the “ Notes ”), to establish the form and terms and conditions of the Notes, as provided in this First Supplemental Indenture, and to provide for the initial issuance of Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture; and all requirements necessary to make (i) this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, and (ii) the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, have been satisfied; and the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects.

 

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

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1. Relation to Base Indenture . This First Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 1.2. Definition of Terms . For all purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture:

 

(a)  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture, provided that, if the definition of a capitalized term defined in this First Supplemental Indenture conflicts with the definition of that capitalized term in the Base Indenture, the definition of that capitalized term in this First Supplemental Indenture shall control for purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and (in respect of the Notes but not any other series of Securities) the Base Indenture;

 

(b)  a term defined anywhere in this First Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;

 

 
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(c)  the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

 

(d)  headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;

 

(e)  unless otherwise specified or unless the context requires otherwise, (i) all references in this First Supplemental Indenture to Sections refer to the corresponding Sections of this First Supplemental Indenture, and (ii) the terms “ herein,” hereof,” hereunder” and any other word of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(f)  for purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.2(f):

 

1940 Act Event ” means an event requiring the Company to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close; provided, however, that in the case of any Floating Rate Interest Payment Date, such day is also a London Banking Day.

 

DTC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 hereof.

 

Designated LIBOR Page ” means the display on Reuters or any successor service, on page LIBOR01 or on any other page as may replace that page on the service, for the purpose of displaying the London interbank rates of U.S. dollars.

 

Federal Reserve Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies.

 

Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)(i) hereof.

 

Fixed Rate Interest Record Date ” means, with respect to each Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, through June 1, 2021.

 

Fixed Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)(i) hereof.

 

Floating Rate Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) hereof.

 

Floating Rate Interest Record Date ” means, with respect to each Floating Rate Interest Payment Date, the close of business on the February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date.

 

Floating Rate Period ” has the meaning set forth in section 2.5(b)(ii) hereof.

 

Global Note ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.

 

Independent Bank Regulatory Counsel ” means a law firm, a member of a law firm or an independent practitioner that is experienced in matters of federal bank holding company and banking regulatory law, including the laws, rules and the guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board relating to regulatory capital, and shall include any Person who, under the standards of professional conduct then prevailing and applicable to such counsel, would not have a conflict of interest in representing the Company or the Trustee in connection with providing the legal opinion contemplated by the definition of the term “Tier 2 Capital Event.”

 

 
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Independent Tax Counsel ” means a law firm, a member of a law firm or an independent practitioner that is experienced in matters of federal income taxation law, including the deductibility of interest payments made with respect to corporate debt instruments, and shall include any Person who, under the standards of professional conduct then prevailing and applicable to such counsel, would not have a conflict of interest in representing the Company or the Trustee in connection with providing the legal opinion contemplated by the definition of the term “Tax Event.”

 

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) hereof.

 

London Banking Day ” means any date on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in U.S. dollars) in London, England.

 

Stated Maturity Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.

 

Tax Event ” means the receipt by the Company of an opinion of Independent Tax Counsel to the effect that, as a result of:

 

(a) an amendment to or change (including any announced prospective amendment or change) in any law or treaty, or any regulation thereunder, of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities;

 

(b) a judicial decision, administrative action, official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, regulation, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt or promulgate any ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation (any of the foregoing, an “ administrative or judicial action ”);

 

(c) an amendment to or change in any official position with respect to, or any interpretation of, an administrative or judicial action or a law or regulation of the United States that differs from the previously generally accepted position or interpretation; or

 

(d) a threatened challenge asserted in writing in connection with an audit of the Company’s federal income tax returns or positions or a similar audit of any of its Subsidiaries, or a publicly known threatened challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are substantially similar to the Notes,

 

in each case, occurring or becoming publicly known on or after the original issue date of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by the Company on the Notes is not, or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Three-month LIBOR ” means, as determined by the Company on the second London Banking Day immediately preceding the commencement of the applicable Floating Rate Period (the “ determination date ”) and provided to the Trustee in writing, the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a maturity of three months that appears on the Designated LIBOR Page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such determination date. If such rate does not appear on the Designated LIBOR Page at such time, then the Company will request the principal London office of each of four major reference banks in the London interbank market, selected by the Company, to provide such bank’s offered quotation to prime banks in the London interbank market for deposits in U.S. dollars with a term of three months as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on such determination date and in a principal amount equal to an amount that, in the judgment of the Company, is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in the relevant market at the relevant time (a “representative amount”). If at least two such quotations are so provided, Three-month LIBOR for such Floating Rate Period will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such quotations are provided, the Company will request each of three major banks in the City of New York to provide such bank’s rate for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks with a term of three months as of approximately 11:00 a.m., the City of New York time, on such determination date and in a representative amount. If at least two such rates are so provided, Three-month LIBOR for such Floating Rate Period will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If fewer than two such rates are so provided, then Three-month LIBOR for such Floating Rate Period will be set to equal the Three-month LIBOR for the then current Floating Rate Period or, in the case of the first Floating Rate Period, 1.21%.

 

 
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Tier 2 Capital Event ” shall mean the receipt by the Company of an opinion of Independent Bank Regulatory Counsel to the effect that, as a result of:

 

(a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies of an applicable regulatory authority for the Company; or

 

(b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations,

 

which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the original issue date of the Notes, the Notes do not constitute, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not constitute, Tier 2 capital (or its then-equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board, as then in effect and applicable to the Company.

 

The terms “ Company ,” “ Trustee ,” “ Base Indenture ,” “ First Supplemental Indenture ,” “ Indenture, ” “ Securities ” and “ Notes ” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the recitals to this First Supplemental Indenture and the paragraph preceding such recitals.

 

ARTICLE 2
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NOTES AND
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES

 

Section 2.1. Establishment of the Series of the Notes and Designation . There is hereby authorized and established a series of Securities designated as the “ 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026.” The Securities that are a part of such series shall be in the form and have the terms, provisions and conditions as set forth in the Base Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

Section 2.2. Payment of Principal; Issue Price . Except as earlier redeemed in accordance with this First Supplemental Indenture, the date upon which the entire principal amount of the Notes shall become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest then owing, shall be June 1, 2026 (the “ Stated Maturity Date ). The Notes issued on the date hereof will be issued at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof.

 

 
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Section 2.3. Form, Payment and Appointment . Except as provided in Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture, the Notes will be issued only in book-entry form, will be represented by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto (“ DTC ) or its nominee as the Depositary therefor. So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of Global Notes, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the Holder of the Notes represented by such Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture. The Company will make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Global Notes to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of the Notes. The principal of any Notes in the form of Individual Securities will be payable at the place of payment set forth below.

 

The terms and conditions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture, and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and conditions and to be bound thereby.

 

The Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes shall initially be the Trustee.

 

The Place of Payment for the Notes shall be an office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in Jacksonville, Florida.

 

The Notes will be issuable and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The amounts payable with respect to the Notes shall be payable in U.S. Dollars.

 

Section 2.4. Global Note . The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered Global Securities (each such Global Security, a “ Global Note ) registered in the name of DTC or its nominee and deposited with DTC or its designated custodian or such other Depositary as any officer of the Company may from time to time designate. Unless and until a Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form, such Global Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and any payments on the Notes shall be made, only to DTC or a nominee of DTC, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary as provided in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.5. Interest .

 

(a) Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, the Stated Maturity Date or the Redemption Date, if any, with respect to the Notes shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of Notes if no interest has previously been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity Date or the Redemption Date, if any, as the case may be.

 

(b)      (i) From, and including, the original issue date of the Notes to, but excluding, June 1, 2021, unless redeemed prior to such date pursuant to Article 3 hereof, the Notes will bear interest at the annual rate of 6.0%, computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 1 and December 1, beginning on December 1, 2016 and ending on June 1, 2021 (each such payment date, a “ Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date ,” with the period from, and including, the original issue date of the Notes to, but excluding, the first Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date and each successive period from, and including, a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date being a “ Fixed Rate Period ). In the event that any scheduled Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date for the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after such scheduled Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date).

 

 
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(ii) From, and including June 1, 2021 to, but excluding, the Stated Maturity Date, unless redeemed subsequent to June 1, 2021 but prior to the Stated Maturity Date pursuant to Article 3 hereof, the Notes will bear interest at an annual rate equal to Three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus 479 basis points (4.79%), payable quarterly in arrears on each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, beginning on June 1, 2021 (each such payment date, a “ Floating Rate Interest Payment Date ,” and, together with the Fixed Rate Interest Payment Dates, collectively the “ Interest Payment Dates ,” with the period from, and including, June 1, 2021 to, but excluding, the first Floating Rate Interest Payment Date and each successive period from, and including, a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Floating Rate Interest Payment Date being a “ Floating Rate Period ”). Interest payable on the Notes for a Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days in such Floating Rate Period. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005% rounded up to 0.00001%. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the interest rate for each Floating Rate Period on the applicable determination date. In the event that any scheduled Floating Rate Interest Payment Date for the Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, unless such day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be accelerated to the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day, and, in each such case, the amounts payable on such Business Day will include interest accrued to, but excluding, such Business Day.

 

(c) Interest due on the Stated Maturity Date (whether or not an Interest Payment Date) of the Notes will be paid to the Person to whom principal of the Notes is payable.

 

Section 2.6. Subordination . The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Notes by the Holder’ s acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on each and all of the Notes is and will be expressly subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, to the extent and in the manner described in Article XIV of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 2.7. Events of Default; Acceleration . Neither the Trustee nor the Holders of the Notes shall have the right to accelerate the maturity of the Notes unless there is an Event of Default specified under clause (d) or (e) of Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture. If an Event of Default specified in clause (d) or (e) of Section 7.01 of the Base Indenture occurs, then the principal amount of all of the Outstanding Notes, including any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes and premium, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.02 of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 2.8. No Sinking Fund . The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

 

Section 2.9. No Conversion or Exchange Rights . The Notes shall not be convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Section 2.10. No Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . Article XI of the Base Indenture shall not be applicable to the Notes.

 

 
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ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES

 

Section 3.1. Optional Redemption . The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on any Interest Payment Date on or after June 1, 2021, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date fixed by the Company; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of such accrued and unpaid interest paid as a part of the Redemption Price shall satisfy in full the obligation of the Company to pay accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date on which all accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes was paid or provided for to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. Any partial redemption will be made in accordance with the Base Indenture. The Company’s election to redeem any Notes shall be provided to the Trustee in the form of an Officer’s Certificate at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date, or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Section 3.2. Redemption Upon Special Events . The Company may also, at its option, redeem the Notes before the Stated Maturity Date in whole, but not in part, at any time, upon the occurrence of a Tier 2 Capital Event, a Tax Event or a 1940 Act Event. Any such redemption will be at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date fixed by the Company; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the payment of such accrued and unpaid interest paid as a part of the Redemption Price shall satisfy in full the obligation of the Company to pay accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date on which all accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes was paid or provided for through, but excluding, the Redemption Date. The Company’s election to redeem any Notes shall be provided to the Trustee in the form of an Officer’s Certificate at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date, or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Section 3.3. Redemption Approval . No redemption of the Notes by the Company prior to the Stated Maturity Date pursuant to this Article 3 shall be made without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board if such prior approval is or will be required at the scheduled Redemption Date. To the extent that the approval of the Federal Reserve Board is required for the Company’s redemption of the Notes pursuant to this Article 3, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to determine whether such approval is required or any duty or obligation to obtain such approval. Prior to the delivery of the notice of redemption to the Holders of the Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating (i) whether or not the approval of the Federal Reserve Board is required for the Company’s redemption of the Notes and (ii) if such approval is required, whether or not such approval has been obtained by the Company.

 

Section 3.4. Redemption Procedures . Notice of redemption must be provided to the Holders of the Notes to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date. The provisions of Article IV of the Base Indenture shall apply to any redemption of the Notes pursuant to this Article 3.

 

ARTICLE 4
FORM OF NOTES

 

The Notes and the Trustee’ s certificate of authentication thereon are to be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, with such changes therein as the officers of the Company executing the Notes (by manual or facsimile signature) may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof.

 

 
7

 

 

ARTICLE 5
ISSUE OF NOTES

 

Section 5.1. Original Issue of Notes . Notes having an aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 may, from time to time, upon execution of this First Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Notes in accordance with a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture without any further action by the Company (other than as required by the Base Indenture).

 

Section 5.2. Additional Issues of Notes . The Company may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, issue an unlimited amount of additional subordinated Securities of the same series as the Notes, which Securities will rank pari passu with the Notes and be identical in all respects to the Notes previously issued except for their issuance date, the offering price, the interest commencement date and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such additional subordinated Securities in order that such additional subordinated Securities may be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes outstanding immediately prior to the issuance of such additional subordinated Securities and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes; provided that, if any additional subordinated Securities are not fungible with the initial Notes for U.S. income tax purposes, such additional subordinated Securities will have a separate CUSIP number.

 

ARTICLE 6
IMMUNITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

No director, officer, employee or shareholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this First Supplemental Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting the Notes, each Holder waives and releases all such liability.

 

ARTICLE 7
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 7.1. Ratification of Base Indenture . The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided; provided that the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture apply solely with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 7.2. Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals . The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’ s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as statements of the Company and not those of the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or of the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 7.3. Governing Law . THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO SUCH STATE’S INTERNAL CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES.

 

Section 7.4. Separability Clause . In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes 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

 

 
8

 

 

Section 7.5. Counterparts Originals . This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile transmission or by transmission as a PDF e-mail attachment shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF e-mail attachment shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 7.6. Benefits of First Supplemental Indenture . Nothing in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this First Supplemental Indenture and their successors under this First Supplemental Indenture and the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered from time to time, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 7.7. Conflict with Base Indenture . To the extent that any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Notes is inconsistent with any provision of the Base Indenture, such provision of this First Supplemental Indenture shall control with respect to the Notes.

 

Section 7.8. Trust Indenture Act Controls . This First Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in this First Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

Section 7.9. Rights, Protections and Immunities of the Trustee . All of the rights, protections, benefits, immunities and indemnities afforded or given to the Trustee, the Registrar and the Paying Agent pursuant to the Base Indenture shall apply to and be enforceable by the Trustee, the Registrar and the Paying Agent acting in their respective capacities relating to the Notes and pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture mutatis mutandi as if set forth and incorporated herein. The Trustee is acting hereunder, not in its individual capacity, but solely in its capacity as Trustee for the Notes under the Indenture.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

 
9

 

 

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

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  William E. Matthews, V

 

 

Name:

William E. Matthews, V

 

 

Title:

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee, Registrar and Paying Agent

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

 

 

Name:

Lawrence M. Kusch

 

 

Ti tle:

Vice President

 

 

 
[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Note: The following legend is to be placed at the beginning of any Note, including any Global Note representing Notes.]

 

THIS SECURITY AND THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED HEREIN) AS EVIDENCED HEREBY (1) ARE NOT DEPOSITS WITH OR HELD BY THE COMPANY AND ARE NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY ANY FEDERAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND (2) ARE SUBORDINATE IN THE RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE IDENTIFIED HEREIN).

 

[Note: The following legend is to be placed at the beginning of any Global Note representing Notes.]

 

GLOBAL NOTE

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE (I) BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR (II) BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR THE DEPOSITARY TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION
6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026

 

No. 1

CUSIP: 63546L AA0
ISIN: US63546LAA08

 

$25,000,000

 

National Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “ Company , ” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of $25,000,000 (or such other amount as set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Note attached hereto) on June 1, 2026 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “ Stated Maturity Date ”), unless redeemed prior to such date, and to pay interest thereon (i) from, and including, May 19, 2016, to, but excluding, June 1, 2021 or any early redemption date, at a rate of 6.0% per annum, semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2016 (each such date, a “ Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date ,” with the period from, and including, May 19, 2016 to, but excluding, the first Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date and each successive period from, and including, a Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date being a “ Fixed Rate Period ”) and (ii) from, and including, June 1, 2021 to, but excluding, the Stated Maturity Date or any early redemption date, at a rate equal to Three-month LIBOR, reset quarterly, plus 479 basis points (4.79%), payable quarterly in arrears on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year through the Stated Maturity Date or earlier redemption date (each, a “ Floating Rate Interest Payment Date ,” and together with the Fixed Rate Interest Payment Dates, the “Interest Payment Dates,” with the period from, and including, June 1, 2021 to, but excluding, the first Floating Rate Interest Payment Date and each successive period from, and including a Floating Rate Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Floating Rate Interest Payment Date being a “ Floating Rate Period ”). Interest payable on this Note during any Fixed Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any scheduled Fixed Rate Interest Payment date on this Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day (as defined in the Indenture), then payment of interest payable on such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day. Interest payable on this Note during any Floating Rate Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days in such Floating Rate Period. All percentages used in or resulting from any calculation of Three-month LIBOR shall be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with 0.000005% rounded up to 0.00001%. In the event that any scheduled Floating Rate Interest Payment Date on this Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, unless such day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date will be accelerated to the immediately preceding day that is a Business Day, and, in each case, the amounts payable on such Business Day will include interest accrued to, but excluding, such Business Day.

 

Any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the applicable rate set forth in the previous paragraph (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Fixed Rate Interest Record Date for such interest, which shall be the close of business on the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Fixed Rate Interest Payment Date, through June 1, 2021, and thereafter, on any Floating Rate Interest Payment Date, on the Fixed Rate Interest Record Date for such interest, which shall be the close of business on the February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Floating Rate Interest Payment Date.

 

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

 

 

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

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

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officer.

 

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

 

Date of authentication: __________

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

REVERSE OF NOTE

 

NATIONAL COMMERCE CORPORATION

 

6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company of a series designated as the “6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026” (herein called the “ Notes ”) initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 on May 19, 2016. Such series of Securities has been established pursuant to, and is one of an indefinite number of series of subordinated debt securities of the Company issued or issuable under and pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 19, 2016 (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee), as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee, dated as of May 19, 2016 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ,” and the Base Indenture as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), to which Indenture and any other indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Persons in whose names Notes are registered from time to time and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. The terms, conditions and provisions of the Notes are those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ Trust Indenture Act ”), and those set forth in this Note. To the extent that the terms, conditions and provisions of this Note modify, supplement or are inconsistent with those of the Indenture, then the terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note shall govern to the extent that such terms, conditions and other provisions of this Note are not inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

All capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined herein that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. To the extent that any capitalized term used in this Note and defined herein is also defined in the Indenture but conflicts with the definition provided in the Indenture, the definition of the capitalized term in this Note shall control.

 

The indebtedness of the Company evidenced by the Notes, including the principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest thereon, is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date hereof or hereafter incurred, and on the terms and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all other Securities and with all other unsecured subordinated indebtedness of the Company and not by its terms subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of types that include the Notes. Each Holder of this Note, by the acceptance hereof, agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture and authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided.

 

The Notes are intended to be treated as Tier 2 capital (or its then-equivalent if the Company were subject to such capital requirement) for purposes of capital adequacy guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies) (the “Federal Reserve Board”) as then in effect and applicable to the Company. If an Event of Default with respect to Notes shall occur and be continuing, the principal and interest owed on the Notes shall only become due and payable in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Article VII of the Base Indenture and Section 2.7 of the First Supplemental Indenture. Accordingly, the Holder of this Note has no right to accelerate the maturity of this Note in the event that the Company fails to pay interest on any of the Notes, or fails to perform any other obligations under the Notes or in the Indenture that are applicable to the Notes.

 

The Company may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, on any Interest Payment Date on or after June 1, 2021. The Company may also, at its option, redeem the Notes before the Stated Maturity Date, in whole, but not in part, at any time, upon the occurrence of a Tier 2 Capital Event, a Tax Event or a 1940 Act Event. Any such redemption will be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date fixed by the Company. No redemption of the Notes by the Company prior to the Stated Maturity Date shall be made without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board if such prior approval is or will be required at the scheduled Redemption Date. The provisions of Article IV of the Base Indenture and Article 3 of the First Supplemental Indenture shall apply to the redemption of any Notes by the Company.

 

 
 

 

 

The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. The Notes are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Register described in Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

The Company and the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

[Note: The provisions below that appear in brackets will be inserted into any Global Note representing Notes.] [This Security is a global note, represented by one or more permanent global certificates registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (each a “Global Note” and collectively, the “Global Notes”). Accordingly, unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates, this Note may not be transferred except as a whole by The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such successor. Ownership of beneficial interests in this Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with respect to interest of persons that have accounts with the Depositary (“Participants”)) and the records of Participants (with respect to interests of persons other than Participants). Beneficial interests in Notes owned by persons that hold through Participants will be evidenced only by, and transfers of such beneficial interests with such Participants will be effected only through, records maintained by such Participants. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in this Note will not be entitled to have any individual certificates and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture.

 

Except in the limited circumstances set forth in the Base Indenture, Participants and owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive Notes in the form of Individual Securities and will not be considered Holders of Notes. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent or any of their respective agents will be liable for any delay by the Depositary, its nominee or any direct or indirect Participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent and each of their respective agents may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Depositary or its nominee for all purposes, including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Notes to be issued.

 

 
 

 

 

Except as provided in Section 3.06 of the Base Indenture, beneficial owners of Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Notes in the form of Individual Securities, and no Global Note will be exchangeable except for another Global Note of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Notes.

 

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Notes represented by a Global Note to those persons may be limited. In addition, because the Depositary can act only on behalf of its Participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through Participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Notes represented by a Global Note to pledge or transfer such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the Depositary’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of Notes by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to the Notes.]

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., will act as the Company’s Paying Agent with respect to the Notes through its Corporate Trust Office presently located at 10161 Centurion Parkway N., 2 nd Floor, Jacksonville, Florida 32256. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of a Paying Agent, appoint a successor Paying Agent, or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.

 

Notices to the Holders of registered Notes in the form of Individual Securities will be given to such Holders at their respective addresses in the Register, or in the case of Global Notes, electronic delivery in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures. The Indenture contains provisions setting forth certain conditions to the institution of proceedings by the Holders of Notes with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy under the Indenture.

 

THIS NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

 
 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign the within Security, fill in the form below: I or we assign and transfer the within Security to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and irrevocably appoint The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.as agent to transfer this Security on the books of National Commerce Corporation. The agent may substitute another to act for it.

 

Your Signature:

 

( Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security )

 

Your Name:

 

Date:

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

 

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“ STAMP ”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 
 

 

 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

 

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $25,000,000. The following increases or decreases in the principal amount of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date

 

Amount of
decrease in
principal amount
of this
Global Note

   

Amount of
decrease in
principal amount
of this
Global Note

   

Principal

amount
of this
Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

   

Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee

 

 

                               

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

May 19, 2016

 

 

National Commerce Corporation

813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100

Birmingham, Alabama 35209

 

R e: Subordinated Notes Offering Pursuant to Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to National Commerce Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering of $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.0% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 1, 2026 (the “Notes”) pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, dated May 19, 2016 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company, as issuer, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as underwriters. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 19, 2016 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Trustee dated as of May 19, 2016 (the Base Indenture, together with the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

 

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

 

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied on originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-210687) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 11, 2016, as amended on May 2, 2016 (as so amended, the “Registration Statement”), which Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on May 9, 2016; (ii) the base prospectus dated April 11, 2016 relating to the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”) and the prospectus supplement dated May 16, 2016 relating to the Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”); (iii) the Underwriting Agreement; (iv) the Indenture; (v) the form of Notes; (vi) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted as of May 12, 2016 and of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company duly adopted on May 16, 2016 relating to the Notes; (vii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended and currently in effect; (viii) the Bylaws of the Company as currently in effect; (ix) a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 17, 2016 with respect to the Company; and (x) such other records, documents, certificates and other instruments and such matters of law as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below.

 

 
 

 

 

In our examination, we have assumed without independent investigation or inquiry the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures on original or certified copies, the authenticity of all original or certified copies and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or reproduction copies. In making our examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, and the validity and binding effect on such parties. We have relied as to factual matters upon, and have assumed the accuracy of, the representations and warranties contained in or made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and statements or information of or from public officials and other officers and representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries. We have also assumed that: (i) the Indenture will be a valid and binding obligation of the Trustee; and (ii) the Notes have been duly authenticated by the Trustee.

 

Based on the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes, when executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general principles of equity, constitutionality and public policy (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

Our opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction or to the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction. Our opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated in this letter, and no other opinions are to be implied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we specifically express no opinion as to (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions of the Notes or Indenture relating to indemnification, contribution, exculpation or limitation of liability in connection with liability for the indemnified or exculpated party’s own action or inaction to the extent that the action or inaction involves gross negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful conduct, or provisions with respect to indemnification obligations of the Company to the extent that such obligations encompass claims made by the Company or any of its affiliates; (ii) the enforceability of any provision of the Indenture or Notes purporting to waive the right to assert counterclaims or setoff; or (iii) the validity or enforceability of the provisions of the Notes or Indenture purporting to grant or consent to exclusive jurisdiction in any court or to waive objections to venue, personal service of process in connection with any judicial process, or trial by jury.

 

The opinion set forth herein is made as of the date hereof and is subject to, and may be limited by, future changes in the factual matters set forth herein, and we undertake no duty to advise you of the same. The opinion set forth herein is based on the law in effect (and published or otherwise generally available) on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should such law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise. In rendering our opinion, we have not considered, and hereby disclaim any opinion as to, the application or impact of any laws, cases, decisions, rules or regulations of any other jurisdiction, court or administrative agency.

 

 

 

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the Commission on the date hereof, the incorporation by reference thereof in the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.

 

 

 

3

Exhibit 12.1

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

   

March 31,

   

For the year ended December 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

2016

   

2015

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

   

2011

 

INCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS

                                               

Earnings

                                               

Net income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest

  $ 6,202     $ 17,150     $ 9,074     $ 6,316     $ 3,128     $ 711  

Plus: Total fixed charges (see below)

    1,650       4,796       2,869       2,613       3,280       3,560  

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

    340       2,069       512       -       -       -  

Less: Preferred stock dividends

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total earnings

  $ 7,512     $ 19,877     $ 11,431     $ 8,929     $ 6,408     $ 4,271  
                                                 

Fixed Charges

                                               

Total interest expense

  $ 1,650     $ 4,796     $ 2,869     $ 2,613     $ 3,280     $ 3,560  

Interest included in operating lease rental expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total Fixed Charges

    1,650       4,796       2,869       2,613       3,280       3,560  

Preferred stock dividends

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

  $ 1,650     $ 4,796     $ 2,869     $ 2,613     $ 3,280     $ 3,560  
                                                 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

    4.55       4.14       3.98       3.42       1.95       1.20  
                                                 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

    4.55       4.14       3.98       3.42       1.95       1.20  
                                                 

EXCLUDING INTEREST ON DEPOSITS

                                               

Earnings

                                               

Net income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest

  $ 6,202     $ 17,150     $ 9,074     $ 6,316     $ 3,128     $ 711  

Plus: Total fixed charges (see below)

    81       442       442       511       778       792  

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

    340       2,069       512       -       -       -  

Less: Preferred stock dividends

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total earnings

  $ 5,943     $ 15,523     $ 9,004     $ 6,827     $ 3,906     $ 1,503  
                                                 

Fixed Charges

                                               

Total interest expense

  $ 1,650     $ 4,796     $ 2,869     $ 2,613     $ 3,280     $ 3,560  

Interest included in operating lease rental expense

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Less: Interest expense on deposits

    1,569       4,354       2,427       2,102       2,502       2,768  

Total Fixed Charges (excluding interest on deposits)

    81       442       442       511       778       792  

Preferred stock dividends

    -       -       -       -       -       -  

Total Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends (excluding interest on deposits)

  $ 81     $ 442     $ 442     $ 511     $ 778     $ 792  
                                                 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

    73.37       35.12       20.37       13.36       5.02       1.90  
                                                 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

    73.37       35.12       20.37       13.36       5.02       1.90