UNITED S TATES

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): February 26, 2019

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

 

Arkansas

0-11757

71-0335111

(State or other Jurisdiction of

Commission File Number

(IRS   Employer

Incorporation or Organization)

 

Identification No.)

     

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

   

Lowell, Arkansas

72745

(479) 820-0000

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number)

 

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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1 .01      ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT.

 

On February 26, 2019, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the “Company”), and our wholly-owned subsidiary, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. (“Transport”), as guarantor, entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters, for the issuance and sale by the Company of $700 million in aggregate principal amount of its 3.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The Company registered the offering and sale of the Notes under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-229219) (the “Registration Statement”). The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

The Notes were issued on March 1, 2019 pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company, Transport and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”), and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, Transport and the Trustee. The Indenture provides, among other things, that the Notes will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank equally with all of the Company’s existing and future senior unsecured debt. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Transport and any other subsidiary of the Company that in the future becomes a borrower or a guarantor under the Company’s revolving credit agreement. Interest is payable on the Notes semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning September 1, 2019. The Notes will mature on March 1, 2026. Prior to January 1, 2026, the Company may redeem for cash, at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, the Notes, at the redemption price specified in the Indenture. On and after January 1, 2026, the Company may redeem for cash at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, the Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus any unpaid interest accrued to the date of redemption. The terms of the Indenture, among other things, may limit the ability of the Company to incur additional debt secured by liens, engage in sale and leaseback transactions, and merge or consolidate with, or transfer all or substantially all of its assets to, another entity. The Indenture provides for customary events of default.

 

The foregoing summaries of the 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.

 

The Company is also filing this current report on Form 8-K to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission certain items related to the offering of the Notes that are to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

 

ITEM 2.03       CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION.

 

See the information set forth in Item 1.01 of this current report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 8.01       OTHER EVENTS.

 

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, on March 1, 2019, Transport, as the borrower, the Company, as parent guarantor, Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto entered into an amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2018, by and among the Company, Transport, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Credit Agreement”). The First Amendment makes technical corrections to the Credit Agreement by adding the Base Indenture and future indentures to the Credit Agreement’s definition of “Indenture.”

 

 

 

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the First Amendment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 to this current report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

 

ITEM 9.01.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

 

1.1

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2019, among the Company, Transport and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein

 

 

4.1

Base Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019, by and among the Company, Transport and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

 

4.2

First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019, by and among the Company, Transport and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

 

4.3

Form of 3.875% Senior Note due 2026 (set forth as Exhibit A to the First Supplemental Indenture attached as Exhibit 4.2 hereto)

 

 

5.1

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

 

 

10.1

Credit Agreement and related documents (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed September 28, 2018)

 

 

10.2

First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019, by and among the Company, Transport, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto

 

 

23.1

Consent of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.LC. (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

25.1

Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee

 

 

 

 

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 thereunto duly authorized on the 1st day of March, 2019.

 

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ John N. Roberts, III   

 

 

 

John N. Roberts, III

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

       
  BY: /s/ David G. Mee  
   

David G. Mee

Executive Vice President, Finance and

Administration and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

$700,000,000 3.875% Senior Notes due 2026

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

February 26, 2019

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                     Incorporated
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036

 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
3333 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30326

 

As Representatives of the Several Underwriters

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., an Arkansas corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”) $700,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.875% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The respective principal amounts of the Notes to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto. The Notes are to be issued under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), to be dated March 1, 2019, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be dated March 1, 2019 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”) in each case by and among the Company, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., as guarantor (the “Guarantor”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes will be guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by the Guarantor (the “Guarantees”). The term “Notes,” when used herein, includes the Guarantees where applicable.

 

As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters, and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not jointly, to purchase the principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I.

 

 

 

 

In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.         Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Guarantor .

 

The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each of the Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)    An “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229219) in respect of the Notes and the Guarantees, including a form of prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), has been prepared and filed by the Company not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof, in conformity with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder. The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements of, and comply with the conditions for the use of, an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 under the Act. Such registration statement, which shall be deemed to include all information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rules 430A, 430B or 430C under the Act, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement” and became effective under the Act upon filing with the Commission. No post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of the date of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Notes and the Guarantees and filed with the Commission pursuant to and within the time limits described in Rule 424(b) under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof. The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by each preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Notes and the Guarantees filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is herein referred to as a “Preliminary Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any documents incorporated by reference therein, and any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes by the Underwriters.

 

(b)    As of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the Closing Date (as defined herein), neither (i) the General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below), all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will include any 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 12. As used in this Agreement:

 

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“Applicable Time” means 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on the date of this Agreement.

 

“Statutory Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus, as amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means (a) any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, relating to the Notes and the Guarantees 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 Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Act, and (b) any Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus to the extent not otherwise an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act.

 

“General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is identified on Schedule II to this Agreement.

 

“Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means (a) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Free Writing Prospectus, and (b) each electronic road show presented on February 25, 2019, whether or not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act.

 

(c)     Each of the Company and the Guarantor has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (the “Subsidiaries”). Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with all power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). The outstanding shares of capital stock, limited liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests, as the case may be, of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock, limited liability company interests, partnership interests or other ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

 

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(d)      The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (and any similar section or information contained in the General Disclosure Package). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

 

(e)       The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Notes, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. Each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, comply or will comply as to form with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time filed with the Commission, conformed in all respects to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, as of its effective date and as of the Closing Date, do not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and do not, and will not, omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, do not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and do not, and will not, omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 12.

 

(f)       Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offering and sale of the Notes, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

 

(g)       The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any General Use Free Writing Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Act and consistent with Section 4(b) below. The Company will file with the Commission all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses in the time and manner required under Rules 163(b)(2) and 433(d) under the Act.

 

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(h)       (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) under the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act and (iv) at the date hereof, the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration form.

 

(i)       (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Notes and (ii) as of the date hereof (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), each of the Company and the Guarantor was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, without taking into account any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 under the Act that it is not necessary that the Company or the Guarantor be considered an ineligible issuer), including, without limitation, for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Act with respect to the offering of the Notes and the Guarantees as contemplated by the Registration Statement.

 

(j)        The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, comply in all material respects with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act, and present fairly the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the consolidated Subsidiaries, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted principles of accounting (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary and selected consolidated financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus presents fairly the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. All disclosures, if any, contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the Rules and Regulations) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent applicable. The Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act that are not included as required. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(k)       Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain of the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”).

 

(l)       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 in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

(m)      There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which if determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries would either (i) have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and of the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the occurrence of any such effect or any such prevention described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to as a “Material Adverse Effect”), except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(n)       The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets reflected in the consolidated financial statements hereinabove described or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, subject to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected in such financial statements or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries occupy their leased properties under valid and binding leases conforming in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(o)      The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and have paid all taxes indicated by such returns and all assessments received by them or any of them to the extent that such taxes have become due. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial statements of the Company, and the Company does not know of any actual or proposed additional material tax assessments.

 

(p)      Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company or the Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company and the Subsidiaries have no material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the Company’s financial statements which are included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(q)      Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be, (i) in violation of its certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents or (ii) in violation of or in default under any agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound, except solely with respect to this clause (ii), for any such violation or default that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Notes (including the Guarantees) to the Underwriters) will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties is bound, or of the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of formation, limited liability agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary or any law, order, rule or regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of any court or of any government, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction.

 

(r)       The execution and delivery of, and the performance by each of the Company and the Guarantor of its obligations under, this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Guarantor, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantor.

 

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(s)      Each of the Company and the Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each of its obligations under the Notes and the Guarantees. The Notes (including the Guarantees), when issued, will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture. The Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”); and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(t)      Each of the Company and the Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Indenture. The Base Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The Base Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by each of the Company and the Guarantor and, on the Closing Date, will be duly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantor and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee) will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Supplemental Indenture has been duly and validly authorized by each of the Company and the Guarantor and, on the Closing Date, will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantor and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee) will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(u)      The Notes (including the Guarantees) and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and will be in substantially the respective forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

 

(v)      The statements under the caption “Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the extent that they constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, legal proceedings or legal conclusions, are correct in all material respects.

 

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(w)      Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company and the Guarantor of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Notes for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.

 

(x)      The Company and each of the Subsidiaries holds all material licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities which are necessary to the conduct of their businesses; the Company and the Subsidiaries each own or possess the right to use all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, license rights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) and other intellectual property rights (“Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on their business in all material respects. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has infringed (except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and none of the Company or the Subsidiaries have received notice of conflict with, any Intellectual Property of any other person or entity. The Company has taken all reasonable steps necessary to secure interests in such Intellectual Property from its contractors. There are no outstanding options, licenses or agreements of any kind relating to the Intellectual Property of the Company that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Prospectus and are not so described in all material respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any written or oral communications alleging that the Company has violated, infringed or conflicted with, or, by conducting its business as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, would violate, infringe or conflict with, any of the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity. The Company knows of no infringement by others of Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company.

 

(y)      Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

 

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(z)      Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees contemplated hereunder and the application of the net proceeds from such sale as described in the Prospectus, will be an “investment company” within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(aa)     The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) 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 (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and there has been no change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(bb)    The Company has established and maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” are reasonably designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Exchange Act, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports.

 

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(cc)    The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

(dd)    The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental body (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 its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

 

(ee)     (i) None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries is (A) currently subject to any sanctions administered by the federal government of the United States of America (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the United Kingdom (including, without limitation, Her Majesty’s Treasury), or other relevant sanctions authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine); (ii) the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any individual or entity or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or (B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering of the Notes, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise); and (iii) for the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of the dealing or transaction, is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

(ff)     The Company and each of the Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses.

 

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(gg)     No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and 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, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(hh)     (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any trade or business which together with the Company would be treated as under common control for purposes of Title IV of ERISA or Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan (excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption) that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period); (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) and; (vii) there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the PBGC or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries.

 

(ii)      Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, 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 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 would, individually or in the aggregate, 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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(jj)     There are no relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act which have not been described as required.

 

(kk)     Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries 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, which violation is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act.

 

(ll)      No Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(mm)    Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) used any Company funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from Company funds; or (iii) taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of (A) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, or (B) the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom; and the Company, its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their 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.

 

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(nn)      (A) There has been no material security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”): (B) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would result in, any material security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data and (C) the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

2.        Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes .

 

On the basis of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, agree to purchase, the Notes in the respective principal amounts set forth on Schedule I hereto from the Company at 99.369% of their principal amount.

 

Notes that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the Underwriters request upon notice to the Company at least 36 hours prior to the Closing Date, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Underwriters, against payment by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer (same day funds), to such account or accounts as the Company shall specify prior to the Closing Date, or by such means as the parties hereto shall agree prior to the Closing Date. Such delivery of and payment for the Notes shall be made at the offices of Sidley Austin llp, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on March 1, 2019, or at such other place, time or date as the Underwriters, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may agree upon, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein referred to as the “Closing Date.” The Company will make such Notes available for inspection by the Underwriters at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

 

3.      Offering by the Underwriters .

 

It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public offering of the Notes as soon as the Representatives deem it advisable to do so. The Notes are to be initially offered to the public at the respective initial public offering prices set forth in the Prospectus. The Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public offering prices and other selling terms.

 

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4.          Covenants of the Company and the Guarantor .

 

The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that:

 

(a)       The Company will (i) prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) under the Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Act, (ii) not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or distribute an amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or document incorporated by reference therein of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations and (iii) file on a timely basis all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below).

 

(b)      The Company will (i) not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission under Rule 433 under the Act unless the Representatives approve its use in writing prior to first use (each, a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus”); provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives hereto shall be deemed only to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) included in Schedule II hereto, (ii) treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (iii) comply with the requirements of Rules 163, 164 and 433 under the Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the requirements relating to timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping and (iv) not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

 

(c)      The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Notes, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and shall file such Final Term Sheet as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall provide the Representatives with copies of any such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representatives or counsel to the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

 

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(d)     The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement relating to the Notes and the Guarantees shall have become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement, (iii) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or the filing of a new registration statement or any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or for any additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or such new registration statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

 

(e)      If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Notes and the Guarantees, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable (if such filing is not otherwise effective immediately pursuant to Rule 462 under the Act), and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes and the Guarantees to continue as contemplated in the Registration Statement that was the subject of the notice under Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement relating to the Notes and the Guarantees shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

 

(f)      If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

 

(g)     The Company agrees to pay the required filing fees to the Commission relating to the Notes within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act.

 

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(h)      The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring to qualify the Notes and the Guarantees for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose; provided the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Notes.

 

(i)      The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period when delivery of a Prospectus (or, in lieu thereof, the notice referred to under Rule 173(a) under the Act) is required under the Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representatives, at or before the Closing Date, such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested), including documents incorporated by reference therein, and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(j)      The Company will comply with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Notes as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will either (i) prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or (ii) prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate filing under the Exchange Act which shall be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with applicable law.

 

(k)      If the General Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Notes at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with any applicable law, the Company promptly will either (i) prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or (ii) prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate filing under the Exchange Act which shall be incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package so that the General Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances, be misleading or conflict with the Registration Statement then on file, or so that the General Disclosure Package will comply with applicable law.

 

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(l)      The Company will make generally available to its securityholders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, complying with the requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so made available.

 

(m)     During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to the date that is 90 days after the Closing Date, without the prior written consent of each of the Representatives, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any securities of the Company (or guaranteed by the Company) or the Guarantor (or guaranteed by the Guarantor) that are substantially similar to the Notes.

 

(n)      The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Notes as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(o)      The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use, the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Notes in such a manner as would require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

(p)       The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.

 

5.        Costs and Expenses .

 

The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantor under this Agreement, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following: accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; any roadshow expenses; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by, the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses, the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Blue Sky survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; the filing fees of the Commission; any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Notes; the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Notes made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation in Section 1(b); the expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Notes and Guarantees under State securities or Blue Sky laws; and the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including fees and expenses of counsel for the Trustee. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for any of the Underwriters’ expenses (other than those related to qualification under FINRA regulations and State securities or Blue Sky laws) except that, if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 10 hereof, or by reason of any failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure, refusal or inability is due primarily to the default or omission of any Underwriter, the Company shall reimburse the several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Notes or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Company shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of the Notes.

 

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6.        Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters .

 

The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Notes on the Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof, as the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor contained herein, and to the performance by each of the Company and the Guarantor of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)       The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments thereto shall have become effective and the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus required shall have been filed as required by Rules 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), 430A, 430B, 430C or 433 under the Act, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with, the Rules and Regulations, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated or threatened by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance of the Notes.

 

(b)      The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date the opinion of Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the Underwriters), to the effect that:

 

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(i)      The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Arkansas, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement; the Guarantor has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia, with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the Company and the Guarantor are duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Guarantor have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company; and, to such counsel’s knowledge, the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Guarantor is owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims, and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into any shares of capital stock or of ownership interests in the Guarantor are outstanding.

 

(ii)     The authorized capitalization of the Company is as set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any similar section or information contained in the General Disclosure Package); the authorized shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(iii)     Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding securities of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of any character obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of such stock; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holder of any securities of the Company or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to sell or otherwise issue to it, or to permit it to underwrite the sale of, any of the Notes or the right to have any Notes or other securities of the Company included in the Registration Statement or the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement, to require registration under the Act of any securities of the Company.

 

(iv)     The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act.

 

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(v)      The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto and document incorporated by reference therein comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, as applicable and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements and related schedules contained or incorporated by reference therein). The conditions for the use of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3, set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.

 

(vi)     The statements under the caption “Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, legal proceedings or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel and are correct in all material respects.

 

(vii)     Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents required to be filed as exhibits to or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed, incorporated by reference or described as required, and such contracts and documents as are summarized in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all material respects.

 

(viii)    Such counsel knows of no material legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(ix)     The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Notes to the Underwriters) do not and will not (a) violate any of the terms or provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the Guarantor, or (b) result in a breach of, or default under, any of the terms or provisions of any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust 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 may be bound, and which has been filed by the Company with the Commission. Such counsel is not aware of any material agreements or instruments of the type described under (b) of the preceding sentence, other than as have been filed by the Company with the Commission.

 

(x)      No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by FINRA or as required by State securities and Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been obtained or made, specifying the same.

 

(xi)     Neither the Company nor the Guarantor is, and neither the Company nor the Guarantor will be, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

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(xii)     Any required filing of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act has been made within the time period required by Rule 433(d) under the Act.

 

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

 

(xiv)     Each of the Company and the Guarantor has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each of its obligations under the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees; the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Indenture has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Guarantor and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantor, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.

 

(xv)     The Notes and the Guarantees are in the form contemplated by the Indenture. The Notes have each been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee and due authentication and delivery of the Notes by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture), will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except that the enforcement thereof may be subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; and the Guarantees have been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, when the Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(xvi)    The Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the General Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements and related schedules and other financial data therein). With respect to such statement, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent check and verification.

 

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(c)       The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date the opinion of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

(d)       The Representatives shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, of Ernst & Young LLP confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations and the PCAOB and stating that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related Rules and Regulations; and containing such other statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(e)       The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate or certificates of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that, as of the Closing Date, each of them severally represents as follows:

 

 (i)        The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act have been taken or are, to his or her knowledge, contemplated or threatened by the Commission;

 

 (ii)       The representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor contained in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date;

 

 (iii)      All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules 424(b), 430A, 430B or 430C under the Act have been made as and when required by such rules;

 

 (iv)       He or she has carefully examined the General Disclosure Package and any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the Applicable Time, the statements contained in the General Disclosure Package and any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact, and such General Disclosure Package and any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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 (v)       He or she has carefully examined the Registration Statement and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment;

 

 (vi)      He or she has carefully examined the Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of its date and the Closing Date, the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

 

 (vii)     Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change in or affecting (i) the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and of the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) the ability of the Company and the Guarantor to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(f)        The Representatives shall have been furnished with such further certificates and documents confirming the representations and warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.

 

(g)       Subsequent to the earlier of (i) the Applicable Time and (ii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (A) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating of the Notes or any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, and (B) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Notes or of any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Sidley Austin llp, counsel for the Underwriters.

 

If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date. In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 7 hereof).

 

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7.        Indemnification .

 

(a)       The Company and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, agree:

 

(1)      to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, its officers and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter or affiliate or any such controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 (iii) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made; provided , however , that the Company and the Guarantor will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 12; and

 

(2)      to reimburse each Underwriter, each Underwriter’s affiliates and each such controlling person upon demand for any legal or other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or affiliate or such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry related to the offering of the Notes, whether or not such Underwriter, affiliate or controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding. In the event that it is finally judicially determined that the Underwriters were not entitled to receive payments for legal and other expenses pursuant to this subparagraph, the Underwriters will promptly return all sums that had been advanced pursuant hereto. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company or the Guarantor may otherwise have.

 

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(b)        Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantor, each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers who have signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Guarantor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or the Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 (iii) with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, the Guarantor or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided , however , that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 12. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.

 

(c)       In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Section 7, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 7(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 7(a) or (b). In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. Such firm shall be designated in writing by such Underwriter or affiliate or any such controlling person in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding 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.

 

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(d)       To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings 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, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Notes. 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 and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other 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 Underwriters, 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 and the Guarantor on the one hand or the Underwriters 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 Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) 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, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Notes purchased by such Underwriter, and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 7(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(e)       In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this Section 7 hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over any other contributing party, agrees that process issuing from such court may be served upon it by any other contributing party and consents to the service of such process and agrees that any other contributing party may join it as an additional defendant in any such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party.

 

(f)       Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its directors or officers or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Notes and payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, its directors or officers or any person controlling any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.

 

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8.

Default by Underwriters .

 

If on the Closing Date any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the principal amount of the Notes which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such principal amounts as may be agreed upon, and upon the terms set forth herein, of the Notes which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as such Representatives, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the principal amount of the Notes agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on the Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective principal amounts of the Notes which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on the Closing Date, the Company or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company, except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 7 hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 8, the Closing Date may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

 

9.

Notices .

 

All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or telegraphed and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: 212-834-6081), Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk – 3rd Floor; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, NY1-050-12-01, New York, New York 10020 (fax: 646-855-5958), Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal; and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., 3333 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30326, Attention: Investment Grade Debt Capital Markets, Fax: 404-926-5027; if to the Company or the Guarantor, to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745, Attention: Kevin L. Bracy with a copy to Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C., 425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1800, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, Attention: Walter E. May, Esq. and C. Douglas Buford, Jr., Esq.

 

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10.

Termination .

 

This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company (a) at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the execution hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto), the Registration Statement or the General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) since the execution hereof (A) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity or crisis on the financial markets of the United States would, in your judgment, make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Notes or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Notes, (B) any material change in economic or political conditions, if the effect of such change on the financial markets of the United States would, in your judgment, make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Notes or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Notes, (C) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE American or the Nasdaq Stock Market or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on any of such exchanges, (D) the enactment, decree or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company, (E) the declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities, (F) any downgrading, or placement on any watch list for possible downgrading, in the rating of any of the Company’s or the Guarantor’s debt securities or any securities guaranteed by either of them by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), (G) the suspension of trading of the Company’s common stock by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Commission, or any other governmental authority or (H) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States; or (b) as provided in Sections 6 and 8 of this Agreement.

 

 

11.

Successors .

 

This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and the Guarantor and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the affiliates, officers, directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Notes from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.

 

 

12.

Information Provided by Underwriters .

 

The Company and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus consists of the information set forth (a) in the first and second sentences of the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (b) in the third sentence of the sixth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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13.

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .

 

Each of the Company and the Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction among the Company and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or the Guarantor, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or the Guarantor 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 Guarantor on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company or the Guarantor except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) each of the Company and the Guarantor has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. Each of the Company and the Guarantor agrees that it will not claim that any Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or the Guarantor, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

 

14.

Counterparts .

 

This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

15.

Survival Clause .

 

The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantor or their respective directors or officers and (c) delivery of and payment for the Notes under this Agreement.

 

 

16.

Governing Law .

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

 

 

17.

Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes .

 

(a)           In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

31

 

 

(b)           In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

For purposes of this Section 17, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

 

 

 

If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company, the Guarantor and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  John N. Roberts, III

 

 

 

Name: John N. Roberts, III

Title: President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

       
  J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC., as Guarantor  
       
       
  By:  /s/ David G. Mee  
   

Name: David G. Mee

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

[ Signature Page to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Underwriting Agreement ]

 

 

 

 

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                              INCORPORATED

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.

 


As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC



By:                  /s/ Som Bhattacharyya              
Name: Som Bhattacharyya

Title: Executive Director
 

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                              INCORPORATED

 

 

By:                     /s/ Shawn Cepeda                     
Name: Shawn Cepeda

Title: Managing Director
 

 

SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.

 

By:                   /s/ Robert Nordlinger                    
Name: Robert Nordlinger

Title: Director

 

 

[ Signature Page to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. Underwriting Agreement ]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Schedule of Underwriters

 

Underwriter

 

Aggregate Principal
Amount of Notes
to be Purchased

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

  $ 154,000,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    154,000,000  

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

    154,000,000  

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

    66,500,000  

Regions Securities LLC

    66,500,000  

BOK Financial Securities, Inc.

    35,000,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

    35,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

    35,000,000  
         

Total

  $ 700,000,000  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Final Term Sheet relating to the Notes filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the 1933 Act

 

 

 

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, dated February 26, 2019

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Relating to the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

Dated February 26, 2019 and

Registration Statement Nos. 333-229219-01 and 333-229219

 

 

 

 

FINAL TERM SHEET

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
$700 million 3.875% Senior Notes due 2026

Term sheet dated February 26, 2019

 

Issuer:

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

Guarantor:

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Note Type:

SEC registered

Issue Size:

$700,000,000

Trade Date:

February 26, 2019

Settlement Date (T+3)**:

March 1, 2019

Maturity Date:

March 1, 2026

Treasury Benchmark:

2.625% UST due January 31, 2026

Benchmark Treasury Yield and Price:

2.526%; 100-20

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

+135 bps

Reoffer Yield:

3.876%

Interest Rate:

3.875%

Interest Payment Dates:

Semi-annually on March 1 and September 1, starting on September 1, 2019 and ending on the Maturity Date

Price to Public:

99.994%

Gross spread:

0.625%

Net Proceeds (%):

99.369%

Net Proceeds ($):

$695,583,000

Make-Whole Call:

T+20 bps; redemption at par plus accrued interest on and after January 1, 2026 as set forth in the preliminary prospectus supplement

CUSIP:

445658 CF2

ISIN:

US445658CF29

Joint Book-Running Managers:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

        Incorporated

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC

Regions Securities LLC

Co-Managers:

BOK Financial Securities, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

 

**Note:

The issuer expects that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about March 1, 2019, which will be the third business day following the date of the prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as “T+3”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes before the second business day prior to March 1, 2019 will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+3, to specify an alternative settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of who wish to trade notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.

 

 

 

 

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus and a prospectus supplement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the 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 if you request it by contacting Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll free at 1-800-294-1322, J.P . Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533 or SunTrust  Robinson Humphrey, Inc toll - free  at 1-800-685-4786.

No PRIIPs KID – No PRIIPs key information document (KID) has been prepared as not available to retail in EEA.

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 Execution Copy

 

 



 

 

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.,

Issuer

 

ANY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

 

- and -

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Trustee

 

_______________

 

INDENTURE

_______________

 

 

 

Dated as of March 1, 2019

 

 

 

Debt Securities

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Reconciliation and tie between
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”)
and Indenture

 

                                                                                                                       

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

 

Indenture Section

§310(a)(1)

 

607

        (a)(2)

 

607

        (b)

 

608

§312(a)

 

701

        (b)

 

702

        (c)

 

702

§313(a)

 

703

        (b)(2)

 

703

        (c)

 

703

        (d)

 

703

§314(a)

 

704

        (c)(1)

 

102

        (c)(2)

 

102

        (e)

 

102

        (f)

 

102

§316(a) (last sentence)

 

101 

        (a)(1)(A)

 

502, 512

        (a)(1)(B)

 

513

        (b)

 

508

§317(a)(1)

 

503

        (a)(2)

 

504

        (b)

 

  1003

§318(a)

 

108

 

 

                                               

 

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

 

i

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE One Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

1

Section 101.

Definitions .

1

Section 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

12

Section 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

12

Section 104.

Acts of Holders .

13

Section 105.

Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company .

15

Section 106.

Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver .

15

Section 107.

Language of Notices .

16

Section 108.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

16

Section 109.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

16

Section 110.

Successors and Assigns .

16

Section 111.

Separability Clause .

17

Section 112.

Benefits of Indenture .

17

Section 113.

Governing Law .

17

Section 114.

Legal Holidays .

17

Section 115.

Counterparts .

17

Section 116.

Judgment Currency .

17

Section 117.

Extension of Payment Dates .

18

Section 118.

Immunity of Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company.

18

Section 119.

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

18

Section 120.

Waiver of Jury Trial

19

Section 121.

PATRIOT Act Compliance

19

   

ARTICLE Two Securities Forms

19

Section 201.

Forms Generally .

19

Section 202.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

20

Section 203.

Securities in Global Form .

20

   

ARTICLE Three The Securities

21

Section 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series .

21

Section 302.

Currency; Denominations .

25

Section 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

25

Section 304.

Temporary Securities .

27

Section 305.

Registration, Transfer and Exchange .

28

Section 306.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

32

Section 307.

Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

33

Section 308.

Persons Deemed Owners .

35

Section 309.

Cancellation .

35

Section 310.

Computation of Interest .

36

Section 311.

CUSIP Number .

36

 

i

 

 

ARTICLE Four Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

36

Section 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge .

36

Section 402.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance .

38

Section 403.

Application of Trust Money .

43

Section 404.

Reinstatement .

43

   

ARTICLE Five Remedies

43

Section 501.

Events of Default .

43

Section 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

45

Section 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

47

Section 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

48

Section 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons .

48

Section 506.

Application of Money Collected .

49

Section 507.

Limitations on Suits .

49

Section 508.

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

50

Section 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

50

Section 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

50

Section 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

51

Section 512.

Control by Holders of Securities .

51

Section 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults .

51

Section 514.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

52

Section 515.

Undertaking for Costs.

52

   

ARTICLE Six The Trustee

52

Section 601.

Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

52

Section 602.

Certain Rights of Trustee.

54

Section 603.

Notice of Defaults.

55

Section 604.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

56

Section 605.

May Hold Securities .

56

Section 606.

Money Held in Trust .

56

Section 607.

Compensation and Reimbursement .

56

Section 608.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

58

Section 609.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

58

Section 610.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

59

Section 611.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

60

Section 612.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

61

   

ARTICLE Seven Holders Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

63

Section 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

63

Section 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

63

Section 703.

Reports by Trustee .

63

Section 704.

Reports by Company .

64

 

ii

 

 

ARTICLE Eight Consolidation, Merger and Sales

65

Section 801.

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

65

Section 802.

Successor Person Substituted for Company .

66

   

ARTICLE Nine Supplemental Indentures

66

Section 901.

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders .

66

Section 902.

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

67

Section 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

69

Section 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

69

Section 905.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

69

Section 906.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

70

   

ARTICLE Ten Covenants

70

Section 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts .

70

Section 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency .

70

Section 1003.

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .

71

Section 1004.

Additional Amounts .

73

Section 1005.

Corporate Existence.

74

Section 1006.

Maintenance of Properties.

74

Section 1007.

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims .

74

Section 1008.

Limitations on Liens .

74

Section 1009.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

75

Section 1010.

Waiver of Certain Covenants .

76

Section 1011.

Company Statement as to Compliance .

76

   

ARTICLE Eleven Redemption of Securities

77

Section 1101.

Applicability of Article .

77

Section 1102.

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

77

Section 1103.

Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed .

77

Section 1104.

Notice of Redemption .

78

Section 1105.

Deposit of Redemption Price .

79

Section 1106.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

80

Section 1107.

Securities Redeemed in Part .

81

   

ARTICLE Twelve Sinking Funds

81

Section 1201.

Applicability of Article .

81

Section 1202.

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

81

Section 1203.

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

82

   

ARTICLE Thirteen Repayment at the Option of Holders

82

Section 1301.

Applicability of Article .

82

   

ARTICLE Fourteen Securities in Foreign Currencies

83

Section 1401.

Applicability of Article .

83

   

ARTICLE Fifteen Meetings of Holders of Securities

83

Section 1501.

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called .

83

 

iii

 

 

Section 1502.

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings .

83

Section 1503.

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings .

84

Section 1504.

Quorum; Action .

84

Section 1505.

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings .

85

Section 1506.

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings .

86

   

ARTICLE Sixteen Guarantee

86

Section 1601.

Applicability of Article .

86

Section 1602.

Guarantee .

87

Section 1603.

Waiver .

88

Section 1604.

Guarantee of Payment .

88

Section 1605.

No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee .

88

Section 1606.

Defenses of Company Waived .

88

Section 1607.

Continued Effectiveness .

89

Section 1608.

Subrogation .

89

Section 1609.

Information .

89

Section 1610.

Subordination .

90

Section 1611.

Release of Guarantor .

90

Section 1612.

Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability .

90

Section 1613.

Contribution from Other Guarantors .

91

Section 1614.

No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company .

91

Section 1615.

Additional Guarantors .

91

Section 1616.

Execution and Delivery of the Guarantee .

91

Section 1617.

Successor Guarantor .

92

 

iv

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “Indenture”), among J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas (the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745, any Guarantors (as defined herein) party hereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

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

 

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

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (as herein defined), and the rules and regulations of the Commission (as herein defined) promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

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

 

ARTICLE ONE


DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101.    Definitions .

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

(4)         the words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereto” 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;

 

(5)         the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both”, not “either A or B but not both”);

 

(6)         provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(7)         the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange and the terms “merge” and “merged” have correlative meanings;

 

(8)        the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter; and

 

(9)        references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments and supplements thereto.

 

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

 

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

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by this Indenture or by any Security, or by the terms of any Security established pursuant to Section 301, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified herein or therein.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, 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.

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 612 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

2

 

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not published on days that are not Business Days in the place of publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place.  Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same place meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

 

“Bearer Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company hereunder.  The term “board of directors” means the board of directors of the Company and does not include committees of the board of directors.

 

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

 

“Business Day” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which the Trustee or banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close;  provided  that such term shall mean, when used with respect to any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of any series to be made at any Place of Payment for such Securities, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Securities, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, partnership interests and limited liability company membership interests, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

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

 

“Common Stock” includes any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

“Consolidated Capitalization” means the total of all the assets appearing on the most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, less the following:

 

(1)      current liabilities, including liabilities for indebtedness maturing more than 12 months from the date of the original creation thereof, but maturing within 12 months from the date of such consolidated balance sheet; and

 

(2)      deferred income tax liabilities appearing on such consolidated balance sheet.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the excess over current liabilities of all assets appearing on the most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries less goodwill and other intangible assets and the minority interests of others in Subsidiaries.

 

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (ii) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means either (A) the corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in respect of this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at 150 E. 42 nd  Street, 40 th  Floor, New York, NY 10017 , Attention: Corporate Trust Services or (B) for purposes of Section 1002, “Corporate Trust Office” means the office or agency of the Trustee located at 600 S. 4 th  Street, 7 th  Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55415, Attention:  Corporate Trust Services, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company.

 

“Corporation” includes corporations, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies and other companies, and business trusts.  The term “corporation” means a corporation and does not include partnerships, associations, limited liability companies or other companies or business trusts.

 

“Coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

 

“Currency”, with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

 

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“CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s, CUSIP Service Bureau.

 

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

 

“Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as depository by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, and, unless otherwise provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the depository which has been appointed with respect to such Securities. The Company initially designates The Depository Trust Company as the Depository.

 

“Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

 

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

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such government.

 

“GAAP” and “generally accepted accounting principles” mean, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America as of the date or time of any computation required hereunder.

 

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the relevant Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt,  provided  that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

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“Guarantee” has the meaning stated in Section 1602.  The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Guarantors” means any Subsidiary of the Company and any other Affiliate of the Company who may execute this Indenture, or a supplement hereto, for the purpose of providing a Guarantee of Securities pursuant to this Indenture until (a) a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Guarantors” shall mean such successor Person or (b) such Person shall have been released from its Guarantee pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

“Indebtedness”, when used with respect to any Person, and without duplication, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, means:

 

(1)        all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person for borrowed money (including obligations in respect of overdrafts, foreign exchange contracts, currency exchange agreements, Interest Rate Protection Agreements, and any loans or advances from banks, whether or not evidenced by notes or similar instruments) or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other instruments for the payment of money, or incurred in connection with the acquisition of any property, services or assets (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or to only a portion thereof), other than any account payable or other accrued current liability or obligation to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services;

 

(2)        all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers’ acceptances, surety bonds, performance bonds or other guaranty of contractual performance;

 

(3)        all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of (a) leases of such Person required, in conformity with GAAP, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of such Person and (b) any lease or related documents (including a purchase agreement) in connection with the lease of real property which provides that such Person 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 landlord and the obligations of such Person under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase the leased property;

 

(4)        all obligations of such Person (contingent or otherwise) 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 or similar instrument or agreement;

 

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(5)        all direct or indirect guaranties or similar agreements by such Person in respect of, and obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person to purchase or otherwise acquire or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of another Person of the kind described in clauses (1) through (4);

 

(6)        any indebtedness or other obligations described in clauses (1) through (5) secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance existing on property which is owned or held by such Person, regardless of whether the indebtedness or other obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed by such Person; and

 

(7)        any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings, replacements, restatements and refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any indebtedness, obligation or liability of the kind described in clauses (1) through (6).

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security and any Coupon appertaining thereto established pursuant to Section 301 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof),  provided, however , that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established pursuant to Section 301, 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.

 

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

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

 

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

 

“Interest Rate Protection Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, as in effect from time to time.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

 

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“Maturity”, with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security, whether at the Stated Maturity, upon acceleration, upon redemption at the option of the Company, upon repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and includes a Redemption Date for such Security and a date fixed for the repurchase or repayment of such Security at the option of the Holder.

 

“New York Banking Day” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

 

“Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 1602.

 

“Office” or “Agency”, with respect to any Securities, means an office or agency of the Company maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other office or agency of the Company maintained or designated for such Securitiespursuant to Section 1002 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

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

 

(1)        any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation;

 

(2)        any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount (or, to the extent that such Security is payable at such Maturity in shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, Common Stock or such other securities or property in the necessary amount, together with, if applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities) has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 402) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto,  provided  that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

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(3)        any such Security with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, except to the extent provided in Section 402;

 

(4)        any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company; and

 

(5)        any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into Common Stock or other securities or property, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 301;

 

provided, however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be due and payable upon acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 502 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto or an Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security or any Coupon on behalf of the Company.

 

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“Person” and “person” mean any individual, Corporation, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment”, with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means 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 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or any Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

“Principal Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 1008.

 

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

 

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

 

“Registered Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the regular record date for the payment of such interest.

 

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

 

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

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 1009.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;  provided, however,  that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities”, with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

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

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company which is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission (as such rule is in effect on the date of this Indenture).

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity”, with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means (1) any corporation at least a majority of the total voting power of whose outstanding Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination by the Company and/or one or more other Subsidiaries, and (2) any other Person in which the Companyand/or one or more other Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, (x) own at least a majority of the outstanding ownership interests or (y) have the power to elect or direct the election of, or to appoint or approve the appointment of, at least a majority of the directors, trustees or managing members of, or other persons holding similar positions with, such Person.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

 

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

 

“United States”, means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction; and the term “United States of America” means the United States of America.

 

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“United States Alien”, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

 

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

 

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, any class or series of capital stock of such corporation the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of, or to appoint or to approve the appointment of, the directors of, or other persons holding similar positions with, such corporation.

 

Section 102.         Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

 

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

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Trust Indenture Act §314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act §314(e) and must include:

 

(1)      a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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

 

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

 

(4)      a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 103.     Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 104.     Acts of Holders .

 

(1)       Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing.  If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.  The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

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

 

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

 

(4)       The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depository, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depository reasonably acceptable to the Company, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Company and the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depository, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Company and the Trustee to be satisfactory.  The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding.  The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same may also be proved in any other manner which the Company and the Trustee deem sufficient.

 

(5)       If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act.  If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized, agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(2)       the Company by the Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or sent by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery to the Company addressed to the attention of its chief financial officer at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 106.      Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver .

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

 

(1)       such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or sent by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; and

 

(2)      such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if such Securities are then listed on any stock exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city as the Company shall advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date and the second such publication not later than the latest date prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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

 

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In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.  Neither failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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

 

Section 107.      Language of Notices .

 

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

 

Section 108.       Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed hereon by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.

 

Section 109.       Effect of Headings and Table of Contents .

 

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

 

Section 110.       Successors and Assigns .

 

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

 

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Section 111.      Separability Clause .

 

In case any provision in this Indenture, any Security or any Coupon shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 112.      Benefits of Indenture .

 

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

 

Section 113.      Governing Law .

 

This Indenture, the Securities, any Guarantees and any Coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.

 

Section 114.      Legal Holidays .

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of, or any other day on which a payment is due with respect to, any Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day in The City of New York or at any Place of Payment, then payment need not be made on such day, but such payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a relevant Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on any such other payment date, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such day or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 115.      Counterparts .

 

This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

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Section 116.      Judgment Currency .

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the date on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.  For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.  The provisions of this Section 116 shall not be applicable with respect to any payment due on a Security which is payable in Dollars.

 

Section 117.       Extension of Payment Dates .

 

In the event that (i) the terms of any Security or Coupon appertaining thereto established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security or Coupon is due and payable and (ii) the due date for any such payment shall have been so extended, then all references herein to the Stated Maturity of such payment (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to refer to the date as so extended.

 

Section 118.       Immunity of Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company.

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any past, present or future stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any of the Company’s predecessors or successors, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 119.       No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other Person.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

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Section 120.       Waiver of Jury Trial

 

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

 

Section 121.       PATRIOT Act Compliance

 

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, which information includes the name, address, tax identification number and formation documents and other information that will allow Trustee to identify the person or legal entity in accordance with the USA Patriot Act. The parties to this Agreement agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.

 

ARTICLE TWO


SECURITIES FORMS

 

Section 201.       Forms Generally .

 

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

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons.

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to Section 612, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association,

  as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Section 203.         Securities in Global Form .

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall not be issuable in global form.  If Securities of a series shall be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, any such Security may provide that it or any principal amount of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser principal amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon or reflected on the books and records of the Trustee and may also provide that the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges.  Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the principal amount, or any increase or decrease in the principal amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect thereto.  Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the applicable Company Order.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, in the event a global Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities as provided in Section 305, then, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver such global Security to the extent necessary to effect such exchanges, shall endorse such global Security to reflect any decrease in the principal amount thereto resulting from such exchanges and shall take such other actions, all as contemplated by Section 305.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of the principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security (i) in the case of a global Security in registered form, the Holder of such global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a global Security in bearer form, the Person or Persons specified pursuant to Section 301.

 

ARTICLE THREE


THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301.      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series .

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.  The Securities may be issued in one or more series.

 

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of any Securities of a series,

 

(1)     the title of the Securities of such series;

 

(2)     any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107, upon repayment in part of any Security of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into Common Stock or other securities or property pursuant to its terms);

 

(3)      if such Securities are to be issuable as Registered Securities, as Bearer Securities or alternatively as Bearer Securities and Registered Securities, and whether the Bearer Securities are to be issuable with Coupons, without Coupons or both, and any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of the Bearer Securities and the terms, if any, upon which Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities and vice versa;

 

(4)      if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305, (iii) the name of the Depository, if other than The Depository Trust Company, with respect to any such global Security and (iv) if applicable and in addition to the Persons specified in Section 305, the Person or Persons who shall be entitled to make any endorsements on any such global Security and to give the instructions and take the other actions with respect to such global Security contemplated by the first paragraph of Section 203;

 

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(5)        if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, the date as of which any such Bearer Security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be issued);

 

(6)        if any of such Securities are to be issuable as Bearer Securities, whether interest in respect of any portion of a temporary Bearer Security in global form payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date therefor prior to the exchange, if any, of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive Securities shall be paid to any clearing organization with respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)          the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal and premium, if any, of such Securities is payable;

 

(8)         the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(9)        whether Securities of the series are entitled to any benefits of any Guarantee of any Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(10)     if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;

 

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

 

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

 

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(13)        the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Bearer Securities shall be issuable if other than the minimum denomination of $5,000;

 

(14)      whether such Securities will be convertible into and/or exchangeable for Common Stock or other securities or property, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

 

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

 

(16)       if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which purchases of such Securities must be made and the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;

 

(17)       if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

 

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

 

(19)      any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to any of such Securities (whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein), and if Section 1010 shall be inapplicable with respect to any such additional covenants;

 

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(20)    if any one or more of Section 401 relating to satisfaction and discharge, Section 402(2) relating to defeasance or Section 402(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to such Securities, and any covenants in addition to or other than those specified in Section 402(3) relating to such Securities which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and, if such Securities are subject to repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holders thereof pursuant to Article Thirteen, if the Company’s obligation to repurchase or repay such Securities will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and, if the Holders of such Securities have the right to convert or exchange such Securities into Common Stock or other securities or property, if the right to effect such conversion or exchange will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article Four (including any modification which would permit satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance to be effected with respect to less than all of the outstanding Securities of such series) in respect of such Securities;

 

(21)        if any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

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

 

(23)       whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts on such Securities to any holder who is a United States Alien in respect of any tax, assessment or other government charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;

 

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

 

(25)       any other terms of such Securities and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.

 

All Securities of any one series and all Coupons, if any, appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to the date of issuance and issue price as may be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution and set forth in the Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities.  The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon written order of persons designated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, pertaining to such series of Securities and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture. 

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided by the Company as contemplated by this Section 301, a series may be reopened from time to time without the consent of any Holders for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of Securities.

 

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If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

Section 302.      Currency; Denominations .

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars.  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without Coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and the Bearer Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $5,000.  Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Section 303.       Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, its President or one of its Vice Presidents and by its Treasurer, one of its Assistant Treasurers, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries and may (but need not) have its corporate seal or a facsimile thereof reproduced thereon.  Coupons shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman, the President or any Vice President of the Company.  The signature of any of these officers on the Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto may be manual or facsimile.

 

The notation of the Guarantee endorsed on any Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its Chairman, its President or one of its Vice Presidents and by its Treasurer, one of its Assistant Treasurers, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these officers on the Guarantee may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and Guarantees bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company or any applicable Guarantor shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, bind the Company and such Guarantor, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or Coupons or Guarantees.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication and,  provided  that the Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.  In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel each to the following effect, which Opinion of Counsel may contain such assumptions, qualifications and limitations as such counsel shall deem appropriate:

 

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(1)      the form or forms and terms of such Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established in conformity with Sections 201 and 301 of this Indenture; and

 

(2)      all conditions precedent set forth in Sections 201, 301 and 303 of this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of such Securities and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto have been complied with and that such Securities, and Coupons, when completed by appropriate insertions (if applicable), executed by duly authorized officers of the Company, delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and, if applicable, any Guarantees will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of each Guarantor, except, in each case, as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

If the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by a supplemental indenture hereto, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has the power to execute and deliver such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantors enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion, with such modifications as counsel shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series and the Trustee may conclusively rely on such Opinion of Counsel unless and until such Opinion of Counsel or other documents have been superseded or revoked.  After any such first delivery, any separate request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a certification by the Company that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with.

 

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

 

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Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.  Each Bearer Security and any Bearer Security in global form shall be dated as of the date specified in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

No Security or Guarantee thereof or Coupon appertaining thereto shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 202 or 611 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories.  Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.  Except as permitted by Section 306 or 307 or as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all Coupons appertaining thereto then matured have been detached and cancelled.

 

Section 304.     Temporary Securities .

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, in bearer form with one or more Coupons or without Coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.  Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture or the provisions established pursuant to Section 301, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, after the preparation of definitive Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof.  Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities (accompanied by any unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions;  provided, however , that no definitive Bearer Security, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and  provided, further , that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in or pursuant to this Indenture.  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary global Security, until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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Section 305.      Registration, Transfer and Exchange .

 

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such series.  Such Office or Agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for that series of Securities.  Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities shall be as specified in the last paragraph of Section 1002.  The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities;  provided  that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment.  In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times.  There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions and, if applicable, having the notation of the Guarantee of each applicable Guarantor endorsed thereon.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series.  Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive together with, if applicable, the notation of the Guarantee of each applicable Guarantor endorsed thereon .

 

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If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of such series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series containing identical terms, denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture and in the same aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series, with all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining.  If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured Coupon or Coupons or matured Coupon or Coupons in default, such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing Coupon or Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless.  If thereafter the Holder of such Bearer Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment;  provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such series located outside the United States.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such Office or Agency for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series and like tenor after the close of business at such Office or Agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if such Coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such Coupon shall be returned to the Person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

If provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to such series.

 

Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as contemplated by the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive together with, if applicable, the notation of the Guarantee of each applicable Guarantor endorsed thereon.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the global Securities of any series shall be exchangeable for definitive certificated Securities of such series only if (i) the Depository for such global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depository for such global Securities or at any time the Depository for such global Securities ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act, if so required by applicable law or regulation, and no successor Depository for such Securities shall have been appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notification or of the Company becoming aware of the Depository’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Securities of such series shall no longer be represented by one or more global Securities and executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Securities shall be so exchangeable, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Securities.

 

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If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of an event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding paragraph, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Company.  On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depository (or its custodian) as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto (which the Company agrees to deliver), and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above without charge.  The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged, which (unless such Securities are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive Securities exchanged for the global Security shall be issuable only in the form in which the Securities are issuable, as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, and which shall be in such denominations and, in the case of Registered Securities, registered in such names, as shall be specified by the Depository, but subject to the satisfaction of any certification or other requirements to the issuance of Bearer Securities;  provided, however,  that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date; and  provided, further , that (unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture) no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States.  Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository (or its custodian) or such other Depository (or its custodian) referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above, and the Trustee shall endorse such global Security to reflect the decrease in the principal amount thereof resulting from such exchange.  If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, or any redemption or repayment of Securities, or any conversion or exchange of Securities for other types of securities or property, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107, upon repayment or repurchase in part of any Registered Security pursuant to Article Thirteen, or upon surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion or exchange into Common Stock or other securities or property pursuant to its terms, in each case not involving any transfer.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of like tenor and terms and of the same series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, except in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except, to the extent provided with respect to such Bearer Security, that such Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and terms and of the same series,  provided  that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with the provisions of this Indenture or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen and not withdrawn, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular global Security have been exchanged for definitive Securities or a particular global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such global Security shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 309.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another global Security or for definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such global Security by the Trustee or by the Securities custodian at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another global Security, such other global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such global Security by the Trustee or by the Securities custodian at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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In connection with any proposed exchange of a global Security, the Company or the Depository shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code §6045.  The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

 

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

 

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated Coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 306, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, having endorsed thereon a notation of the Guarantee executed by each applicable Guarantor, if any, and with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

 

If there be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or Coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or Coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains with all appurtenant Coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, having endorsed thereon a notation of the Guarantee executed by each applicable Guarantor, if any, and with Coupons corresponding to the Coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or Coupon;  provided, however , that payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an Office or Agency for such Securities located outside the United States and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on Bearer Securities and any Additional Amounts with respect to such interest shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

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

 

Every new Security, together with each Guarantee, if any the notation of which is endorsed thereon and any Coupons appertaining thereto issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertains shall constitute a separate obligation of the Company and each applicable Guarantor, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and Coupons appertaining thereto or the destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series and any Coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall (to the extent lawful) be exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons.

 

Section 307.      Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Registered Security which shall be payable, and are 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 as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.  Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, in case a Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security after the close of business at an Office or Agency for such Security on any Regular Record Date therefor and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date therefor, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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(1)     The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided.  Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).  In case a Bearer Security is surrendered at the Office or Agency for such Security in exchange for a Registered Security after the close of business at such Office or Agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the Coupon relating to such Defaulted Interest and Defaulted Interest shall not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such Coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(2)        The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security 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 payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series, at the option of the Company, interest on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States of America.

 

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

 

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Section 308.      Persons Deemed Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security or the bearer of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or Coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security or Coupon shall be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

No owner of any beneficial interest in any global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the applicable Depository, as a Holder, with respect to a global Security or impair, as between such Depository and the owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its nominee) as the Holder of such global Security.

 

Section 309.      Cancellation .

 

All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Coupons, as well as Securities and Coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture.  All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with the Trustee’s retention policy then in effect.  On written request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company evidence of cancellation for such cancelled Securities held by the Trustee.

 

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Section 310.      Computation of Interest .

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311.       CUSIP Number .

 

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

 

ARTICLE FOUR


SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 401.     Satisfaction and Discharge .

 

Unless, pursuant to Section 301, the provisions of this Section 401 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of any series, upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securitiesspecified in such Company Order, any Guarantees thereon and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(1)          either

 

(a)     all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all Coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) Coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities of such series surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities of such series and maturing after such exchange whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Securities and Coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) Coupons appertaining to Securities of such series called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 1106, and (iv) Securities and Coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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(b)      all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, if applicable, any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i)        have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and, to the extent that the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be, together with irrevocable instructions directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof;

 

(2)          the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto; and

 

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

 

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

 

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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 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 305, 306, 403, 404, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 401(1)(b)), any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Stock or other securities or property, shall survive.

 

Section 402.         Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance .

 

(1)         Unless, pursuant to Section 301, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 402 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 402 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 402 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of or within such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 402(2) or Section 402(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 402.  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, defeasance under clause (2) of this Section 402 and covenant defeasance under clause (3) of this Section 402 may be effected only with respect to all, and not less than all, of the Outstanding Securities of any series.  To the extent that the terms of any Security or Coupon appertaining thereto established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security or Coupon is due and payable, then unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, the right to extend such date shall terminate upon defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be. 

 

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(2)       Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”).  For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 402 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (2), and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:  (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely (except as provided in subclause (ii) below) from the trust fund described in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 and as more fully set forth in this Section 402 and 403, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, 1004 (including, without limitation, with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to clause (4)(a) of this Section 402)), any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of the Holders pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, and any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Stock or other securities or property, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 402 and Sections 403 and 404.  The Company may exercise its option under this Section 402(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 402(3) with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

(3)         Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 1005 and under Sections 1006, 1007, 1008 and 1009 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 301, any other covenant applicable to such Securities with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall cease to be applicable to such Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder.  For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or any such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(10) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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(4)          The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 402 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto:

 

(a)      The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 608 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 402 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and, to the extent that such Securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its reasonable discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the Maturity or Stated Maturity of such principal or interest, and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

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

 

(c)       No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, and, solely in the case of defeasance under Section 402(2), no Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto under clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto under clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition to defeasance under Section 402(2) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

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(d)         In the case of defeasance pursuant to Section 402(2), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; or, in the case of covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402(3), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e)          The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, under this Indenture have been complied with.

 

(f)       If the monies or Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under subclause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and, to the extent provided in such subclause (a), Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities on a particular Redemption Date, the Company shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and to provide notice of such redemption to Holders as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(g)         Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 402(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

 

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(5)     Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee (collectively for purposes of this Section 402(5) and Section 403, the “Trustee”)) pursuant to clause (4)(a) of Section 402 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 402(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any Coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to subclause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 402 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Anything in this Section 402 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 402.

 

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Section 403.      Application of Trust Money .

 

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

 

Section 404.       Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee appointed pursuant to Section 402(4)(a)) or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401(1) or 402(4)(a) to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no such deposit had occurred, until such time as the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such moneys and Government Obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 401 or 402 as the case may be, and Section 403;  provided however , that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations as aforesaid, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE FIVE


REMEDIES

 

Section 501.      Events of Default .

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

(1)         default in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any of the Securities of such series or any Coupon appertaining thereto when such interest or such Additional Amounts, as the case may be, become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

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(2)         default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series when due (whether at Maturity, upon redemption or exercise of a repurchase right or otherwise and whether payable in cash or in shares of Common Stock or other securities or property); or

 

(3)         default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment or payment under any analogous provision when due with respect to any of the Securities of such series; or

 

(4)         with respect to any series of Securities to which the provisions of Article Sixteen shall apply as contemplated by Section 301 hereof, a Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void and unenforceable with respect to the Securities of such series or a Guarantee is found to be invalid or a Guarantor denies its liability under its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of the Guarantor in accordance with the terms hereof) with respect to the Securities of such series; 

 

(5)          default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or any of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 501 or a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in this Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been waived in accordance of the provisions of this Indenture) for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(6)          a failure by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay when due, either at Maturity, upon redemption, upon exercise of a repayment or repurchase right, upon acceleration or otherwise, any Indebtedness in excess of $50,000,000 principal amount under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary, unless such Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness due upon acceleration) is discharged, the acceleration of such other Indebtedness is waived, cured, rescinded or annulled, within 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

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

 

(8)          the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable U.S. federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable U.S. federal or state law, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or of any substantial part of the property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(9)          default in the delivery of any shares of Common Stock, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares, or any other securities or property (including cash) when required to be delivered upon conversion of any convertible Security of such series or upon the exchange of any Security of such series which is exchangeable for other securities or property, and continuance of such default for a period of 10 Business Days; or

 

(10)          the rendering of a final judgment or judgments (not subject to appeal and not covered by insurance) against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $15,000,000 which remains unstayed, unpaid, undischarged or unbonded for 60 days; or

 

(11)          any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.

 

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Section 502.      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 in respect of the Company) with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, then either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 with respect to the Securities of any series occurs in respect of the Company, then the principal of all of the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon shall  ipso facto  become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of such series.

 

At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated (whether by declaration of the Trustee or the Holders or automatically) and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

 

(1)        the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (or, to the extent that the terms of the Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301 expressly provide for payment to be made in shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities, sufficient to pay)

 

(a)       all overdue installments of any interest on any Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,

 

(b)       the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest thereon at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities,

 

(c)         to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest upon installments of any interest, if any, which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and

 

(d)         all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607; and

 

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(2)     all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

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

 

Section 503.         Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(1)      default is made in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto when such interest or Additional Amounts, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

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

 

(3)       default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due,

 

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for or with respect to such Securities or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.

 

If the Company fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and any Coupons appertaining thereto, wherever situated.

 

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

 

Section 504.         Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any overdue principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

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

 

(2)      to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities or any Coupons to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities or any Coupons, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

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

 

Section 505.         Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons .

 

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

 

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Section 506.         Application of Money Collected .

 

Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to the Securities of any series or distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default, shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of such Securities or the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any predecessor Trustee hereunder;

 

SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and any Coupons for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and Coupons for principal and any premium,interest and Additional Amounts;

 

THIRD:  The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 507.         Limitations on Suits .

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or Coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium, if any, and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security or such Coupon, as the case may be, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security or Coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and, in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange, as the case may be, such Security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and any such right to convert or exchange, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509.      Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

 

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

 

Section 510.      Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

 

To the extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security or a Coupon is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

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Section 511.       Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

 

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

 

Section 512.       Control by Holders of Securities .

 

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

 

(1)         such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any series,

 

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

 

(3)          such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions would be unduly prejudicial to the rights of such Holders).

 

Section 513.       Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except

 

(1)         a default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series or any Coupons appertaining thereto, or

 

(2)          in the case of any Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other securities or property, a default in any such conversion or exchange, or

 

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

 

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

 

Section 514.    Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

 

The Company covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or any other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Securities as contemplated herein and therein or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee or the Holders, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

Section 515.    Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 515 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into Common Stock or other securities or property in accordance with its terms.

 

ARTICLE SIX


THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601.    Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

(1)       The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default of a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default of such series which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to such series as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and in the absence of willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein nor shall the Trustee have any responsibility or liability for any information set forth therein).

 

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(2)         In case an Event of Default with respect to a particular series has occurred (which has not been cured), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(3)          No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(a)      prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a particular series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred, the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to such series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

 

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

 

(c)      the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 512 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

 

(4)        No provision of this Indenture shall be construed as requiring the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any personal 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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Section 602. Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

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

 

(1)      the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon 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 and the Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in such document;

 

(2)      any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order (in each case, other than delivery of any Security, together with any Coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

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

 

(4)       before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting or as specifically called for in this Indenture, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(5)        the Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

(6)       in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility; 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;

 

(7)        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, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

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

 

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

 

(10)      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;

 

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

 

(12)      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, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company or any Guarantor, 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; and

 

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

 

(14)       The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

Section 603.      Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 703(3), notice of such default hereunder actually known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series or in the conversion or exchange of any Security of such series into Common Stock or other securities or property in accordance with its terms, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities and Coupons of such series; and provided, further , that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) or 501(10) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

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Section 604.      Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any Coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or the Coupons, 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. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 605.      May Hold Securities .

 

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

 

Section 606.      Money Held in Trust .

 

Except as provided in Section 403 and Section 1003, money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

Section 607.     Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)     to pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder, which shall have from time to time been separately agreed to by the Company and the Trustee in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

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(2)     to reimburse the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(3)      to indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees, and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or reasonable expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee’s agents, legal counsel, accountants and experts and court costs) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses and court costs) of enforcing this Indenture against the Company and the Guarantors (including this Section 607) and including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Guarantors, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense was due to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The Trustee will notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company will not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company will defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company will pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities or any Coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified by Section 501(6) or (7) is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 607 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 607. The provisions of this Section 607 shall, to the extent permitted by law, survive any termination of this Indenture (including, without limitation, termination pursuant to any Bankruptcy Laws), satisfaction and discharge and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

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Section 608. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation, organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

 

(1)       No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 610.

 

(2)      The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(3)       The Trustee may be removed upon 30 days’ prior written notice with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and the Company.

 

(4)       If at any time:

 

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

 

(b)       the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 608 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

 

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

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with 30 days’ prior written notice with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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(5)      If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 610. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 610, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(6)      The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

 

(1)       Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 1003, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 607.

 

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(2)       Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, and, upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor relates and subject to Section 1003 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 607.

 

(3)       Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

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

 

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Section 611.      Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

 

Any Corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder ( provided that such Corporation shall otherwise be qualified and eligible under this Article), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any such successor to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee.

 

Section 612.      Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

 

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

 

Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a Corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any Corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

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An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall (i) mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as Bearer Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has its principal office if such office is located outside the United States. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

 

The provisions of Sections 308, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

 

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

 

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

 

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

As Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

 

       
  By:    
    Authorized Signatory  

 

 

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

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN


HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

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

 

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

 

(1)       Semiannually with respect to Securities of each series not later than May 1 and November 1 of the year or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and

 

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

 

provided, however , that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

 

Section 702.       Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

 

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

 

Every Holder of Securities or Coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 703.        Reports by Trustee .

 

(1)       Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Sections 313(a) and 313(b)(2) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 704.      Reports by Company .

 

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

 

(1)       file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

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

 

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

 

Any quarterly or annual report or other information, document or other report that the Company files with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on the Commission’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to constitute delivery of such filing to the Trustee and to the Holders. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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ARTICLE EIGHT


CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

 

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

 

The Company shall not, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate with or merge into any Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise convey all or substantially all its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

(1)      either (A) the Company shall be the continuing Person (in the case of a merger), or (B) the successor Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or which acquires by sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, executed by such successor corporation and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, all the Outstanding Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed, and which supplemental indenture shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities or property;

 

(2)     immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)     either the Company or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, any sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance of all or any of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (other than to the Company or another Subsidiary), which, if such properties and assets were owned by the Company, would constitute all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

 

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Section 802.       Successor Person Substituted for Company .

 

Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger of the Company into any other Person or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any Person in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture, the Securities and the Coupons.

 

ARTICLE NINE


SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901.      Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders .

 

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or Coupons, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), each Guarantor (if applicable) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

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

 

(2)       to add to the covenants of the Company or a Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company or a Guarantor with respect to all or any series of Securities issued under this Indenture (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures); or

 

(3)       to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be exchanged for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated or global form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto; or

 

(4)       to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any Coupons appertaining thereto as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including, without limitation, any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, and any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection therewith ( provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding); or

 

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(5)       to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 610; or

 

(6)      to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, in each case which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding or any Coupons appertaining thereto as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate; or

 

(7)       to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture); or

 

(8)      to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto or any other Security or Coupon as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate; or

 

(9)       to secure the Securities or to add guarantees for the benefit of the Securities; or

 

(10)      to amend or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or in any Securities (which amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of Securities or to one or more Securities within any series as specified in such supplementalindenture or indentures), provided that such amendment or supplement does not apply to any Outstanding Security issued prior to the date of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of such provision; or

 

(11)      in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other securities or property, to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Stock or any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Company with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 301; or

 

(12)      to conform the terms of the Indenture or the Debt Securities of a series or any Guarantee to the description thereof contained in any prospectus or other offering document or memorandum relating to the offer and sale of such Debt Securities.

 

Section 902.      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

 

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as separate classes), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution), each Guarantor, if any, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

 

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(1)       change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium, if any, thereon or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon, or reduce the amount payable upon redemption thereof at the option of the Company or repayment or repurchase thereof at the option of the Holder, or reduce any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, or change the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect the right of repayment or repurchase at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article Thirteen, or change the Place of Payment where or the Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment or repurchase pursuant to Article Thirteen at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment or repurchase) in each case as such Stated Maturity, Redemption Date or date for repayment or repurchase may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto, or in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, impair the right to institute suit to enforce the right to convert or exchange such Security in accordance with its terms, or in the case of any Security to which the provisions of Article Sixteen apply as contemplated by Section 301, release any Guarantor from its Guarantee other than as provided in this Indenture, or

 

(2)      reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in Section 513 or 1010 of this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

 

(3)      modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1010, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, or

 

(4)      make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security for shares of Common Stock or other securities or property in accordance with its terms.

 

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A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have 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.

 

Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if more than one series of Securities is Outstanding, the Company shall be entitled to enter into a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 with respect to any one or more series of Outstanding Securities without entering into a supplemental indenture with respect to any other series of Outstanding Securities.

 

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

 

Section 903.      Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

 

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of, the Company, subject to customary exceptions. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904.      Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

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

 

Section 905.      Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

 

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

 

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Section 906.      Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

 

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

 

ARTICLE TEN


COVENANTS

 

Section 1001.     Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts .

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series, whether payable in cash, shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, in accordance with the terms thereof, any Coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on any Bearer Security on or before the Maturity thereof, and any Additional Amounts payable with respect to such interest, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the Coupons appertaining thereto for such interest as they severally mature. The Company shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Securities and this Indenture, including, but not limited to, determination of interest, Additional Amounts, redemption price, premium, if any, and any other amounts payable on the Securities, or the calculation of any foreign currency amounts. The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee in writing, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee shall forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of the Securities upon the written request of such Holder.

 

Section 1002.     Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series (but not Bearer Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company shall maintain, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an Office or Agency in a Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States where Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however , that if the Securities of such series are listed on the London Stock Exchange or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent in London, Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such Office or Agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of such series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment at the place specified for the purpose with respect to such Securities as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, no payment of principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts with respect to Bearer Securities shall be made at any Office or Agency in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however , if amounts owing with respect to any Bearer Securities shall be payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, any premium or interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Office or Agency designated by the Company, if (but only if) payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts at all offices outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

 

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

 

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities, and initially appoints the Trustee as the Security Registrar for each series of Securities and, if the Securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other securities or property, initially appoints the Trustee as conversion or exchange agent, as the case may be, for the Securities of such series. The Company may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency and, as provided in Section 305, may remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar.

 

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

 

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

 

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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, prior to noon (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of, or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency or Currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts, as the case may be, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

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

 

(1)        hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;

 

(2)        give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

To the extent that the terms of any Securities established pursuant to Section 301 provide that any principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Securities is or may be payable in shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, then the provisions of this Section 1003 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such shares of Common Stock or other securities or property.

 

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

 

Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, and subject to compliance with any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series or any Coupon appertaining thereto and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or such premium or interest or Additional Amount shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease..

 

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Section 1004.      Additional Amounts .

 

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Securities or any Coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or any Coupon, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securitiesof such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto who are United States Aliens without withholding or deduction for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series. If any such withholding or deduction shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on or deducted from such payments to such Holders of Securities or Coupons, and the Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section. Nothing in this Section 1004 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall limit the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to the terms, if any, established pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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Section 1005.      Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) the corporate existence of the Company, (ii) the existence (corporate or other) of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company and (iii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve the existence (corporate or other) of any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any such right, license or franchise of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries if the Board of Directors of the Company determines that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof will not be disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

Section 1006.     Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Company will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, cause all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however , that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company or any Significant Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of their respective properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company or of any Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be, desirable in the conduct of its business.

 

Section 1007.     Payment of Taxes and Other Claims .

 

The Company will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to, pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or upon its income, profits or property, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon its property; provided, however , that neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary shall be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such material tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

Section 1008.      Limitations on Liens .

 

(1)        Except as expressly provided in Subsection (2) of this Section 1008, the Company will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to be created, assumed or incurred, any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance (all of the foregoing being hereinafter referred to as “liens”) to secure any indebtedness for borrowed money (i) upon any shares of Capital Stock issued by any Subsidiary that owns any Principal Facility (as hereinafter defined) to the extent such shares are owned by the Company or one or more Subsidiaries, or (ii) upon any Principal Facility, in either case without making effective provision whereby all the Securities or, in respect of liens upon any Principal Facility owned or leased by a Guarantor, the Guarantee shall be directly secured equally and ratably with the indebtedness secured by such lien, so long as any such indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, however, that this Section 1008 shall not be applicable to the following:

 

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(a)      liens existing on the date hereof;

 

(b)      liens on property or shares of Capital Stock existing when acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary (including acquisition through merger, share exchange or consolidation) or securing the payment of all or part of the purchase price, construction or improvement thereof incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction or improvement or commencement of full operation of such property for the purpose of financing all or a portion of such purchase or construction or improvement; or

 

(c)      liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part the indebtedness secured by any lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (b) or in this clause (c); provided, however, that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

 

(2)        The Company and/or any Subsidiary may create, assume or incur, or suffer to be created, assumed or incurred, liens which would otherwise be prohibited by Subsection (1) of this Section 1008, provided that the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness secured thereby, plus the aggregate value of the Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by the provisions of Subsection (2) of Section 1009, does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

(3)        The term “Principal Facility” shall mean any facility, together with the land upon which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof, used primarily for distribution or warehousing and located in the United States, owned or leased pursuant to a capital lease by the Company or any Subsidiary, that has a gross book value (without deduction of any depreciation reserve) on the date as of which the determination is being made exceeding 2% of Consolidated Capitalization.

 

(4)        The Certificate of a Firm of Independent Public Accountants shall be conclusive evidence as to the amount, at the date specified in such Certificate, of the gross book value of any distribution or warehousing facility, Consolidated Capitalization, or Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as the case may be.

 

Section 1009.     Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

 

(1)        Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall sell or transfer a Principal Facility now owned or hereafter acquired with the intention of taking back a lease of such property, except a lease for a temporary period of less than 3 years, including renewals, with the intent that the use by the Company or a Subsidiary will be discontinued on or before the expiration of such period (any transaction subject to the provisions of this Section 1009 being herein referred to as a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”) unless the Company shall apply an amount equal to the value of the property so leased to the retirement (other than any mandatory retirement), within 180 days of the effective date of any such arrangement, of non-subordinated indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company which had a stated maturity of more than one year from the date of its creation.

 

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(2)        The Company or a Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and Leaseback Transaction which would otherwise be prohibited by Subsection (1) of this Section 1009, provided that the value thereof plus the aggregate indebtedness permitted to be secured under the provisions of paragraph (2) of Section 1008 does not at the time exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

(3)       The term “value” shall, for the purpose of this Section 1009 and Section 1008(2), mean, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction or (ii) the fair value of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as determined by the Board of Directors, in each such case divided first by the number of full years of the term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease.

 

(4)       The Certificate of a Firm of Independent Public Accountants shall be conclusive evidence as to the amount, at the date specified in such Certificate, of the gross book value of any distribution or warehousing facility, Consolidated Capitalization or Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, as the case may be.

 

Section 1010.     Waiver of Certain Covenants .

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1005(ii) and (iii), 1006, 1007, 1008 and 1009 with respect to the Securities of any series and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301(19), any additional covenants applicable to the Securities of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 1011.     Company Statement as to Compliance .

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to notice requirements or periods of grace) and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge.

 

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ARTICLE ELEVEN


REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101.       Applicability of Article .

 

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

 

Section 1102.      Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, in the event that the Company shall determine that the Securities of any series to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of such series having the same issue date, interest rate or interest rate formula, Stated Maturity and other terms (the “Equivalent Terms”), the Company shall notify the Trustee of such Equivalent Terms.

 

In the case of any redemption of Securities (A) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (B) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

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

 

If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent Terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series or from the Outstanding Securities of such series with Equivalent Terms, as the case may be, not previously called for redemption, by such method as required by the Applicable Procedures or other customary method and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series; provided, however , that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.

 

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

 

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

 

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted or exchanged for Common Stock or other securities or property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

Section 1104.       Notice of Redemption .

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portions thereof.

 

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

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)       the Redemption Date,

 

(2)        the Redemption Price,

 

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

 

(4)        that, in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

(5)       that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, together (if applicable) with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon (subject, if applicable, to the provisos to the first paragraph of Section 1106), and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

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(6)      the place or places where such Securities, together (in the case of Bearer Securities) with all Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,

 

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

 

(8)       that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all Coupons maturing subsequent to the date fixed for redemption or the amount of any such missing Coupon or Coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and any Paying Agent is furnished,

 

(9)        if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on the Redemption Date pursuant to Section 305 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made,

 

(10)      in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock or other securities or property, the then current conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate, as applicable, and the place or places where and the Persons to whom such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and

 

(11)      the CUSIP number, Common Code or ISIN number of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depository to identify such Securities).

 

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

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, and upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 102 hereof at least 15 days prior to the date notice is to be given (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), together with the notice to be given setting forth the information to be stated therein as provided above, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense.

 

Section 1105.      Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

Prior to noon (local time in New York City) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 1104, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

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Section 1106.      Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, together with (unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant toSection 301) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and the Coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Amounts with respect thereto to but excluding the Redemption Date; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Bearer Securities of such series, installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of Coupons for such interest (at an Office or Agency located outside the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002), and provided, further , that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such series, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price or, at the option of the Company, after payment to the Trustee for the benefit of the Company of, an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing Coupons, or the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing Coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however , that any interest or Additional Amounts represented by Coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those Coupons at an Office or Agency for such Security located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section1002.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security or, if no rate is prescribed therefor in the Security, at the rate of interest, if any, borne by such Security.

 

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Section 1107.      Securities Redeemed in Part .

 

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (or deliver by book-entry transaction pursuant to Applicable Procedures) to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered and having the notation of the Guarantee of each Guarantor, if any, endorsed thereon.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE


SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201.      Applicability of Article .

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1202.     Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company), together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

 

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Section 1203.     Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

 

Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN


REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 1301.     Applicability of Article .

 

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trusteewith a directive that such Securities be cancelled. If specified with respect to the Securities of a series as contemplated by Section 301, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the applicable repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

 

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Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Indenture or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Indenture to the repayment of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to include a reference to the repurchase of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof.

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN


SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

 

Section 1401.      Applicability of Article .

 

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

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN


MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1501.      Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called .

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

Section 1502.      Call, Notice and Place of Meetings .

 

(1)        The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series have been issued in whole or in part as Bearer Securities, in London or in such place outside the United States as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

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(2)       In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to Section 106) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or, if Securities of such series are to be issued as Bearer Securities, in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section.

 

Section 1503.      Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings .

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 1504.     Quorum; Action .

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting or duly reconvened meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote the specified supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

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Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however , that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of the specified supermajority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further , that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such lesser specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

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

 

Section 1505.      Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings .

 

(1)       Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

(2)        The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(2), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

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(3)       At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. If the Securities of such series are issuable in minimum denominations of less than $1,000, then a Holder of such a Security in a principal amount of less than $1,000 shall be entitled to a fraction of one vote which is equal to the fraction that the principal amount of such Security bears to $1,000. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4)       Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 1506.    Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings .

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

ARTICLE SIXTEEN


GUARANTEE

 

Section 1601.    Applicability of Article .

 

The provisions of this Article Sixteen shall be applicable only to, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Securities of any series designated, pursuant to Section 301, as being entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee of each of the Guarantors. For purposes of this Article Sixteen, the term “Securities” means, with respect to the Securities of a series to which the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall be applicable, the Securities of such series.

 

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Section 1602.     Guarantee .

 

(1)       For value received, each Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally (on a joint and several basis to the extent that there shall be more than one Guarantor) guarantees (each a “Guarantee”), to each Holder of a Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture or the Securities or the obligations of the Company or any other Guarantor to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder, that:

 

(a)      the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities will be duly and promptly paid in full when due, whether at Stated Maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) interest, if any, on the Securities and all other obligations of the Company or the Guarantor to the Holders of or the Trustee (acting in any capacity) hereunder or thereunder (including fees, expenses, indemnities or others) (collectively, the “Obligations”) will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and

 

(b)      in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Obligations (with or without notice to such Guarantor), the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

 

If the Company shall fail to pay when due, or to perform, any Obligations, for whatever reason, each Guarantor shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay in cash, or to perform or cause the performance of, the same promptly. An Event of Default under this Indenture or the Securities shall entitle the Holders of the Securities to accelerate the Obligations of the Guarantor hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent as the Obligations of the Company.

 

(2)     Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Securities or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Securities with respect to any provisions of this Indenture or the Securities, any release of any other Guarantor, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same, whether or not a Guarantee is affixed to any particular Security, or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a Guarantor.

 

(3)      Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders of the Securities and the Trustee, on the other hand,

 

(a)       the maturity of the Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article Five of this Indenture for the purposes of the Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Obligations, and

 

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(b)     in the event of any acceleration of such Obligations as provided in Article Five of this Indenture, such Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of its Guarantee.

 

Section 1603.     Waiver .

 

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Guarantors waives diligence, presentment, demand of, payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the Obligations contained in the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 1604.     Guarantee of Payment .

 

Each of the Guarantors further agrees that its Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due and not a guarantee of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities to the security, if any, held for payment of the Obligations.

 

Section 1605.     No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee .

 

Subject to Section 1611 of this Indenture, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, termination, impairment or for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture or the Securities, any other guarantee or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other act or omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations).

 

Section 1606.      Defenses of Company Waived .

 

To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Company or any other Guarantor or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Company, other than final payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Each of the Guarantors waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of each of the Guarantors against the Company or any security.

 

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Section 1607.      Continued Effectiveness .

 

Subject to Section 1611 of this Indenture, each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

Section 1608.      Subrogation .

 

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right of each Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantors hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Holders in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligations, and thereupon the Holders shall, assign (except to the extent that such assignment would render a Guarantor a “creditor” of the Company within the meaning of Section 547 of Title 11 of the United States Code as now in effect or hereafter amended or any comparable provision of any successor statute) the amount of the Obligations owed to it and paid by such Guarantor pursuant to this Guarantee to such Guarantor, such assignment to be pro rata to the extent the Obligations in question were discharged by such Guarantor, or make such other disposition thereof as such Guarantor shall direct (all without recourse to the Holders, and without any representation or warranty by the Holders). If

 

(1)      a Guarantor shall make payment to the Holders of all or any part of the Obligations and

 

(2)       all the Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Indenture shall be paid in full,

 

the Trustee will, at such Guarantor’s request, execute and deliver to such Guarantor appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation or warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to such Guarantor of an interest in the Obligations resulting from such payment by such Guarantor.

 

Section 1609.     Information .

 

Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Company’s financial condition and assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that each of the Guarantors assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities will have no duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

 

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Section 1610.      Subordination .

 

Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Holders, as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Company, arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation or otherwise, shall in all respects be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all the Obligations to the Trustee; provided , however , that any right of subrogation that such Guarantor may have pursuant to this Indenture is subject to Section 1608 hereof.

 

Section 1611.     Release of Guarantor .

 

(1)       A Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder:

 

(a)     upon the sale, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the equity interests or assets of the Guarantor to another Person (other than to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates); or

 

(b)     otherwise to the extent specified with respect to the Securities in the designation of the terms thereof pursuant to Section 301 hereof.

 

(2)      A Guarantor shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under this Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder upon any defeasance with respect to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 402(2) hereof.

 

(3)      The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release upon receipt of a request of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel certifying as to the compliance with this Section. Any Guarantor not so released will remain liable for the full amount of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities provided with respect to such Securities in accordance with the terms thereof designated pursuant to Section 301 hereof.

 

(4)       The Company shall provide notice to the Trustee of any release of a Guarantor under this Section; provided that any failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the validity of the release of such Guarantor.

 

Section 1612.     Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability .

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of Title 11 of the United States Code, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Guarantor. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum aggregate amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor, and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of, any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under this Indenture, will result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Guarantee not constituting such fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

 

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Section 1613.     Contribution from Other Guarantors .

 

Each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under its Guarantee shall be entitled to seek contribution from each other non-paying Guarantor, if any, in a pro rata amount based on the net assets of each Guarantor, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America as of the date hereof so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Guarantee.

 

Section 1614.    No Obligation to Take Action Against the Company .

 

Neither the Trustee, any Holder nor any other Person shall have any obligation to enforce or exhaust any rights or remedies or take any other steps under any security for the Obligations or against the Company or any other Person or any Property of the Company or any other Person before the Trustee, such Holder or such other Person is entitled to demand payment and performance by any or all Guarantors of their liabilities and obligations under their Guarantee.

 

Section 1615.    Additional Guarantors .

 

If pursuant to the terms of the Securities as designated pursuant to Section 301 hereof there shall occur any event as a result of which any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company shall be required to become a Guarantor, then upon the occurrence of such event, then the Company shall promptly (but in any event, within two Business Days of the date on which such event shall occurred) cause such Subsidiary or Affiliate to become a Guarantor by causing such Subsidiary or Affiliate to execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto to the Trustee.

 

Section 1616.    Execution and Delivery of the Guarantee .

 

(1)     To further evidence the Guarantee set forth in this Article Thirteen, each Guarantor hereby agrees that a notation of such Guarantee in the form set forth in Annex A hereto shall be endorsed on each Security authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and executed by either manual or facsimile signature of an officer, manager or member, as applicable, of each Guarantor. The failure of any Guarantor to execute and deliver a Guarantee shall not affect its Guarantee under Section 1602 hereof.

 

(2)     Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that its Guarantee set forth in this Article Thirteen shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Security a notation of such Guarantee.

 

(3)     The delivery of any Security by the Trustee, after the authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due and valid delivery of any Guarantee designated with respect to the Securities pursuant to Section 301 hereof on behalf of each Guarantor.

 

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Section 1617.      Successor Guarantor .

 

Unless otherwise released and discharged from its obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Article Sixteen and any other terms applicable with respect to the Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 hereof, upon any consolidation or merger by any Guarantor with or into any other Person, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or merger shall execute an indenture supplemental hereto and guarantee and succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Guarantor under this Indenture and the Securities with the same force and effect as if such successor Person had been named as a Guarantor herein, and thereafter the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities (to the extent the Guarantor was the predecessor Person).

 

[The remainder of this page left blank intentionally]

 

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

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ David G. Mee

 

 

 

Name: David G. Mee

Title:   EVP Finance & CFO

 

 

 

 

 

       
  J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.  
       
  By: /s/ Kevin Bracy  
   

Name: Kevin Bracy

Title:   Treasurer

 
       
       
 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 
       
  By: /s/ Gregory S. Clarke  
   

Name: Gregory S. Clarke

Title:   Vice President

 

 

Signature page to Indenture dated March 1, 2019

 

 

 

 

Annex A

 

NOTATION OF GUARANTEE

 

For value received, each undersigned Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture) has jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee and subject to the provisions in the Indenture and the terms of the Securities, (a) the due and punctual payment in full when due of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities by the Company and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Obligations (with or without notice to the Guarantor), that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantors to the Holders of Securities and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Sixteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee, including provisions for the release thereof. Each Holder of a Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions and (b) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for the purpose of such provisions.

 

 

[GUARANTOR ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 1, 2019

 

Supplementing that Certain

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 1, 2019

 

Among

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.,

as Issuer

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.,

as Guarantor

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

3.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

2

     

SECTION 1.1.

Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture

2

     

SECTION 1.2.

Definitions

2

   

ARTICLE II. FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

5

   

SECTION 2.1.

Form and Dating

5

     

SECTION 2.2.

Certain Terms of the Notes

6

     

SECTION 2.3.

Optional Redemption

7

     

SECTION 2.4.

Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Trigger Event

8

     

SECTION 2.5.

Limitation on Liens

9

     

SECTION 2.6.

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

9

     

ARTICLE III. GUARANTEE

10
     

SECTION 3.1.

Applicability of Guarantee

10

     

SECTION 3.2.

Additional Guarantors

10

     

SECTION 3.3.

No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee

10

     

SECTION 3.4.

Continued Effectiveness

11

     

SECTION 3.5.

Release of Guarantor

11

     

SECTION 3.6.

Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability

11

   

ARTICLE IV. MISCELLANEOUS

12

   

SECTION 4.1.

Relationship with Indenture

12

     

SECTION 4.2.

Trust Indenture Act Controls

12

     

SECTION 4.3.

Governing Law

12

     

SECTION 4.4.

Multiple Counterparts

12

     

SECTION 4.5.

Severability

12

     

SECTION 4.6.

Ratification

13

     

SECTION 4.7.

Effectiveness

13

     

EXHIBIT A— Form of 3.875% Senior Note due 2026

A-1

 

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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

This First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), among J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas (the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Georgia (herein called the “Initial Guarantor”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee hereunder (herein called the “Trustee”), supplements that certain Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019, among the Company, the Initial Guarantor and the Trustee (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series as provided for in the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Indenture in order to fully and unconditionally guarantee the Company’s obligations under the Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that the Securities shall be in the form as may be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or as may be established in one or more supplemental indentures thereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have agreed that the Company shall issue and deliver, and the Trustee shall authenticate, a series of Securities designated as the Company’s “3.875% Senior Notes due 2026” (hereinafter called the “Notes”) pursuant to the terms of this First Supplemental Indenture and substantially in the form as herein set forth, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises stated herein and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the parties hereto hereby enter into this First Supplemental Indenture, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I. 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.1.          Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture .

 

For purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby.

 

SECTION 1.2.          Definitions .

 

For the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, Section 1.1 of the Indenture shall be amended by adding or substituting, as applicable, the following new definitions:

 

“Additional Guarantor” has the meaning specified in Section 3.2 hereof.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of issuance of the Notes:

 

 

(1)

the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of its subsidiaries;

 

 

(2)

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of the Company’s Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of its outstanding Voting Stock;

 

 

(3)

the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

 

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(4)

the first day on which a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or

 

 

(5)

the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means, with respect to the Notes, the rating on the Notes is lowered and the rating assigned to the Notes by each of the Rating Agencies is below Investment Grade, on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as any Rating Agency has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change). For purposes of this definition and the application of the related provisions of Section 2.4,

 

 

(1)

if a Rating Agency is not providing a rating for the Notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the Notes will be deemed to have ceased to be rated Investment Grade by such Rating Agency during that Trigger Period, and

 

 

(2)

notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations obtained.

 

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who (1) was a member of the Board of Directors of the Company on the date of the prospectus supplement pursuant to which the Notes were offered; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors of the Company with the approval of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Board of Directors of the Company at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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“Existing Credit Facility” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2018, among the Company, the Initial Guarantor and the lenders and agents from time to time party thereto, as amended, restated, supplemented, replaced, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

“Guarantor” means each of the Initial Guarantor and any Additional Guarantor as guarantor of the Notes.

 

“Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Notes in the form of global Securities issued to the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

 

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company under the circumstances permitting the Company to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”

 

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

 

“Rating Agency” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided, that if either Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors, the Company may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency, provided that the Company shall give written notice of such appointment to the trustee.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. or their respective affiliates which are Primary Treasury Dealers and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms that are Primary Treasury Dealers specified from time to time by the Company, except that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in The City of New York (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall be required to designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm, or an affiliate thereof, that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by the Reference Treasury Dealers at 3:30 p.m. New York City time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

 

4

 

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the second Business Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Voting Stock” of any specified person (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) as of any date means the capital stock of such person that, at such date, is entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

 

ARTICLE II. 

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

 

 

SECTION 2.1.

Form and Dating .

 

The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by two of the officers of the Company specified in Section 303 of the Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes and any beneficial interest in the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

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

 

(a)        Global Notes . The Notes designated herein shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered global Securities, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York (the “Depositary”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the Depositary’s nominee, duly executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and with Guarantees endorsed thereon as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

The Global Notes may not be transferred except by the Depositary or its nominee, in whole and not in part, to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee. Upon the occurrence of the events specified in Section 305 of the Indenture in relation thereto, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order for authentication, authenticate and deliver, Notes in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Notes in exchange for such Global Note, which the Depositary will distribute to its participants.

 

5

 

 

(b)      Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to the Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

 

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver the Global Notes that shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary and shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions.

 

Participants of the Depositary shall have no rights either under the Indenture or with respect to any Global Notes held on their behalf by the Depositary or under such Global Notes. The Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes under the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its participants, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

 

(c)      Definitive Notes . Notes issued in certificated form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, but without including the text referred to therein as applying only to Global Notes. Except as provided above in subsection (a), owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes.

 

(d)      Transfer and Exchange of the Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the Indenture and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes.

 

(e)      Paying Agent . The Company appoints the Trustee as the initial agent of the Company for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes and the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, be and hereby is, designated as the office or agency where the Notes may be presented for payment and where notices to or demands upon the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture pursuant to which the Notes are to be issued may be served.

 

 

SECTION 2.2.

Certain Terms of the Notes .

 

The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

 

(a)       Title . The Notes shall constitute a series of Securities having the title “3.875% Senior Notes due 2026.”

 

6

 

 

(b)      Principal Amount . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107 of the Indenture or upon repayment of Notes in part pursuant to Section 2.4 hereof) shall be $700,000,000. The Company may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of the Notes, issue and sell additional Securities (“Additional Securities”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue price, the issue date and the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date), provided that such Securities are fungible with the previously issued Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such Additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting.

 

(c)      Maturity Date . The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on March 1, 2026.

 

(d)      Interest Rate . The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 3.875% per annum; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be March 1, 2019, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning September 1, 2019; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 15 or August 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the respective Holders on such Regular Record Date, and such defaulted interest may be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on the Notes may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

(e)      Currency .   The currency of denomination of the Notes is United States Dollars. Payment of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes will be made in United States Dollars.

 

 

SECTION 2.3.

Optional Redemption .

 

(a)     The provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

 

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(b)        At any time and from time to time, the Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the Company’s option, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice delivered in accordance with the Applicable Procedures or mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the Notes, at a Redemption Price to be determined in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.3(b). If the Notes are redeemed prior to January 1, 2026, the Redemption Price for the Notes to be redeemed will equal the greater of (i) 100% of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption (exclusive of unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, the Redemption Date) discounted to such Redemption Date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, plus, in either case, unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on a Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the related Interest Payment Date. If the Notes are redeemed on or after January 1, 2026, the Redemption Price for the Notes to be redeemed will equal 100% of principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus unpaid interest, if any, accrued to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

(c)        On and after any Redemption Date for the Notes, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the redemption price. Prior to any Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with a Paying Agent, or the Trustee, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed will be selected by the Trustee by such method as required by the Applicable Procedures or other customary method.

 

 

SECTION 2.4.

Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Trigger Event .

 

(a)         Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to the Notes, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes in whole as described in Section 2.3, each Holder of the Notes shall have the right to require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer required by this Section 2.4 (the “Change of Control Offer”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus unpaid interest, if any, accrued to the repurchase date (the “Change of Control Repurchase Price”), subject to the rights of Holders of the Notes on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(b)        Within 30 days following the date of the occurrence of the Change of Control Triggering Event, or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, the Company shall send, by first class mail, a written notice to each Holder of the Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state, among other things, the repurchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “Change of Control Repurchase Date”). Such notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, shall state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Repurchase Date.

 

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(c)       On the Change of Control Repurchase Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

(1)      accept or cause a third party to accept for repurchase all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

 

(2)      deposit or cause a third party to deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Repurchase Price in respect of all the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

 

(3)      deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased and that all conditions precedent to the Change of Control Offer and to the repurchase by the Company of Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer have been complied with.

 

(d)     The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all the Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

 

(e)     The Company shall comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those securities laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the Company shall comply with those securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached the Company’s obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes by virtue of any such conflict.

 

 

SECTION 2.5.

Limitation on Liens .

 

The provisions of Section 1008 of the Indenture are applicable to the Notes.

 

 

SECTION 2.6.

Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

 

The provisions of Section 1009 of the Indenture are applicable to the Notes.

 

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ARTICLE III. 

GUARANTEE

 

 

SECTION 3.1.

Applicability of Guarantee .

 

The provisions of Article Sixteen of the Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes. The Initial Guarantor and, if required in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2, any Additional Guarantors, shall guarantee the Notes on the terms set forth in Article Sixteen of the Indenture, subject to the provisions of this Article III.

 

 

SECTION 3.2.

Additional Guarantors .

 

(a)      If, after the date of the Indenture, any Subsidiary of the Company that is not then a Guarantor guarantees, becomes a borrower or guarantor under, or grants any lien to secure any obligations pursuant to, the Existing Credit Facility, then in any such case such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor (each such additional Guarantor, an “Additional Guarantor”) by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the Trustee promptly (but in any event, within two Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such indebtedness or granted such lien, as the case may be).

 

(b)     Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, any Guarantee by a Guarantor that was issued pursuant to this Section 3.2 solely as a result of its guarantee or incurrence of, or granting of a lien in respect of, any such indebtedness shall be automatically and unconditionally released upon the release or discharge of the guarantee that resulted in the creation of such Subsidiary’s Guarantee (or upon such Subsidiary ceasing to be a borrower or the release of liens granted by such Subsidiary, as the case may be), except a discharge or release as a result of payment under such guarantee, or of the refinancing or replacement of any such indebtedness that is guaranteed or incurred by such Guarantor.

 

 

SECTION 3.3.

No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee .

 

For purposes of the Notes, Section 1605 of the Indenture is replaced in its entirety by the following:

 

“Subject to Section 3.5 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, termination, impairment or for any reason (other than the payment in full in cash of the Obligations), including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise of any of the Obligations, and shall not be subject to any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this First Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or the Notes, any other guarantee or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any provision thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other act or omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations).”

 

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SECTION 3.4.

Continued Effectiveness .

 

For purposes of the Notes, Section 1607 of the Indenture is replaced in its entirety by the following:

 

“Subject to Section 3.5 of this First Supplemental Indenture, each of the Guarantors further agrees that its Guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Trustee or any Holder of the Notes upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.”

 

 

SECTION 3.5.

Release of Guarantor .

 

For purposes of the Notes, subparagraph (1) of Section 1611 of the Indenture is replaced in its entirety by the following:

 

“(1)    A Guarantor shall, upon the occurrence of any of the following events, be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all obligations under the Indenture, this First Supplemental Indenture and its Guarantee without any action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder:

 

(a)      upon written notice by the Company to the Trustee, at any time such Guarantor is not a borrower or guarantor under, and has not granted any then-existing lien to secure any obligations pursuant to, the Existing Credit Facility, except where resulting from a discharge or release as a result of payment under such guarantee; or

 

(b)     upon the occurrence of the circumstances described in Section 3.2(b) hereof, of which the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing.”

 

 

SECTION 3.6.

Limitation of Guarantor’s Liability .

 

For purposes of the Notes, Section 1612 of the Indenture is modified to add the following paragraph as the second paragraph of such Section:

 

“The Guarantee is expressly limited so that in no event, including the acceleration of the maturity of the Securities, shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid in respect of interest on the Securities (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) exceed the maximum permissible amount under applicable law, as in effect on the date hereof and as subsequently amended or modified to allow a greater amount of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) to be paid under the Guarantee. If for any reason the amount in respect of interest (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) required by the Guarantee exceeds such maximum permissible amount, the obligation to pay interest under the Guarantee (or fees or other amounts deemed payment for the use of funds) shall be automatically reduced to such maximum permissible amount and any amounts collected by any Holder of any Security in excess of the permissible amount shall be automatically applied to reduce the outstanding principal on such Security.”

 

11

 

 

ARTICLE IV. 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

SECTION 4.1.

Relationship with Indenture .

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Indenture will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this First Supplemental Indenture. However, to the extent any provision of the Indenture conflicts with the express provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture will govern and be controlling.

 

 

SECTION 4.2.

Trust Indenture Act Controls .

 

If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this First Supplemental Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act (the “TIA”), the required provision shall control. If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this First Supplemental Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

 

SECTION 4.3.

Governing Law .

 

This First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.

 

 

SECTION 4.4.

Multiple Counterparts .

 

The parties may sign multiple counterparts of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed counterpart shall be deemed an original, but all of them together represent one and the same First Supplemental Indenture.

 

 

SECTION 4.5.

Severability .

 

Each provision of this First Supplemental Indenture shall be considered separable and if for any reason any provision which is not essential to the effectuation of the basic purpose of this First Supplemental Indenture or 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 and a Holder shall have no claim therefor against any party hereto.

 

12

 

 

 

SECTION 4.6.

Ratification .

 

The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Indenture unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.7.

Effectiveness .

 

The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank. ]

 

13

 

 

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

 

  J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.  
       
       
  By: /s/ David G. Mee  
   

Name: David G. Mee

Title: EVP Finance and CFO

 

 

 

 

  J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.  
       
       
  By: /s/ Kevin Bracy  
   

Name: Kevin Bracy

Title: Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 
       
       
  By: /s/ Gregory S. Clarke  
   

Name: Gregory S. Clarke

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

[Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of 3.875% Senior Note due 2026

 

[Include the following legend on each Note that is a Global Note:

 

THIS NOTE 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. THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, 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 A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 

3.875% Senior Note due 2026

 

REGISTERED
No. [___]

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $[            ]

CUSIP: 445658 CF2

 

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., an Arkansas corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $[        ] on March 1, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”) (except to the extent redeemed or repaid prior to the Maturity Date) and to pay interest thereon from March 1, 2019 (the “Original Issue Date”) or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for semi-annually at the rate of 3.875% per annum, on March 1 and September 1 (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing September 1, 2019, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

Payment of Interest . The interest so payable, and punctually paid or made available for payment, on any Interest Payment Date, will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on February 15 or August 15 (whether or not a Business Day, as defined in the First Supplemental Indenture referred to herein), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”). Any such interest not punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

 

A-1

 

 

Place of Payment . Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on this Note will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that each installment of interest, premium, if any, and principal on this Note may at the Company’s option be paid in immediately available funds by transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

Time of Payment . In any case where any Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or any date fixed for redemption or repayment of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or this Note), payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, the Maturity Date or the date so fixed for redemption or repayment, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

 

General . This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Base Indenture”), dated as of March 1, 2019, among the Company, the Initial Guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Note is a part), as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Initial Guarantor and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Securities designated as “3.875% Senior Notes due 2026” (collectively, the “Notes”), initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $700,000,000.

 

Further Issuance . The Company may from time to time, without notice to, or the consent of, the Holders of the Notes, issue and sell additional Securities (“Additional Securities”) ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (other than the issue price, the issue date and the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date), provided that such Securities are fungible with the previously issued Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such Additional Securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes for all purposes under the Indenture, including voting.

 

A-2

 

 

Events of Default . If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

Sinking Fund . The Notes are not subject to any sinking fund.

 

Optional Redemption . The Notes will be redeemable at any time, at the option of the Company, in whole or from time to time in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior written notice, on any date prior to their Maturity at a redemption price, calculated in accordance with the terms of the First Supplemental Indenture, which includes accrued interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the Redemption Date. In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee by such methods, as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon cancellation of this Note.

 

Repurchase upon a Change of Control Triggering Event . Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to the Notes, unless the Company has exercised its option to redeem the Notes in whole as described under “—Optional Redemption,” the Company shall be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes on the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance . The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company on this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Events of Default which provisions apply to this Note.

 

Modification and Waivers; Obligations of the Company Absolute . 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 Initial Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities. Such amendment may be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all outstanding Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of individual series to waive on behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such individual series certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver shall be conclusive and binding upon the Holder of this Note and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

A-3

 

 

Limitation on Suits . As set forth in, and subject to, the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Note will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the Trustee to institute such proceedings as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided , however , that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on this Note on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

Authorized Denominations . The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Registration of Transfer or Exchange . As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the register of the Notes maintained by the Registrar 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.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, the Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of different authorized denominations, as requested by the Holders surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Guarantee . Payment of this Note is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Initial Guarantor and any Additional Guarantors that become and continue to be Guarantors pursuant to the Indenture. In the event that there shall be more than one Guarantor of the Notes, such Guarantors shall guarantee the Notes on a joint and several basis. Guarantors may be released from their obligations under the Indenture and their Guarantees under the circumstances specified in the Indenture.

 

A-4

 

 

Defined Terms . All terms used in this Note, which are defined in the Indenture and are not otherwise defined herein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Governing Law . The Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles of such State other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401.

 

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

 

A-5

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated:

     
   

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 
       
       
   

By:

   
     

Name:

 
     

Title:

 

Attest:

       
         
         

By:

         
 

Name:

       
 

Title:

       

 

A-6

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee

   
   
 

By:

 
     
     

Dated:

   

 

A-7

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 


 


 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 


 

 


(Please print or typewrite name and address,

including postal zip code, of assignee)

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints

 


 

 


 

 


 

to transfer said Note on the books of the Trustee, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:      
      NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

 

                                                            

Signature Guarantee

 

A-8

 

 

NOTATION OF GUARANTEES

 

For value received, the Initial Guarantor has fully and unconditionally guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture, among the Company, the Initial Guarantor and the Trustee and subject to the provisions in the Indenture and the terms of the Notes, (a) the due and punctual payment in full when due of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Notes by the Company and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Obligations (with or without notice to the Initial Guarantor), that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise. The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Guarantees and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Sixteen of the Indenture and Article III of the First Supplemental Indenture thereto establishing the terms of the Notes and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and First Supplemental Indenture thereto for the precise terms of the Guarantee, including provisions for the release thereof. Each Holder of a Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions and (b) appoints the Trustee attorney-in-fact of such Holder for the purpose of such provisions. The Initial Guarantor hereby agrees that its Guarantees of the Notes set forth in the Indenture and Article III of the First Supplemental Indenture shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on any Note this notation of the Guarantees.

 

 

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

 

A-9

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1800

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3525

Telephone 501-688-8800

Fax 501-688-8807

 

March 1, 2019

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

Lowell, Arkansas 72745-0130

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., an Arkansas corporation (the “Company”), and J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the “Guarantor”), in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of: (i) one or more series of debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) and (ii) guarantees of the Debt Securities (the “Guarantees”) by the Guarantor, pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on January 11, 2019, Registration No. 333-229219 (the “Registration Statement”). As described in the Registration Statement, the Debt Securities and Guarantees may be issued from time to time in one or more offerings. This opinion is issued with respect to an offering of Debt Securities on the date hereof, consisting of $700,000,000 face amount of 3.875% Notes due 2026, issued by the Company (the “Notes”), and the related Guarantee issued by the Guarantor (the “Note Guarantee”), as described in a prospectus supplement dated February 26, 2019 (the “Prospectus Supplement”).

 

We have reviewed such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. We have assumed that all signatures are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, and that all copies of documents submitted to us conform to the originals. We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and the Guarantor, and other sources believed by us to be responsible.

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when, as and if (i) the Notes have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the trustee in accordance with the applicable supplemental indenture, and (ii) the Notes have been duly issued and delivered against payment therefor as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, then, upon the happening of such events, the Notes and the related Note Guarantee will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company and the Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

 

 

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

March 1, 2019

Page 2

 

 

We do not express any opinion herein on any laws other than the law of the State of Arkansas, the law of the State of New York, the Georgia Business Corporation Code, and the federal law of the United States of America.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company and the Guarantor filed the date hereof and to its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, p.l.l.c.

 

mitchell, williams, selig,

gates & woodyard, p.l.l.c. 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) dated as of March 1, 2019, is among J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC. , a Georgia corporation (the “ Borrower ”), J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC. , an Arkansas corporation (the “ Parent ”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement described below) (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and each of the Lenders party hereto.

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS , the Borrower, the Parent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of September 25, 2018 (as hereby amended and as from time to time further amended, supplemented, restated, amended and restated or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms used in this Amendment not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given thereto in the Credit Agreement), pursuant to which the Lenders have made revolving credit facilities available to the Borrower;

 

WHEREAS, the Parent has entered into the Parent Guaranty pursuant to which it has guaranteed the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and

 

WHEREAS , the Borrower has requested, and the Administrative Agent and each Lender party hereto have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, to amend the Credit Agreement as set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and further valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.      Amendment s to Credit Agreement . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

(a)     The definition of “Indenture” in Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by restating such definition in its entirety to read as follows:

 

““ Indenture ” means any of (i) that certain Indenture dated as of September 20, 2010, among the Parent (as Issuer), the Borrower (as Guarantor), and U.S. Bank National Association (as Trustee), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 20, 2010, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 6, 2014, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 6, 2014, and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 6, 2015, each among the Parent (as Issuer), the Borrower (as Guarantor), and U.S. Bank National Association (as Trustee); (ii) that certain Indenture dated as of March 1, 2019, among the Parent (as Issuer), the Borrower (as Guarantor), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as Trustee); and (iii) any indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that may hereafter be entered into among the Parent, the Borrower, or both Parent and Borrower, and one or more trustees, provided that the terms and conditions of such indenture are approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole and reasonable discretion; and “Indenture” shall include any amendment or supplement to, or restatement of, any indenture referred to in clauses (i) , (ii) or (iii) .”

 

 

 

 

(b)      Section 7.09 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety so that as amended such subsection shall read as follows:

 

7.09       Limitation on Restrictions on Subsidiary Dividends and Other Distributions .  Permit any of their Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any of such Subsidiaries to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its profits owned by the Borrower, the Parent or any of their Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness owed by any of the Subsidiaries to the Borrower, the Parent or to any other Subsidiary, (b) make loans or advances to the Borrower, the Parent or to any other Subsidiary, (c) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on the property of it or any other Subsidiary, or (d) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Borrower, the Parent or to any other Subsidiary, except, in each case, for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) applicable Laws, (ii) this Agreement, (iii) Permitted Liens (such restrictions existing by reason of any Permitted Lien only prohibiting the transfer of such properties or assets subject to such Permitted Lien), or (iv) any Indenture.”

 

2.      Effectiveness; Conditions Precedent . The effectiveness of this Amendment and the amendments to the Credit Agreement provided in Section 1 hereof are all subject to (a) the Administrative Agent’s receipt of counterparts of this Amendment duly executed by the Borrower, the Parent, the Lenders constituting Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent and (b) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders may reasonably require.

 

3.      Confirmation and Reaffirmation . The Parent hereby consents, acknowledges and agrees to the amendments set forth herein and hereby confirms and ratifies in all respects the Parent Guaranty and the enforceability of the Parent Guaranty against the Parent in accordance with its terms.

 

4.      Representations and Warranties . In order to induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Amendment, each of the Borrower and the Parent represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as follows:

 

(a)     At the time of and immediately after giving effect to this Amendment, the representations and warranties set forth in Article V of the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof except that (i) if a qualifier relating to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or a similar concept applies, such representation shall be true and correct in all respects, (ii) to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date, and (iii) for the purposes of this Amendment, the representations and warranties contained in Section 5. 04 of the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to Section 6.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)     This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Borrower and the Parent. This Amendment constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Borrower and the Parent enforceable against the Borrower and the Parent in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, Debtor Relief Laws or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

 

 

 

(c)      After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

5.      Entire Agreement . On and after the effectiveness of this Amendment, this Amendment shall for all purposes constitute a Loan Document. This Amendment, the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and the other Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Relevant Documents ”), sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto in relation to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior negotiations and agreements among the parties relating to such subject matter. No promise, condition, representation or warranty, express or implied, not set forth in the Relevant Documents shall bind any party hereto, and no such party has relied on any such promise, condition, representation or warranty. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that, except as otherwise expressly stated in the Relevant Documents, no representations, warranties or commitments, express or implied, have been made by any party to any other party in relation to the subject matter hereof or thereof. None of the terms or conditions of this Amendment may be changed, modified, waived or canceled orally or otherwise, except in writing and in accordance with Section 10.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

6.      Full Force and Effect of Credit Agreement . Except as hereby specifically amended, modified or supplemented, the Credit Agreement is hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects and shall be and remain in full force and effect according to its terms. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents.

 

7.      Counterparts and Effectiveness . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Amendment. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Amendment by telecopy or electronic delivery (including by .pdf) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

 

8.      Governing Law . THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING FOR SUCH PURPOSES SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK).

 

9.      Severability . Whenever possible each provision of this Amendment shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Amendment shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition of invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Amendment.

 

10.      References . All references to the “Credit Agreement” in the Loan Documents shall mean the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby.

 

11.      Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Parent, the Swing Line Lender, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Parent, the Swing Line Lender, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and the respective successors and assigns of the Borrower, the Parent, the Swing Line Lender, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent.

 

[Signature pages follow.]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be made, executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

BORROWER :

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kevin L. Bracy 

 

 

Name: 

Kevin L. Bracy

 

 

Title:

SVP Finance & Treasurer

 

       
       
       
 

PARENT :

 

J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

 
       
       
       
  By: /s/ David G. Mee  
  Name:   David G. Mee  
  Title:

EVP Finance and Administration &

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. , as Administrative
Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Don B. Pinzon

 

 

Name:

Don B. Pinzon

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A ., as a Lender and as the Swing

Line Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lisa M. Chrzanowski 

 

 

Name:

Lisa M. Chrzanowski

 

 

Title: 

Senior Vice President

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

SUNTRUST BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Justin Lien 

 

 

Name:  Justin Lien

 

 

Title:    Director

 

   

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Joshua R. Lewis

 

 

Name:   Joshua R. Lewis

 

  Title:     Authorized Signer  

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

BRANCH BANK ING AND TRUST COMPANY , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Melinda Gulledge

 

 

Name: Melinda Gulledge

 

 

Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Jamie Minieri

 

 

Name:    Jamie Minieri

Title:     Authorized Signatory

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

REGIONS BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jon-Paul Hickey 

 

 

Name:

Jon-Paul Hickey

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley BANK, N.A. , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Emanuel Ma

 

 

Name: 

Emanuel Ma

 

 

Title:

Authorized Signatory

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

BOKF, NA DBA BANK OF ARKANSAS , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jacob Hudson

 

 

Name:

Jacob Hudson

 

 

Title: 

Senior Vice President

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK , NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , as a

Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Boaz Slomowitz

 

 

Name: 

Boaz Slomowitz

 

 

Title: 

Vice President

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

 

 

 

 

 

COMMERCE BANK , as a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Adam Hensley

 

 

Name:

Adam Hensley

 

 

Title: 

Vice President

 

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.

Signature Page

Exhibit 25.1

 



 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________

 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

_____________________________

 

  X    CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

A National Banking Association

94-1347393

(Jurisdiction of incorporation of

(I.R.S. Employer

organization if not a U.S. national

Identification No.)

bank)

 
   

101 North Phillips Avenue

 

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

57104

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip code)

 

 

Wells Fargo & Company
Law Department, Trust Section

MAC N9305-175

Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, 17 th Floor

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479

(612) 667-4608

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

_____________________________

 

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Arkansas

 

71-0335111

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

     

615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive

   

Lowell, Arkansas

 

72745-0130     

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

_____________________________

Debt Securities

 (Title of indenture securities)

 



 

 

 

 

Item 1.      General Information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

 

(a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

 

 

Comptroller of the Currency

Treasury Department

Washington, D.C.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Washington, D.C.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

San Francisco, California 94120

 

 

 

(b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

 

 

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Item 2.

Affiliations with Obligor. If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None with respect to the trustee.

 

No responses are included for Items 3-14 of this Form T-1 because the obligor is not in default as provided under Item 13.

 

Item 15. Foreign Trustee.           Not applicable.

 

Item 16.  List of Exhibits.            List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility

 

 

Exhibit 1.

A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee as now in effect.*

 

 

Exhibit 2.

A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certificate of Corporate Existence for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated January 14, 2015.*

 

 

Exhibit 3.

A copy of the Comptroller of the Currency Certification of Fiduciary Powers for Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, dated January 6, 2014.*

 

 

Exhibit 4.

Copy of By-laws of the trustee as now in effect.*

 

 

Exhibit 5.

Not applicable.

 

 

Exhibit 6.

The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.

 

 

Exhibit 7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

 

Exhibit 8.

Not applicable.

 

 

Exhibit 9.

Not applicable.

 

*     Incorporated by reference to the exhibit of the same number to the trustee’s Form T-1 filed as exhibit to the Filing 305B2 dated March 13, 2015 of Navient Funding, LLC and Navient Credit Funding, LLC, file number 333-190926.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on the 1 st  day of March, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 /s/ Gregory S. Clarke                                            

Gregory S. Clarke

Vice President

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 6

 

 

 

 

March 1, 2019

 

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Gentlemen:

 

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the undersigned hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned made by Federal, State, Territorial, or District authorities authorized to make such examination may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 /s/ Gregory S. Clarke                                            

Gregory S. Clarke

Vice President

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 7

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

 

Wells Fargo Bank National Association

of 101 North Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

at the close of business December 31, 2018, filed in accordance with 12 U.S.C. §161 for National Banks.

 

           

Dollar Amounts

In Millions

 
                 
                 

ASSETS

               

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

               

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

          $ 22,427  

Interest-bearing balances

            149,483  

Securities:

               

Held-to-maturity securities

            144,679  

Available-for-sale securities

            255,037  

Equity Securities with readily determinable fair value not held for trading

            79  
                 

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

               

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

            114  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

            41,906  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

               

Loans and leases held for sale

            7,833  

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

    923,885          

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

    9,504          

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

            914,381  

Trading Assets

            40,722  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

            7,982  

Other real estate owned

            457  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

            12,863  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

            229  

Intangible assets

            39,280  

Other assets

            51,879  
                 

Total assets

          $ 1,689,351  
                 

LIABILITIES

               

Deposits:

               

In domestic offices

          $ 1,282,404  

Noninterest-bearing

    399,731          

Interest-bearing

    882,673          

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

            59,567  

Noninterest-bearing

    1,084          

Interest-bearing

    58,483          

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

               

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

            6,516  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

            5,959  

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Dollar Amounts

 
    In Millions  
         
         

Trading liabilities

    11,537  

Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

    115,522  

Subordinated notes and debentures

    11,751  

Other liabilities

    30,852  

 

       

Total liabilities

  $ 1,524,108  
         
         

EQUITY CAPITAL

       

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

    0  

Common stock

    519  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

    114,541  

Retained earnings

    53,527  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    -3,686  

Other equity capital components

    0  

 

       

Total bank equity capital

    164,901  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

    342  
         

Total equity capital

    165,243  

 

       

Total liabilities, and equity capital

  $ 1,689,351  

 

 

I, John R. Shrewsberry, Sr. EVP & CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

 

   John R. Shrewsberry

        Sr. EVP & CFO

 

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

 

 

Directors

James Quigley

Theodore F. Craver, Jr.

Karen B. Peetz