As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10 , 2016
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New Jersey
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
22-1901645
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, New Jersey 08037
(609) 561-9000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant’s principal executive offices)
Michael J. Renna
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, New Jersey 08037
(609) 561-9000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Gina L. Merritt-Epps
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary South Jersey Industries, Inc. 1 South Jersey Plaza Folsom, New Jersey 08037 (609) 561-9000 |
Andrew L. Fabens
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 351-4000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after effectiveness of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☑
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.☑
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filed and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☑
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered (1)
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Amount to be
registered (2) |
Proposed
maximum offering price per unit (2) |
Proposed
maximum aggregate offering price (2) |
Amount of
registration fee (2) |
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Debt securities
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Common stock, par value $1.25 per share
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Preference stock, no par value
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Warrants
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Depositary shares (3)
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Purchase contracts
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Units
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(1) | Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. |
(2) | Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3. An indeterminate aggregate offering price or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. |
(3) | Each depositary share will be issued under a deposit agreement and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt. |
PROSPECTUS
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES
COMMON STOCK
PREFERENCE STOCK
WARRANTS
DEPOSITARY SHARES
PURCHASE CONTRACTS
UNITS
We may from time to time offer to sell our senior or subordinated debt securities, common stock or preference stock, either separately or represented by warrants, depositary shares or purchase contracts, as well as units that include any of these securities or securities of other entities. The senior or subordinated debt securities may consist of debentures, notes or other types of debt. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol SJI. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange. The senior or subordinated debt securities, preference stock, warrants and purchase contracts may be convertible or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preference stock or other securities of ours or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. These securities also may be resold by security holders. We will provide specific terms of any securities to be offered in supplements to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1 South Jersey Plaza, Folsom, New Jersey 08037. Our telephone number is (609) 561-9000.
Investing in our securities involves certain risks. See the Risk Factors section of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the applicable prospectus supplement. Also see Risk Factors on page 5 .
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 10 , 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from what is contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), utilizing a shelf registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, at any time and from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to that offering. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The exhibits to the registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents summarized in this prospectus. You should review the full text of these documents because the summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read at the SECs website or at the SECs offices as indicated under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
Unless we otherwise specify or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to SJI, the Company, the registrant, we, us, and our refer to South Jersey Industries, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SECs Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding South Jersey Industries, Inc. and other issuers that file electronically with the SEC electronically. Copies of our periodic and current reports and proxy statements also may be obtained, free of charge, on the Investors section of our website at http://www.sjindustriesinc.com. This reference to our Internet address is for informational purposes only and shall not, under any circumstances, be deemed to incorporate the information available at or through such Internet address into this prospectus.
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The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. We hereby incorporate by reference the documents listed below. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and in some cases supersede this information. Specifically, we incorporate by reference the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):
• | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (including the portions of our proxy statement for our 2016 annual meeting of shareholders incorporated by reference therein), filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016; |
• | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2016; |
• | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 7, 2016, February 16, 2016, March 11, 2016, May 3, 2016 and May 10, 2016; |
• | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-B (File No. 1-3990); and |
• | future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of the securities made under this prospectus; provided , however , that we are not incorporating by reference any documents or information, including parts of documents that we file with the SEC, that are deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC. Unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus. |
We will provide, without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this prospectus has been delivered, including any beneficial owner, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to herein that are summarized in and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, if such person makes a written or oral request directed to:
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
Attention: Corporate Secretary
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, New Jersey 08037
(609) 561-9000
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including information incorporated by reference, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding guidance, industry prospects or future results of operations or financial position, are forward-looking. We use words such as anticipate, believe, expect, estimate, forecast, goal, intend, objective, plan, project, seek, strategy, target, will and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of our management at the time that these statements were made and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions on an international, national, state and local level; weather conditions in our marketing areas; changes in commodity costs; the timing of new projects coming on-line; changes in the availability of natural gas; non-routine or extraordinary disruptions in our distribution system; regulatory, legislative and court decisions; competition; the availability and cost of capital; costs and effects of legal proceedings and environmental liabilities; the failure of customers, suppliers or business partners to fulfill their contractual obligations; and changes in business strategies.
These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, are described in greater detail under the heading Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in our other SEC filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus. No assurance can be given that any goal or plan set forth in any forward-looking statement can or will be achieved, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures we make in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. See Where You Can Find More Information.
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South Jersey Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, was formed in 1969 for the purpose of owning and holding all of the outstanding common stock of South Jersey Gas Company, a public utility, and acquiring and developing non-utility lines of business.
SJI currently provides a variety of energy-related products and services, primarily through the following subsidiaries:
• | South Jersey Gas Company is a regulated natural gas utility and distributes natural gas in the seven southernmost counties of New Jersey. |
• | South Jersey Energy Company acquires and markets natural gas and electricity to retail end users and provides total energy management services to commercial and industrial customers. |
• | South Jersey Resources Group, LLC markets natural gas storage, commodity and transportation assets along with fuel management services on a wholesale basis in the mid-Atlantic, Appalachian and southern states. |
• | South Jersey Exploration, LLC owns oil, gas and mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. |
• | Marina Energy LLC develops and operates on-site energy-related projects, a natural gas fueled combined heating, cooling and power facility, landfill gas-fired electric production facilities and solar-generation sites. |
• | South Jersey Energy Service Plus, LLC services residential and small commercial HVAC systems, installs small commercial HVAC systems, provides plumbing services and services appliances under warranty via a subcontractor arrangement as well as on a time and materials basis. |
• | SJI Midstream, LLC was formed in 2014 to invest in infrastructure and other midstream projects, including a current project to build a 100-mile natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. |
Our general mailing address is 1 South Jersey Plaza, Folsom, NJ 08037, and our telephone number is (609) 561-9000.
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Investing in our securities involves risk. Before you decide whether to purchase any of our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors in the section entitled Risk Factors in any prospectus supplement as well as our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in their entirety, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by our filings under the Exchange Act. For more information, see Where You Can Find More Information. These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.
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Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the proceeds of any offering for general corporate purposes, which may include investments, working capital, investments in our subsidiaries and capital expenditures. Net proceeds may be temporarily invested prior to use.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. See Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation By Reference.
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Three Months
Ended March 31, 2016 |
Year Ended December 31,
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2015
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2014
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2013
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2012
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2011
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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10.7x
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4.5x
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4.0x
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2.9x
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5.0x
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5.4x
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The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (i) the difference between (x) the sum of (a) pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees; (b) fixed charges; (c) amortization of capitalized interest; and (d) our share of pre-tax losses of equity investees for which charges arising from guarantees are included in fixed charges and (y) the sum of (a) interest capitalized; (b) preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries; and (c) the noncontrolling interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges by (ii) fixed charges.
The term fixed charges means the sum of (a) interest expensed and capitalized; and (b) amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness.
We currently do not have any preference stock outstanding, but if we offer preference stock under this prospectus, then we will, if required at that time, provide a ratio of combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings in the applicable prospectus supplement for such offering.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions described below may apply to those securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We also may sell hybrid securities that combine certain features of debt securities and other securities described in this prospectus. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of a debt security as described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supplement and may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are any differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will control. As a result, the statements we make in this section may not apply to the debt security you purchase.
South Jersey Industries, Inc. will be the issuer of any debt securities we may offer and references to we, our, or us in this description do not, unless the context otherwise indicates, include any of its subsidiaries. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this section have the respective meanings set forth in the applicable indenture.
General
The debt securities that we may offer will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Any senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, which we refer to as the senior indenture, to be entered into between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any subordinated debt securities will be issued under a different indenture, which we refer to as the subordinated indenture, to be entered into between us and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture as the indentures, and to each of the trustees under the indentures as a trustee. The terms of each series of debt securities will be set forth in a resolution of the board of directors of the Company, an officers certificate or by a supplemental indenture. You should read the indentures, including any amendments or supplements or any officers certificate setting forth the terms of any series of notes, carefully to fully understand the terms of the debt securities. The forms of the indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures are subject to, and are governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust Indenture Act).
Any senior debt securities that we may issue will be our unsubordinated obligations. They will rank equally with each other and all of our other unsubordinated debt, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any subordinated debt securities that we may issue will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt. See Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities. The subordinated debt securities will rank equally with each other, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will indicate in each applicable prospectus supplement, as of the most recent practicable date, the aggregate amount of our outstanding debt that would rank senior to the subordinated debt securities.
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder and provide that debt securities of any series may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities of the same series at more than one time and, unless prohibited by the terms of the series, we may reopen a series for issuances of additional debt securities without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of that series. All debt securities issued as a series, including those issued pursuant to any reopening of a series, will vote together as a single class.
Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following and other possible terms of each series of the debt securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered:
• | the title of the debt securities; |
• | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under the applicable indenture, except for debt securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, other debt securities of that series; |
• | the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of the series is payable; |
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• | the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
• | the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series shall be payable, where the debt securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon us with respect to the debt securities of such series and the applicable indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means if other than as set forth in the applicable indenture; |
• | the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates; |
• | any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to such series, if different from those set forth in the applicable indenture; |
• | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral; |
• | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option; |
• | our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, debt securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
• | the form of the debt securities of the series including the form of the trustee’s certificate of authentication for such series; |
• | if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the debt securities of the series shall be issuable; |
• | the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, debt securities of the series shall be payable; |
• | if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the portion of the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined; |
• | the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights; |
• | if the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities, the type of global security to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in the applicable indenture, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities in definitive registered form; the depositary for such global security or securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such global security or securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in the indenture; |
• | whether the debt securities of the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein; |
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• | any additional restrictive covenants or events of default that will apply to the debt securities of the series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in the applicable indenture that will apply to the debt securities of the series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in the applicable indenture or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or event of default with respect to the debt securities of the series; |
• | any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs; |
• | if the amount of principal or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
• | any special tax implications of the debt securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered; |
• | whether and upon what terms debt securities of a series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in the applicable indenture; |
• | with regard to the debt securities of any series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the trustee; |
• | whether the debt securities of the series will be issued as unrestricted securities or restricted securities, and, if issued as restricted securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) in reliance on which they will be sold; |
• | any guarantees on the debt securities; |
• | the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the debt securities of the series; |
• | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to debt securities of such series if other than those appointed in the applicable indenture; |
• | if the debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the subordination terms of the debt securities; and |
• | any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the debt securities of the series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series. |
We will comply with Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable, in connection with any obligation to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.
The statements made hereunder relating to the indentures and any debt securities that we may issue are summaries of certain provisions thereof and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the indentures and the debt securities and the descriptions thereof, if different, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of subordinated debt securities is subordinated to debt securities of another series or to our other indebtedness. The terms will include a description of:
• | the indebtedness ranking senior to the debt securities being offered; |
• | the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered while a default with respect to the senior indebtedness is continuing; and |
• | the provisions requiring holders of the debt securities being offered to remit some payments to the holders of senior indebtedness. |
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Redemption
If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem the debt securities of any series, as a whole or in part, at our option on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we redeem the debt securities of any series, we also must pay accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption on such debt securities.
Selection and Notice
If less than all of the debt securities of a series are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select the debt securities of such series for redemption by lot, based on the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company (DTC).
No debt securities in principal amount of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail (in case of notes held in book entry form, by electronic transmission) at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of debt securities of such series to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the debt securities of such series or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture.
If any debt security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that debt security will state the portion of the principal amount of that debt security that is to be redeemed. For debt securities issued in certificated form, a new certificate in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original debt security will be issued in the name of the holder of the original debt security upon cancellation of the original debt security. Debt securities called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or portions of the debt securities called for redemption.
The trustee will not be liable for selections made by it as contemplated in this section. For any debt securities which are represented by global securities held on behalf of DTC, the Euroclear System (Euroclear) or Clearstream Banking S.A. (Clearstream), notices may be given by delivery of the relevant notices to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream for communication to entitled account holders in substitution for the aforesaid mailing.
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any debt securities are outstanding, we shall file with the trustee, within the time periods specified by the SECs rules and regulations, 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 SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that we would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. We shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the SEC via EDGAR, or any successor electronic delivery procedure. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only, and the trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including our compliance with any covenants under the indenture (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on officers certificates).
Events of Default
The following will be Events of Default with respect to debt securities of a particular series, except to the extent provided in the supplemental indenture, officers certificate or resolution of our board of directors pursuant to which a series of debt securities is issued:
• | failure to pay any interest on any of the debt securities of such series within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable; |
• | failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the debt securities of such series at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable by the terms of the debt securities of such series; |
• | failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the debt securities of such series, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
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• | failure to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in any of the debt securities of such series or the indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that we included in the indenture solely for the benefit of another series of debt securities) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of a series affected by that failure, a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a notice of default under the indenture; |
• | certain events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and |
• | any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, officers’ certificate or resolution of our board of directors under which such series of debt securities is issued or in the form of security for such series. |
A default under one series of debt securities issued under the indenture will not necessarily be a default under another series of debt securities under the indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of a series of debt securities issued under such indenture of any default or event of default (except in any payment on the debt securities of such series) if the trustee considers it in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of that series to do so.
If an event of default for a series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series may require us to pay immediately the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on all the debt securities of that series. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs with respect to us, the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on the debt securities of that series will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the trustee or any holder. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment requirement.
A holder of debt securities of any series may pursue any remedy under the indenture applicable to the debt securities of that series only if:
• | the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default; |
• | the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy; |
• | the holder furnishes to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against loss, liability or expense; |
• | the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity; and |
• | during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the request. |
This provision does not, however, affect the right of any holder to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment with respect to the debt securities of such series. In most cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding may direct the time, method and place of:
• | conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series; and |
• | exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee not relating to or arising under an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series. |
The indenture will require us to file with the trustee each year a written statement as to our compliance with the covenants contained in the indenture, and we are required upon becoming aware of any default or Event of Default, to deliver to the trustee a written statement specifying such default or Event of Default.
Covenants
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the debt securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.
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Consolidation, Merger or Sale
We will covenant not to consolidate with or merge into any other person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, assets to any person unless either we are the surviving corporation or the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the notes is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any successor or purchaser expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities by an indenture supplemental to the indenture, and immediately after which, 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. An officers certificate and an opinion of counsel will be delivered to the trustee, which will serve as conclusive evidence of compliance with these provisions.
Modification and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the indenture or the debt securities of any series may be amended or supplemented, and waivers may be obtained, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the applicable series at the time outstanding (including, without limitation, additional debt securities of such series, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, debt securities of such series), and any existing default or Event of Default (other than a default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, debt securities of such series, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of such indenture or the applicable debt securities may be waived with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the applicable series at the time outstanding (including, without limitation, additional debt securities of such series, if any) voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such series). Without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any debt securities held by a non-consenting holder):
• | reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver; |
• | reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt securities; |
• | reduce the principal or change the stated maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
• | reduce any premium payable on the redemption of any debt security, change the time at which any debt security may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of such debt securities; |
• | make payments on any debt security payable in currency other than as originally stated in such debt security; |
• | impair the holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security; or |
• | waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on the debt securities. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder of debt securities, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the applicable debt securities in certain circumstances, including:
• | to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
• | to provide for the assumption of our obligations under the indenture by a successor or transferee upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer; |
• | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
• | to provide any security for or guarantees of the debt securities or for the addition of an additional obligor on the debt securities; |
• | to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable; |
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• | to add covenants that would benefit the holders of any outstanding series of debt securities or to surrender any of our rights under the indenture; |
• | to add additional Events of Default with respect to any series of debt securities; |
• | to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; |
• | to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new series of debt securities; |
• | to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities otherwise in accordance with the defeasance provisions of the indenture; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding debt securities of such series in any material respect; |
• | to issue additional debt securities of any series; provided that such additional debt securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same series as, the applicable series of debt securities to the extent required under the indenture; |
• | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding debt securities in any material respect; or |
• | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee. |
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series then outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of such series waive any past default with respect to those debt securities, except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any debt security of such series (provided, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series then outstanding may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).
A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant, Event of Default or other provision of the indenture that has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of securities, if any, or which modifies the rights of the holders of securities of such series with respect to such covenant, Event of Default or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of securities of any other series that does not have the benefit of such covenant, Event of Default or other provision. It will not be necessary for the consent of the holders to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of it.
Information Concerning the Trustee
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent person in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of any debt securities issued under the indenture only after those holders have furnished the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, it will be subject to limitations in the indenture on its rights to obtain payment of claims or to realize on certain property received for any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us. If, however, it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict, resign or obtain an order from the SEC permitting it to remain as trustee.
Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent
We will maintain one or more paying agents (each, a Paying Agent) for any debt securities we issue. We, upon written notice to the trustee accompanied by an officers certificate, may appoint one or more Paying Agents, other than the trustee, for all or any series of such debt securities. If we fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Paying Agent, the trustee shall act as such. We or any of our subsidiaries, upon notice to the trustee, may act as Paying Agent.
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We will also maintain one or more registrars (each, a Registrar). We, upon written notice to the trustee accompanied by an officers certificate, may appoint one or more registrars, other than the trustee, for all or any series of debt securities. If we fail to appoint or maintain another entity as registrar, the trustee shall act as such. We or any of our subsidiaries, upon notice to the trustee, may act as registrar.
We will also maintain one or more transfer agents. Each transfer agent shall perform the functions of a transfer agent. We, upon written notice to the trustee accompanied by an officers certificate, may appoint one or more transfer agents, other than the trustee, for all or any series of debt securities. If we fail to appoint or maintain another entity as transfer agent, the trustee shall act as such. We or any of our subsidiaries, upon notice to the trustee, may act as transfer agent.
The Registrar will maintain a register reflecting ownership of debt securities outstanding from time to time, and the Paying Agents will make payments on and facilitate transfer of debt securities on our behalf. We may change any Paying Agents, Registrars or transfer agents without prior notice to the holders of debt securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and any debt securities issued thereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws principles that would require the application of any other law. The indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
The indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to a series of debt securities when either:
• | we have delivered to the trustee for cancellation all outstanding securities of such series, other than any securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in the indenture; |
• | all outstanding securities of such series that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and we shall have irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust funds the entire amount, in cash in U.S. dollars or noncallable U.S. governmental obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all securities of such series, including principal of and any premium and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be; or |
• | we have properly fulfilled any other means of satisfaction and discharge that may be set forth in the terms of the securities of such series. |
In each case, we will also pay all other sums payable by us under the indenture with respect to the securities of such series and deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and an officers certificate, each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge with respect to the securities of such series have been complied with.
Defeasance
The term defeasance means the discharge of some or all of our obligations under the indenture. If we deposit with the trustee funds or U.S. government securities, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, to make payments on any series of debt securities on the dates those payments are due and payable, then, at our option, either of the following will occur:
• | we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series (legal defeasance); or |
• | we will no longer have any obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants under the indenture, and the related events of default will no longer apply to us (covenant defeasance). |
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If we defease any series of debt securities, the holders of the defeased debt securities of such series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture under which such series was issued, except for our obligation to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of such series, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities or maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. In the case of covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities of such series will also survive. We will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the debt securities of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depository identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities may be issued in registered form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless otherwise provided in such prospectus supplement, debt securities that are represented by a global security will be issued in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
We anticipate that any global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, and that such global securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., DTCs nominee. We further anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to any such global securities. Any additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities issued in the form of global securities.
Beneficial interests in the global securities will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct or indirect participants in DTC.
Investors may elect to hold their interests in the global securities either (in the United States) through DTC or (in Europe) through Clearstream or through Euroclear. Investors may hold their interests in the global securities directly, if they are participants of such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in these systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers securities accounts in Clearstreams and Euroclears names on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold these interests in customers securities accounts in the depositaries names on the books of DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities will be held in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as set forth below, the global securities may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.
Debt securities represented by a global security can be exchanged for definitive securities in registered form only if:
• | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global security, and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after receiving that notice; |
• | at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days after becoming aware that DTC has ceased to be registered as a clearing agency; or |
• | we determine that that global security will be exchangeable for definitive securities in registered form and we notify the trustee of our decision. |
A global security that can be exchanged as described in the preceding sentence will be exchanged for definitive securities issued in authorized denominations in registered form for the same aggregate amount. The definitive securities will be registered in the names of the owners of the beneficial interests in the global security as directed by DTC.
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We will make principal and interest payments on all debt securities represented by a global security to the Paying Agent which in turn will make payment to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and the sole holder of the debt securities represented by a global security for all purposes under the indenture. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any Paying Agent will have no responsibility or liability for:
• | any aspect of DTC’s records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a debt security represented by a global security; or |
• | any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship between those participants and the owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through those participants; or the maintenance, supervision or review of any of DTC’s records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. |
DTC has advised us that its current practice is to credit participants accounts on each payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such global security as shown on DTCs records, upon DTCs receipt of funds and corresponding detail information. The underwriters or agents for the debt securities represented by a global security will initially designate the accounts to be credited. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for customer accounts registered in street name, and will be the sole responsibility of those participants. Book-entry notes may be more difficult to pledge because of the lack of a physical note. So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for all purposes of the debt securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered owners or holders of debt securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that person is not a DTC participant, on the procedures of the participant through which that person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial owners may experience delays in receiving distributions on their debt securities since distributions will initially be made to DTC and must then be transferred through the chain of intermediaries to the beneficial owners account.
We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders to take any action, or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under the indenture, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through such participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
Beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and transfers of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants for that global security. The conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its participants and by its participants to owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect.
DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking organization within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
DTC holds the securities of its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. The electronic book-entry system eliminates the need for physical certificates. DTCs participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is
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owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTCs book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
Clearstream
Clearstream has advised us that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (Clearstream Participants), and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations. In the U.S., Clearstream Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either directly or indirectly. Clearstream is an indirect participant in DTC.
Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear
Euroclear has advised us that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (Euroclear Participants), and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear performs various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interacts with domestic markets in several countries. The Euroclear System is owned by Euroclear Clearance System Public Limited Company (ECSplc) and operated through Euroclear Bank S.A/N.V. (the Euroclear Operator), a bank incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium, under contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the Cooperative). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator advises us that it is regulated and examined by the Belgian banking and Finance Commission and the National Bank of Belgium.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law, herein the Terms and Conditions. The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
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Distributions with respect to debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.
Euroclear has further advised us that investors that acquire, hold and transfer interests in the debt securities by book-entry through accounts with the Euroclear Operator or any other securities intermediary are subject to the laws and contractual provisions governing their relationship with their intermediary, as well as the laws and contractual provisions governing the relationship between such an intermediary and each other intermediary, if any, standing between themselves and the global securities.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Initial settlement for the debt securities will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between DTC participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTCs Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving debt securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of debt securities received through Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such debt securities settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of debt securities by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
If the debt securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices, and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers, and other institutions are open for business in the United States. In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, U.S. investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of debt securities among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective direct or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
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SJI is authorized to issue 120,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.25 par value per share, and 2,500,000 shares of preference stock, without par value. As of May 6, 2016, there were 71,425,506 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preference stock outstanding.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the ticker symbol SJI. All outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
The following description of the terms of our common stock is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through February 27, 2015 (as so amended, our Certificate of Incorporation), our Bylaws, as amended and restated through April 29, 2016 (our Bylaws), and the laws of the state of New Jersey.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.
There is no provision for cumulative voting with regard to the election of directors. This could prevent directors from being elected by a relatively small group of shareholders.
Dividend Rights
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive any dividends our board of directors may declare on our common stock, subject to the prior rights of any preference stock. Our board of directors may declare dividends from funds legally available for this purpose.
Liquidation Rights
If we liquidate, dissolve or are wound up, then after payment of or provision for claims of creditors and after payment of any liquidation preferences to holders of any preference stock, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to participate equally and ratably, in proportion to the number of shares held, in our net assets available for distribution to holders of common stock.
Other Rights
The holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights to maintain their percentage of ownership in future offerings or sales of stock of SJI and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities. Our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Preference Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without other action by shareholders, to issue preference stock in one or more series.
Our board of directors has the authority to determine the terms of each series of preference stock, within the limits of our amended and restated articles of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and the laws of the state of New Jersey. These terms include the number of shares in a series and applicable dividend rights, liquidation preferences, terms of redemption, conversion rights and voting rights, if any.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and New Jersey law
Certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws and New Jersey law could discourage, delay or prevent some transactions involving unsolicited acquisitions or changes of control of the Company. We believe that these provisions will enable us to develop our business in a manner that will foster our long-term growth without disruption caused by the threat of a takeover not deemed by our board of directors to be in the best interests of the Company, our shareholders and certain other constituents. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging third parties from making proposals involving an unsolicited acquisition or
20
change of control of the Company, even when a majority of our shareholders might consider such proposals, if made, desirable. Such provisions also may have the effect of making it more difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our current management without the assent of our board of directors. These provisions include:
• | limitations on certain transactions (including mergers, consolidations, asset dispositions and securities issuances) with certain entities that beneficially own 5% or more of our capital stock; |
• | a requirement for the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding common stock to amend the limitations on such transactions; |
• | authorization of our board of directors to issue common stock and preference stock from time to time in its discretion; |
• | authorization of our board of directors to establish one or more series or classes of undesignated preference stock, the terms of which can be determined by our board of directors at the time of issuance; |
• | noncumulative voting; |
• | authorization of our directors to fill any vacancies on our board of directors, including vacancies resulting from a board resolution to increase the number of directors; and |
• | advance notice procedures with respect to nominations of directors or proposals other than those adopted or recommended by our board of directors. |
Transactions with Related Persons
Our Certificate of Incorporation prohibits us from engaging in certain transactions with certain Related Persons, as further described further below, including (i) any merger or consolidation, (ii) any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any substantial part of our assets or (iii) any issuance or transfer of any securities having voting power in exchange for securities, cash or other property unless (x) approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of all classes of our capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors or (y) approved by our board of directors prior to the time that the Related Person became a Related Person. The restriction applies to any such transaction with a person who was a Related Person within the 12 months preceding the record date for determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of the transaction and to vote thereon.
A Related Person is defined for this purpose as any person (other than a corporation or any subsidiary of SJI) who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
The provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation relating to transactions with Related Persons may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding capital stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act
We are subject to Section 14A:10A of the New Jersey Shareholders Protection Act. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the statute prohibits an interested stockholder of a corporation from effecting a business combination with the corporation for a period of five years unless (i) the corporations board of directors approved the combination prior to the shareholder becoming an interested stockholder or (ii) the corporations board of directors approved the transaction or series of transactions which caused the person to become an interested stockholder before the person became an interested stockholder and any subsequent business combination with that interested stockholder is approved by independent members of the board of directors and the holders of a majority of the voting stock not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder. In addition, but not in limitation of the five-year restriction, if applicable, corporations covered by the New Jersey statute may not engage at any time in a business combination with any interested stockholder of that corporation unless the combination is approved by the board of directors prior to the interested stockholders stock acquisition date, the combination receives the approval of two-thirds of the voting stock of the corporation not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder or the combination meets minimum financial terms specified by the statute.
21
An interested stockholder is defined for this purpose to include any beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any affiliate or associate of the corporation who within the prior five year period has at any time owned 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.
The term business combination is defined to include, among other things:
• | the merger or consolidation of the corporation with the interested stockholder or any corporation that is or after the merger or consolidation would be an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder; |
• | the sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition to an interested stockholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the corporation’s assets; or |
• | the issuance or transfer to an interested stockholder or any affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder of 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the stock of the corporation. |
Authorized but Unissued Common Stock and Preference Stock
The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and preference stock are available for future issuance without shareholder approval. Further, our board of directors can set the voting rights, redemption rights, conversion rights and other rights relating to any such preference stock and could issue such stock in either public or private transactions.
New Jersey law does not require shareholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, which would apply to us so long as our common stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange, require shareholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then outstanding voting power or then outstanding number of shares of our common stock.
We may issue additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes. We may engage in public or private offerings to raise additional capital or to facilitate corporate acquisitions. We may issue shares of common or preference stock to persons friendly to current management. Such an issuance may discourage, delay or prevent an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management. This could deprive our shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of our stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices. Our board of directors could also use these shares to dilute the ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of the Company.
Number of Directors; Filling of Vacancies
Our Bylaws provide that our board of directors will have eleven directors. The size of the board of directors may be changed by a majority vote of the board of directors. Our Bylaws permit the board of directors to fill any new directorships it creates and any other vacancies. Accordingly, our board of directors may be able to prevent any shareholder from obtaining majority representation on our board of directors by increasing the size of the board of directors and filling the newly created directorships with its own nominees.
The provisions of our Bylaws relating to the number of directors and filling of vacancies may be amended only by the majority vote of the directors or the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the aggregate voting power of our outstanding capital stock.
Advance Notice Provisions
Our Bylaws provide that in order for a shareholder to nominate a director or bring other business before an annual meeting, the shareholder must give written notice, in proper form, to our Secretary (i) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the previous years annual meeting of shareholders, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the anniversary date, (ii) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the previous years annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever comes first, and (iii) in the case of any special meeting of the shareholders, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the date of such meeting.
22
Only persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, our board of directors, or who are nominated by a shareholder who has given timely written notice, in proper form, to our Secretary prior to a meeting at which directors are to be elected, will be eligible for election as directors. The notice of any nomination for election as a director must set forth:
• | the name and address of the shareholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; |
• | the class and number of shares of the Company beneficially owned by the shareholder and any persons acting in concert with the shareholder; |
• | a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other person or persons, naming such person or persons, pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the shareholder; |
• | such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such shareholder as would have been required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC had each nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by our board of directors; and |
• | the consent of each nominee to serve as a director if so elected. |
The notice to bring any other matter a shareholder proposes to bring before a meeting of the shareholders must also set forth:
• | a description of the proposal containing all material information relating thereto; and |
• | a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring the business specified in the notice before the meeting. |
The advance notice provisions may discourage, delay or prevent a person from bringing matters before a shareholder meeting. The provisions may provide enough time for us to begin litigation or take other steps to respond to these matters, or to prevent them from being acted upon.
Transfer Agent
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., serves as our transfer agent and registrar.
23
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any preference stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts or units that may be offered pursuant to this prospectus.
24
We may sell the offered securities through agents, through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, through a combination of any of these methods of sale or through any other methods described in a prospectus supplement. The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth whether or not an underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids.
25
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York will pass upon the validity of any securities issued under this prospectus as to matters governed by the laws of the State of New York. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Gina M. Merritt-Epps, General Counsel of the Company will pass upon the validity of any securities issued under this prospectus as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey. Ms. Merritt-Epps is employed by the Company, participates in various employee benefit plans of the Company under which she may receive shares of common stock of the Company and currently beneficially owns less than one percent of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company. Any underwriters will be represented by their own legal counsel, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements, and related financial statement schedules, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
26
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table lists the estimated expenses to be incurred by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of securities registered under this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions:
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
|
$
|
|
*
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
**
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
**
|
Trustee and Warrant Agent fees and expenses (including counsel fees)
|
|
|
**
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
|
|
**
|
Rating agency fees
|
|
|
**
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
**
|
Total
|
|
|
**
|
* | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee. |
** | These fees will be dependent on the type of securities offered and number of offerings and, therefore, cannot be estimated at this time. |
ITEM 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
The New Jersey Business Corporation Act, or NJBCA, provides that a New Jersey corporation has the power to indemnify a corporate agent (defined by the statute to include, among others, the corporations officers and directors) against his or her expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving the corporate agent by reason of his or her being or having been such a corporate agent, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, if (a) such corporate agent acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding, such corporate agent had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The NJBCA also provides that a New Jersey corporation has the power to indemnify a corporate agent against his or her expenses in connection with any proceeding by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor which involves the corporate agent by reason of his or her being or having been such corporate agent, if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. However, in such proceeding no indemnification shall be provided in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such corporate agent shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that a court shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all circumstances of the case, such corporate agent is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as such court shall deem proper.
As authorized by the NJBCA, Article IV of our Bylaws provide that we shall indemnify any corporate agent against his or her liabilities and expenses in connection with any proceeding involving the corporate agent by reason of his or her being or having been such a corporate agent to the extent that (a) such corporate agent is not otherwise indemnified and (b) the power to do so has been or may be granted by statute, and for this purpose our board of directors may, and on request of any such corporate agent shall be required to, determine in each case whether or not the applicable standards in any such statute have been met, or such determination shall be made by independent legal counsel if the Board so directs or if the Board is not empowered by statute to make such determination.
The NJBCA permits a New Jersey corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any corporate agent against any expenses incurred in any proceeding and any liabilities asserted against him or her by reason of his or her being or having been a corporate agent, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such expenses and liabilities under the provisions of the NJBCA. We maintain and pay all premiums on a directors and officers liability policy for our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries as permitted by the NJBCA.
II-1
ITEM 16. | Exhibits |
A list of exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 17. | Undertakings |
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
(A) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
(B) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document |
II-2
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: |
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Borough of Folsom, State of New Jersey, on May 10, 2016.
|
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Michael J. Renna
|
|
|
Michael J. Renna
|
|
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
|
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael J. Renna, Stephen H. Clark and Gina M. Merritt-Epps as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (and any additional registration statement related hereto permitted by Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (and all further amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto)), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated below.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
/s/ Walter M. Higgins III
|
Chairman of the Board
|
May 10, 2016
|
Walter M. Higgins III
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael J. Renna
|
Director, President & Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) |
May 10, 2016
|
Michael J. Renna
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Stephen H. Clark
|
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
May 10, 2016
|
Stephen H. Clark
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sarah M. Barpoulis
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Sarah M. Barpoulis
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Thomas A. Bracken
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Thomas A. Bracken
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Keith S. Campbell
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Keith S. Campbell
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Victor A. Fortkiewicz
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Victor A. Fortkiewicz
|
|
|
II-4
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
/s/ Sheila Hartnett-Devlin
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Sheila Hartnett-Devlin
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Sunita Holzer
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Sunita Holzer
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Joseph H. Petrowski
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Joseph H. Petrowski
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Frank L. Sims
|
Director
|
May 10, 2016
|
Frank L. Sims
|
|
|
II-5
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
|
Document
|
1.1*
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
|
|
|
3.1
|
Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated November 10, 1969. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.2
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated April 21, 1983. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.3
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated April 19, 1984. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.4
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated April 23, 1987. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.5
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated April 23, 1987. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.6
|
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated October 7, 1996. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.7
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated May 5, 2005. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.8
|
Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated April 28, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.9
|
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc., dated June 2014. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.10
|
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of South Jersey Industries, Inc. Increasing the Number of Authorized Shares, dated February 27, 2015. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2016.)
|
|
|
3.11
|
Bylaws of South Jersey Industries, Inc. as amended and restated through April 29, 2016. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 3, 2016.)
|
|
|
4.1
|
Form of Stock Certificate for common stock.
|
|
|
4.2
|
Form of Senior Indenture.
|
II-6
Exhibit No.
|
Document
|
4.3
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture.
|
|
|
4.7*
|
Form of Certificate of Designation with respect to any preference stock (together with form of preference stock certificate).
|
|
|
4.8*
|
Form of Warrant Agreement.
|
|
|
5.1
|
Opinion of Gina M. Merritt-Epps.
|
|
|
5.2
|
Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
|
|
|
12.1
|
Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
|
|
|
23.1
|
Consent of Gina M. Merritt-Epps (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
|
|
|
23.2
|
Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2).
|
|
|
23.3
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
|
|
|
24.1
|
Power of Attorney (included in signature page).
|
|
|
25.1*
|
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 in respect of senior debt securities.
|
|
|
25.2*
|
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 in respect of senior debt securities.
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* | To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the registrant in connection with a specific offering, and incorporated herein by reference. |
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Exhibit 4.1
Exhibit 4.2
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
FORM OF INDENTURE
Dated as of [__________], 20[__]
[______________]
as Trustee
Senior Debt Securities
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reconciliation and tie showing the location in the Indenture dated as of [__________], 20[__] of the provisions inserted pursuant to Sections 310 to 318(a), inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
SECTION 310 | (a) (1) | 7.9 |
(a) (2) | 7.9 | |
(b) | 7.7, 7.9 | |
SECTION 311 | (a) | 7.10 |
(b) | 7.10 | |
SECTION 312 | (a) | 2.6 |
(b) | 10.2 | |
(c) | 10.2 | |
SECTION 313 | (a) | 7.11 |
(b) | 7.11 | |
(c) | 7.11 | |
(d) | 7.11 | |
SECTION 314 | (a) | 4.2, 4.5 |
(c) (1) | 10.3 | |
(c) (2) | 10.3 | |
(e) | 10.4 | |
SECTION 316 | (a) | 1.1 |
(a) (1) (A) | 6.12 | |
(a) (1) (B) | 6.13 | |
(b) | 6.8 | |
SECTION 317 | (a) (1) | 6.3 |
(a) (2) | 6.4 | |
(b) | 2.5 | |
SECTION 318 | (a) | 1.4 |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2. | Other Definitions | 4 |
Section 1.3. | Rules of Construction | 5 |
Section 1.4. | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 5 |
ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES | 5 | |
Section 2.1. | Issuable in Series | 5 |
Section 2.2. | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 6 |
Section 2.3. | Execution and Authentication | 8 |
Section 2.4. | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent | 9 |
Section 2.5. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 10 |
Section 2.6. | Securityholder Lists | 11 |
Section 2.7. | Transfer and Exchange | 11 |
Section 2.8. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 11 |
Section 2.9. | Outstanding Securities | 12 |
Section 2.10. | Treasury Securities | 13 |
Section 2.11. | Temporary Securities | 13 |
Section 2.12. | Cancellation | 13 |
Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest | 13 |
Section 2.14. | Global Securities | 13 |
Section 2.15. | CUSIP Numbers | 15 |
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 15 | |
Section 3.1. | Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations | 15 |
Section 3.2. | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 16 |
Section 3.3. | Notice of Redemption | 16 |
Section 3.4. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 17 |
Section 3.5. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 17 |
Section 3.6. | Securities Redeemed in Part | 18 |
Section 3.7. | Sinking Fund | 18 |
Section 3.8. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 18 |
Section 3.9. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 18 |
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS | 19 | |
Section 4.1. | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 19 |
Section 4.2. | Compliance Certificate | 19 |
Section 4.3. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 19 |
Section 4.4. | Corporate Existence | 20 |
Section 4.5. | Reports | 20 |
ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS | 20 | |
Section 5.1. | Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets | 20 |
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ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 21 | |
Section 6.1. | Events of Default | 21 |
Section 6.2. | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 22 |
Section 6.3. | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 23 |
Section 6.4. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 23 |
Section 6.5. | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 24 |
Section 6.6. | Application of Money Collected | 24 |
Section 6.7. | Limitation on Suits | 25 |
Section 6.8. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 25 |
Section 6.9. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 25 |
Section 6.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 26 |
Section 6.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 26 |
Section 6.12. | Control by Holders | 26 |
Section 6.13. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 26 |
Section 6.14. | Undertaking for Costs | 27 |
ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE | 27 | |
Section 7.1. | Duties of Trustee | 27 |
Section 7.2. | Rights of Trustee | 28 |
Section 7.3. | May Hold Securities | 30 |
Section 7.4. | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 30 |
Section 7.5. | Notice of Defaults | 30 |
Section 7.6. | Compensation and Indemnity | 30 |
Section 7.7. | Replacement of Trustee | 31 |
Section 7.8. | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc . | 33 |
Section 7.9. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 33 |
Section 7.10. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 33 |
Section 7.11. | Reports by Trustee | 34 |
ARTICLE VIII. DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 34 | |
Section 8.1. | Termination of Company’s Obligations | 34 |
Section 8.2. | Application of Trust Money | 37 |
Section 8.3. | Repayment to Company | 38 |
Section 8.4. | Reinstatement | 38 |
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 38 | |
Section 9.1. | Without Consent of Holders | 38 |
Section 9.2. | With Consent of Holders | 39 |
Section 9.3. | Limitations | 40 |
Section 9.4. | Form of Amendments | 41 |
Section 9.5. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 41 |
Section 9.6. | Notation on or Exchange of the Securities | 41 |
Section 9.7. | Trustee Protected | 41 |
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS | 42 | |
Section 10.1. | Notices | 42 |
Section 10.2. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 43 |
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Section 10.3. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 43 |
Section 10.4. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 44 |
Section 10.5. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 44 |
Section 10.6. | Legal Holidays | 44 |
Section 10.7. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others | 44 |
Section 10.8. | Counterparts | 44 |
Section 10.9. | Governing Laws | 45 |
Section 10.10. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 45 |
Section 10.11. | Successors | 45 |
Section 10.12. | Severability | 45 |
Section 10.13. | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc . | 45 |
Section 10.14. | Judgment Currency | 45 |
Section 10.15. | English Language | 46 |
Section 10.16. | Submission to Jurisdiction | 46 |
Section 10.17. | Waiver of Immunity | 46 |
Section 10.18. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 47 |
Section 10.19. | USA Patriot Act | 47 |
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Indenture dated as of [__________], 20[__] between South Jersey Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, (the “ Company ”), and [______________], as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Securities (as defined below) issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1. Definitions .
“ Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“ Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent or any other agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.
“ Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“ Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certification and delivered to the Trustee.
“ Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions or the Corporate Trust Office are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“ Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such Person.
“ Certificated Securities ” means definitive Securities in registered non-global certificated form.
“ Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Company ” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“ Company Order ” or “ Company Request ” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by one of the Company’s Officers.
“ Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which, as of the date hereof is the address set forth in Section 10.1.
“ Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“ Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Depositary ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“ Discount Security ” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“ Dollars ” or “ $ ” means the currency of the United States of America.
“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“ Global Security ” or “ Global Securities ” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“ Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“ Holder ” or “ Securityholder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar.
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“ Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of each Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“ Issue Date ” means, with respect to any Security, the date of original issuance of such Security.
“ Maturity ” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“ Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Controller, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary, or any Assistant Controller of the Company.
“ Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer, and (2) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“ Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of legal counsel that is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be a direct or indirect employee of or counsel to the Company.
“ Periodic Offering ” means an offering of the Securities of a Series from time to time, during which any or all of the specific terms of the Securities, including the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the terms of the relevant supplemental indenture.
“ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Principal ” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
“ Responsible Officer ” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“ Restricted Security ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security of such Series, unless or until it has been (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
“ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“ Securities ” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“ Series ” or “ Series of Securities ” means each series of Securities of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“ Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security is due and payable.
“ Subsidiary ” of any specified Person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such Person or other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such Person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
“ Trust Indenture Act ” or “ TIA ” 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 Trust Indenture 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 SEC under or in furtherance of the purpose of such Trust Indenture 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 pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Trustee ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Trustee ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“ Unrestricted Securities ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
Section 1.2. Other Definitions .
TERM |
DEFINED IN
SECTION |
“ Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 |
“ covenant defeasance ” | 8.1(b) |
“ Custodian ” | 6.1 |
“ Events of Default ” | 6.1 |
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“ Judgment Currency ” | 10.14 |
“ legal defeasance ” | 8.1(c) |
“ Legal Holiday ” | 10.6 |
“ New York Banking Day ” | 10.14 |
“ Paying Agent ” | 2.4 |
“ Registrar ” | 2.4 |
“ Related Proceeding ” | 10.16 |
“ Required Currency ” | 10.14 |
“ Transfer Agent ” | 2.4 |
Section 1.3. Rules of Construction .
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “ or ” is not exclusive and “ including ” means including without limitation;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
Section 1.4. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of §§ 310 through 317, inclusive, of the TIA through the operation of § 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
ARTICLE
II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1. Issuable in Series .
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in, or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such Series of Securities.
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Section 2.2. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities .
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.28) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture:
2.2.1. the title of the Series of Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for the Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.3. the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.4. the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months;
2.2.5. the date or dates from which interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates;
2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company with respect to the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.7. the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;
2.2.8. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.9. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase, if other than as set forth herein, the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, the Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.10. the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights;
2.2.11. if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
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2.2.12. the forms of the Securities of the Series including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such Series;
2.2.13. any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to the Securities of the Series, if different from those set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.14. if the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the type of Global Securities to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Indenture, upon which such Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities in definitive registered form; the Depositary for such Global Securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.2;
2.2.15. any provisions granting special rights to Holders when a specified event occurs;
2.2.16. if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of any Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
2.2.17. any special tax implications of the Securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;
2.2.18. whether and upon what terms the Securities of the Series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.19. with regard to the Securities of any Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
2.2.20. whether the Securities of any Series will be issued as Unrestricted Securities or Restricted Securities, and, if issued as Restricted Securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act in reliance on which they will be sold;
2.2.21. any guarantees on the Securities of the Series;
2.2.22. the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable;
2.2.23. if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of the Securities of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the portion of the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2 or upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined;
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2.2.24. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.25. any additional restrictive covenants or Events of Default that will apply to the Securities of the Series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article IV or the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 that will apply to the Securities of the Series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in Article IV or Section 6.1 or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the Series;
2.2.26. any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.27. whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein; and
2.2.28. any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the Securities of the Series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the Securities of that Series.
The Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above.
Section 2.3. Execution and Authentication .
An Officer of the Company shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate the Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by the relevant Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2 and the preceding paragraph, in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with a Company Order or such other procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or the written order of the Company delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.
Prior to the issuance of the Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. With respect to Securities of a Series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee conclusively may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the written order of the Company, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3 at or prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series unless and until such written order, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate or other documents have been superseded or revoked, and written notice thereof is provided to the Trustee, or expire by their terms.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities of any Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate the Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate the Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4. Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent .
The Company will maintain one or more paying agents (each, a “ Paying Agent ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Paying Agents will be [______________] and thereafter “ Paying Agent ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Paying Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Paying Agent ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more paying agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any Series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as paying agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as paying agent.
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The Company will maintain one or more registrars (each, a “ Registrar ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Registrar will be [______________] and thereafter “ Registrar ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Registrar hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Registrar ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Registrar with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more registrars, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as registrar, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as registrar.
The Company will also maintain a transfer agent (each, a “ Transfer Agent ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Transfer Agent will be [______________] and thereafter “ Transfer Agent ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Transfer Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Transfer Agent ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more transfer agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as transfer agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as transfer agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent for its Securities without prior notice to the Holders.
Section 2.5. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .
The Company shall require each Paying Agent appointed by it other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
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Section 2.6. Securityholder Lists .
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7. Transfer and Exchange .
Where the Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if the requirements for such transactions set forth in this Indenture are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate the Securities at the Registrar’s request upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Order from the Company. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange the Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange the Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a replacement Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section 2.8, 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 replacement Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9. Outstanding Securities .
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section 2.9 as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
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, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
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Section 2.10. Treasury Securities .
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of the Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, the Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only the Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11. Temporary Securities .
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12. Cancellation .
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Agents shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace the Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest .
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14. Global Securities .
2.14.1. Transfer and Exchange . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Indenture for the Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for the Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
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Except as provided in this Section 2.14.1, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any tax or securities laws with respect to any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
2.14.2. Legend . Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“ This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities 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 .”
2.14.3. Acts of Holders . The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
2.14.4. Payments . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof, which in the case of a Depositary therefor will be made in accordance with its applicable procedures.
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2.14.5. Holders . The Company, the Trustee and each Agent shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar as the Holder for all purposes including for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions permitted or required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
2.14.6. None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders with respect to the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
Section 2.15. CUSIP Numbers .
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE
III.
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1. Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations .
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in Section 3.9 hereof or, as applicable, in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such Series. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed at least 30 days before a redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee). The Trustee shall have no liability with respect to or obligation to calculate the redemption price of any Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
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Section 3.2. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or a supplemental indenture, if less than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities of a Series to be redeemed by lot, in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange. The Trustee will not be liable for selections made by it as contemplated in this Section 3.2.
Notices of purchase or redemption will be given to each Holder pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 10.1.
Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will deliver a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed in accordance with Section 10.1, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and corresponding CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, as applicable, and will state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;
(c) if any Global Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Global Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Global Security, the principal amount thereof will be decreased by the portion thereof redeemed pursuant thereto;
(d) if any Certificated Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed, and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Certificated Security in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Certificated Security;
(e) the name and address of the Paying Agent(s) to which the Securities are to be surrendered for redemption;
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(f) that the Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the relevant Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on the Securities called for redemption cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(h) that the Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(i) the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(j) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 35 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption .
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, the Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the redemption date.
On or after any purchase or redemption date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase or redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof tendered for purchase or called for redemption.
Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price .
On or before any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
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Section 3.6. Securities Redeemed in Part .
Upon surrender of a Certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered and concurrently cancel the surrendered Certificated Security.
Section 3.7. Sinking Fund .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the provisions of Sections 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.8. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of the Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 3.8. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .
The Company (a) may deliver outstanding Securities of a Series other than any Securities previously called for redemption and (b) may apply as a credit the Securities of a Series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such Series required to be made 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.
Section 3.9. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .
Not less than 35 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of the Series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.2), the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.8 and the basis for such credit. Together with such Officers’ Certificate, the Company will deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 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 3.3.
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ARTICLE
IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, at or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, redemption date or repurchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of each such Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2. Compliance Certificate .
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company (which as of the date of this Indenture is December 31, or if the fiscal year with respect to the Company is changed so that it ends on a date other than December 31, such other fiscal year end date as the Company shall notify to the Trustee in writing,) an Officers’ Certificate (which need not contain the statements provided for in Section 10.4), signed by the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge the Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge). Such Officers’ Certificate need not include a reference to any non-compliance that has been fully cured prior to the date as of which such certificate speaks.
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.3. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
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Section 4.4. Corporate Existence .
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 4.5. Reports .
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and regulations, 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 SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure).
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
ARTICLE
V.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets .
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person unless either the Company is the surviving corporation or the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any successor or purchaser expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture to which the Company is a party to, and immediately after which, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. An Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel will be delivered to the Trustee, which will serve as conclusive evidence of compliance with this Section 5.1.
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ARTICLE
VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1. Events of Default .
The following are “ Events of Default ” with respect to the Securities of any Series, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) failure to pay any interest on the Securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such Series;
(b) failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable;
(c) failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(d) failure to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that the Company has included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of another Series of Securities) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of a Series affected by that failure a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
(e) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
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(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; and
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Officers’ Certificate or Board Resolution under which such Series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such Series.
The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under one Series of Securities issued under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another Series of Securities under this Indenture.
Section 6.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .
If an Event of Default for a Series of Securities occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)), the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such Series of Securities may require the Company to pay immediately the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities. If an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Series of Securities will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that Series,
(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(iv) 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
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(b) all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of the Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any 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 the Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid with respect to the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote with respect to the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities with respect to which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6. Application of Money Collected .
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI 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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6;
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Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities with respect to which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
Section 6.7. Limitation on Suits .
A Holder of the Securities of any Series may pursue any remedy under this Indenture applicable to the Securities of such Series only if:
(a) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default for the Securities of such Series;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) the Holders furnish to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity; and
(e) during that 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a Holder of Securities to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment with respect to such Securities.
Section 6.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest .
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .
If the Trustee or any Holder 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, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
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Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12. Control by Holders .
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would expose the Trustee to personal liability or that it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with such direction.
Section 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults .
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series ( provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). 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.
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Section 6.14. Undertaking for Costs .
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his, her or its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits, and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal and interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) or to any suit instituted by the Company, the Trustee, or any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series.
ARTICLE
VII.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee .
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series:
(i) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, other than as required under the TIA; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
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(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1; and
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Article VII.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on or investment of any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities.
Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee .
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, security or other paper or document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it shall be required to receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such instruction, Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care.
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(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the relevant Series of Securities.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable under or in connection with this Indenture for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Trustee has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought.
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Securities shall have offered to the Trustee, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(i) The Trustee may at any time request, and the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the specimen signatures and the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, strikes or work stoppages for any reason, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations or the like which restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture, inability to obtain material, equipment, or communications or computer facilities, or the failure of equipment or interruption of communications or computer facilities, and other causes beyond its control whether or not of the same class or kind as specifically named above.
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(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, each Agent, and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
Section 7.3. May Hold Securities .
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of the Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.9 and 7.10.
Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer .
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of any offering materials, this Indenture or the Securities; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision hereof; and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in any offering materials or the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults .
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing and it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such Series to do so.
Section 7.6. Compensation and Indemnity .
The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company hereby indemnifies the Trustee, including its officers, directors, employees and agents from, and hold it harmless against any damage, cost, claim, loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with its acceptance and administration of the trusts set forth under this Indenture, the performance of its obligations and/or the exercise of its rights hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder, or any other Person) or liability except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense, unless, the Trustee, in its reasonable discretion, determines that any actual or potential conflict of interest may exist, in which case the Trustee may have separate counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.
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The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
To secure the payment obligations of the Company in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of any Series. Such lien and the obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Securities and/or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
Section 7.7. Replacement of Trustee .
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.7.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee for any or all Series of the Securities if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9,
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law,
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property, or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason with respect to the Securities of one or more Series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those Series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such Series). Within one year after the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such Series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
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If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a Series fails to comply with Section 7.9, any Holder of Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all Series, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall give a notice of its succession to Holders in accordance with Section 10.2. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.6.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) Series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (a) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers 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 (c) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and 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. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers 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. On request of the Company, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
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Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this Section 7.7, the obligations of the Company under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.
Section 7.8. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc .
Subject to Section 7.9, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.9. Eligibility; Disqualification .
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
The Trustee for the Securities shall be subject to the provisions of TIA § 310(b) during the period of time required thereby. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA § 310(b). In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in TIA § 310(b) with respect to the Securities of any Series, there shall be excluded Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.
Section 7.10. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .
The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, to the extent indicated therein.
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Section 7.11. Reports by Trustee .
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, if required by TIA § 313(a), the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to TIA § 313(c), a brief report that complies with TIA § 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit any reports required by TIA § 313(a) at the times specified therein.
(c) A copy of such report, if any, described in Section 7.11(a) and (b) shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the SEC and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
ARTICLE
VIII.
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.1. Termination of Company’s Obligations .
(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a Series (except that all obligations of the Company under Section 7.6, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company shall execute instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series, when:
(i) either
(A) all outstanding Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and issued (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all outstanding Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) 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,
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and, in the case of clause (1), (2) or (3) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds (immediately available to the Holders in the case of clause (1)) in trust for such purpose (x) cash in an amount, or (y) Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof which will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such Series for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; or
(C) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge, as contemplated by Section 2.2 to be applicable to the Securities of such Series:
(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it hereunder with respect to the Securities of such Series; and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
(b) Unless this Section 8.1(b) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of a Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate certain of its obligations under this Indenture (“ covenant defeasance ”) with respect to the Securities of a Series if:
(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as 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 Securities of such Series, (x) cash in an amount, or (y) Government Obligations with respect to such Series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof which will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all Securities of such Series on each date that such principal, premium (if any) or interest is due and payable and (at the Stated Maturity thereof or upon redemption as provided in Section 8.1(e)) to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money and/or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to the payment of said principal, premium (if any) and interest with respect to the Securities of such Series as the same shall become due;
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(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowings);
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee or a tax ruling to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 8.1(b) and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and
(v) the Company has complied with any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the discharge of the Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1.
In such event, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in this paragraph), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge under this Indenture. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 4.1, 5.1, 7.6 and 7.7, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the obligations of the Company in Section 7.6 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities, the Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.
(c) If the Company has previously complied or is concurrently complying with the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b) (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 that are expressly applicable only to covenant defeasance) with respect to the Securities of a Series, then unless this Section 8.1(c) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may elect to be discharged (“ legal defeasance ”) from its obligations to make payments with respect to the Securities of such Series, if:
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(i) unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee to the effect referred to in Section 8.1(b)(4) with respect to such legal defeasance, which opinion is based on (A) a private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service addressed to the Company, (B) a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or (C) a change in the applicable federal income tax law (including regulations) after the date of this Indenture; the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the legal defeasance of Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1(c); and
(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Request requesting such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series and an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
In such event, the Company will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, the Securities of such Series, the Company’s obligations under Sections 4.1 and 5.1 shall terminate with respect to such Securities, and the entire indebtedness of the Company evidenced by such Securities shall be deemed paid and discharged.
(d) If and to the extent additional or alternative means of satisfaction, discharge or defeasance of the Securities of a Series are specified to be applicable to such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate any or all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to its Securities of a Series and any or all of its obligations under the Securities of such Series if it fulfills such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be so specified, as contemplated by Section 2.2, to be applicable to the Securities of such Series.
(e) If the Securities of any Series subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 8.1 are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, the terms of the applicable trust arrangement shall provide for such redemption, and the Company shall make such arrangements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
Section 8.2. Application of Trust Money .
The Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of the Series with respect to which the deposit was made.
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Section 8.3. Repayment to Company .
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or Government Obligations (or proceeds therefrom) held by them at any time upon the written request of the Company.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
Section 8.4. Reinstatement .
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations deposited with respect to the Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders .
Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a Series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Series of Securities in the following circumstances:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture by a successor or transferee upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities;
(d) to provide any security for or guarantees of its Securities or for the addition of an additional obligor on its Securities;
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(e) to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if applicable;
(f) to add covenants that would benefit the Holders of its Securities or to surrender any rights the Company has under this Indenture;
(g) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new series of Securities;
(i) to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of any Series otherwise in accordance with Article VIII; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding Securities of such Series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the principal executive officer, the principal financial or accounting officer or the Treasurer of the Company;
(j) to issue additional Securities of any Series, provided that such additional Securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same Series as, the applicable Series of Securities to the extent required under this Indenture; and provided further that if the additional Securities are not fungible with such Series for United States federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have a separate CUSIP number;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of and appointment 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 trust by more than one trustee;
(l) to add additional Events of Default with respect to any Series of Securities; and
(m) to make any change that does not adversely affect any of its outstanding Securities in any material respect.
Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders .
This Indenture or the Securities of a Series may be amended or supplemented, and waivers may be obtained, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Securities of a Series), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, such Securities of a Series, except a payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such Series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Securities of a Series).
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The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series issued by the Company may waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default with respect to those Securities. Those Holders may not, however, waive any Default or Event of Default in any payment on any Security.
For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Series of Securities made with the consent of Holders of such Series of Securities, shall be made with respect to that Series of Securities only, and not any other Series of Securities.
Section 9.3. Limitations .
Without the consent of each Holder of Securities of a Series affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities of such Series held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the Securities of such Series;
(c) reduce the principal of the Securities of such Series or change the Stated Maturity of the Securities of such Series;
(d) reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the Securities of such Series or change the time at which the Securities of such Series may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities of such series;
(e) make payments on the Security of such Series payable in currency other than as originally stated in such Security;
(f) impair the Holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Security of such Series; or
(g) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default regarding any payment on the Securities of such Series.
In the event that consent is obtained from some of the Holders but not from all of the Holders with respect to any amendments or waivers pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) of this Section 9.3, new Securities of such Series with such amendments or waivers will be issued to those consenting Holders. Such new Securities shall have separate CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers from those Securities of such Series held by non-consenting Holders.
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Section 9.4. Form of Amendments .
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture.
Section 9.5. Revocation and Effect of Consents .
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his, her or its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the written notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6. Notation on or Exchange of the Securities .
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company, in exchange for its Securities of that Series, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7. Trustee Protected .
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with such supplemental indenture’s terms. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplemental indentures which affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities, or indemnities under this Indenture, the Securities or otherwise.
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ARTICLE
X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Notices .
Any request, direction, instruction, demand, document, notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, shall be in English and in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first class mail, or delivered by overnight courier as provided below, or if sent by facsimile transmission or email in PDF format, to a facsimile number or email address, as the case may be, provided by the Company or the Trustee, with a copy, mailed by first class mail, to the Company or the Trustee, as provided below:
if to the Company:
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
Attention: General Counsel
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, NJ 08037
Facsimile No: (609) 561-7130
with a copy to:
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Facsimile No: (212) 351-5237
Attention: Andrew L. Fabens
if to the Trustee:
[______________]
[______________]
[______________]
Facsimile No: [______________]
Attention: [______________]
with a copy to:
[______________]
[______________]
[______________]
Facsimile No: [______________]
Attention: [______________]
Notices shall be effective upon the recipient’s actual receipt thereof. Any party by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to (a) a Securityholder of a Certificated Security shall be mailed by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar and (b) a Securityholder of a Global Security shall be delivered to the Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
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If a notice or communication to any Securityholder is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
With respect to this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
Section 10.2. Communication by Holders with Other Holders .
Securityholders of a Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b), as if such section applied hereto, with other Securityholders of such Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it by TIA § 312.
Section 10.3. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
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Section 10.4. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) 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
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.5. Rules by Trustee and Agents .
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.6. Legal Holidays .
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “ Legal Holiday ” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.7. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others .
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or similar founder, stockholder or member of the Company will have any liability for or any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Securities or for any claim based on, with respect to or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 10.8. Counterparts .
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
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Section 10.9. Governing Laws .
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Section 10.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.11. Successors .
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.12. Severability .
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.14. 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 with respect to the principal of or interest or other amount 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 recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a) of this clause), 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 with respect to 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 on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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Section 10.15. English Language .
This Indenture has been negotiated and executed in the English language. All certificates, reports, notices and other documents and communications delivered pursuant to this Indenture (including any modifications or supplements hereto), shall be in the English language, or accompanied by a certified English translation thereof. In the case of any document originally issued in a language other than English, the English language version of any such document shall for purposes of this Indenture, and absent manifest error, control the meaning of the matters set out therein.
Section 10.16. Submission to Jurisdiction .
Any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its respective properties, assets or revenues with respect to this Indenture or the Securities (a “ Related Proceeding ”) may be brought in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York, as the Person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in its sole discretion. The Company hereby consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding and has irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent it may effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.
Section 10.17. Waiver of Immunity .
To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or execution, on the ground of sovereignty or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such immunity with respect to its obligations under this Indenture, and, the Securities.
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Section 10.18. Waiver of Jury Trial .
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 10.19. USA Patriot Act
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with § 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act as such requirements pertain to this Indenture.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
South Jersey Industries, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[______________], as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 4.3
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
Dated as of [__________], 20[__]
[______________]
as Trustee
Subordinated Debt Securities
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reconciliation and tie showing the location in the Indenture dated as of [__________], 20[__] of the provisions inserted pursuant to Sections 310 to 318(a), inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
SECTION 310 | (a) (1) | 7.9 |
(a) (2) | 7.9 | |
(b) | 7.7, 7.9 | |
SECTION 311 | (a) | 7.10 |
(b) | 7.10 | |
SECTION 312 | (a) | 2.6 |
(b) | 10.2 | |
(c) | 10.2 | |
SECTION 313 | (a) | 7.11 |
(b) | 7.11 | |
(c) | 7.11 | |
(d) | 7.11 | |
SECTION 314 | (a) | 4.2, 4.5 |
(c) (1) | 10.3 | |
(c) (2) | 10.3 | |
(e) | 10.4 | |
SECTION 316 | (a) | 1.1 |
(a) (1) (A) | 6.12 | |
(a) (1) (B) | 6.13 | |
(b) | 6.8 | |
SECTION 317 | (a) (1) | 6.3 |
(a) (2) | 6.4 | |
(b) | 2.5 | |
SECTION 318 | (a) | 1.4 |
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
Section 1.1. | Definitions. | 1 |
Section 1.2. | Other Definitions. | 5 |
Section 1.3. | Rules of Construction. | 5 |
Section 1.4. | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. | 6 |
ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES | 6 | |
Section 2.1. | Issuable in Series. | 6 |
Section 2.2. | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. | 6 |
Section 2.3. | Execution and Authentication. | 9 |
Section 2.4. | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. | 10 |
Section 2.5. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. | 11 |
Section 2.6. | Securityholder Lists. | 11 |
Section 2.7. | Transfer and Exchange. | 11 |
Section 2.8. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. | 12 |
Section 2.9. | Outstanding Securities. | 13 |
Section 2.10. | Treasury Securities. | 13 |
Section 2.11. | Temporary Securities. | 13 |
Section 2.12. | Cancellation. | 14 |
Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest. | 14 |
Section 2.14. | Global Securities. | 14 |
Section 2.15. | CUSIP Numbers. | 16 |
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 16 | |
Section 3.1. | Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations. | 16 |
Section 3.2. | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. | 16 |
Section 3.3. | Notice of Redemption. | 16 |
Section 3.4. | Effect of Notice of Redemption. | 18 |
Section 3.5. | Deposit of Redemption Price. | 18 |
Section 3.6. | Securities Redeemed in Part. | 18 |
Section 3.7. | Sinking Fund. | 18 |
Section 3.8. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. | 19 |
Section 3.9. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. | 19 |
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS | 19 | |
Section 4.1. | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. | 19 |
Section 4.2. | Compliance Certificate. | 19 |
Section 4.3. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. | 20 |
Section 4.4. | Corporate Existence. | 20 |
Section 4.5. | Reports. | 20 |
ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS | 21 | |
Section 5.1. | Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. | 21 |
i |
ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 21 | |
Section 6.1. | Events of Default. | 21 |
Section 6.2. | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. | 22 |
Section 6.3. | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. | 23 |
Section 6.4. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. | 24 |
Section 6.5. | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. | 25 |
Section 6.6. | Application of Money Collected. | 25 |
Section 6.7. | Limitation on Suits. | 25 |
Section 6.8. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest. | 26 |
Section 6.9. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies. | 26 |
Section 6.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative. | 26 |
Section 6.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver. | 26 |
Section 6.12. | Control by Holders. | 27 |
Section 6.13. | Waiver of Past Defaults. | 27 |
Section 6.14. | Undertaking for Costs. | 27 |
ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE | 28 | |
Section 7.1. | Duties of Trustee. | 28 |
Section 7.2. | Rights of Trustee. | 29 |
Section 7.3. | May Hold Securities. | 30 |
Section 7.4. | Trustee’s Disclaimer. | 30 |
Section 7.5. | Notice of Defaults. | 31 |
Section 7.6. | Compensation and Indemnity. | 31 |
Section 7.7. | Replacement of Trustee. | 32 |
Section 7.8. | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. | 33 |
Section 7.9. | Eligibility; Disqualification. | 34 |
Section 7.10. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. | 34 |
Section 7.11. | Reports by Trustee. | 34 |
ARTICLE VIII. DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 35 | |
Section 8.1. | Termination of Company’s Obligations. | 35 |
Section 8.2. | Application of Trust Money. | 38 |
Section 8.3. | Repayment to Company. | 38 |
Section 8.4. | Reinstatement. | 38 |
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 39 | |
Section 9.1. | Without Consent of Holders. | 39 |
Section 9.2. | With Consent of Holders. | 40 |
Section 9.3. | Limitations. | 41 |
Section 9.4. | Form of Amendments. | 41 |
Section 9.5. | Revocation and Effect of Consents. | 41 |
Section 9.6. | Notation on or Exchange of the Securities. | 42 |
Section 9.7. | Trustee Protected. | 42 |
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS | 42 | |
Section 10.1. | Notices. | 42 |
Section 10.2. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders. | 44 |
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Section 10.3. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. | 44 |
Section 10.4. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. | 44 |
Section 10.5. | Rules by Trustee and Agents. | 45 |
Section 10.6. | Legal Holidays. | 45 |
Section 10.7. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others. | 45 |
Section 10.8. | Counterparts. | 45 |
Section 10.9. | Governing Laws. | 45 |
Section 10.10. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. | 46 |
Section 10.11. | Successors. | 46 |
Section 10.12. | Severability. | 46 |
Section 10.13. | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. | 46 |
Section 10.14. | Judgment Currency. | 46 |
Section 10.15. | English Language. | 47 |
Section 10.16. | Submission to Jurisdiction. | 47 |
Section 10.17. | Waiver of Immunity. | 47 |
Section 10.18. | Waiver of Jury Trial. | 47 |
Section 10.19. | USA Patriot Act | 47 |
ARTICLE XI. Subordination | 48 | |
Section 11.1. | Subordination Terms | 48 |
Section 11.2. | Notice to Trustee | 48 |
Section 11.3. | Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. | 49 |
Section 11.4. | Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. | 49 |
Section 11.5. | Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights. | 49 |
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Indenture dated as of [__________], 20[__] between South Jersey Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, (the “ Company ”), and [______________], as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the Securities (as defined below) issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1. Definitions .
“ Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“ Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent or any other agent appointed pursuant to this Indenture.
“ Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“ Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certification and delivered to the Trustee.
“ Business Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a Legal Holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions or the Corporate Trust Office are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“ Capital Stock ” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) in the equity of such Person.
“ Certificated Securities ” means definitive Securities in registered non-global certificated form.
“ Code ” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Company ” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“ Company Order ” or “ Company Request ” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by one of the Company’s Officers.
“ Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which, as of the date hereof is the address set forth in Section 10.1.
“ Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“ Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Depositary ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“ Discount Security ” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“ Dollars ” or “ $ ” means the currency of the United States of America.
“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are in effect as of the date of application thereof.
“ Global Security ” or “ Global Securities ” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“ Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
“ Holder ” or “ Securityholder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar.
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“ Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of each Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“ Issue Date ” means, with respect to any Security, the date of original issuance of such Security.
“ Maturity ” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“ Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Controller, any Assistant Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary, or any Assistant Controller of the Company.
“ Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Chief Operating Officer, and (2) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“ Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of legal counsel that is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be a direct or indirect employee of or counsel to the Company.
“ Periodic Offering ” means an offering of the Securities of a Series from time to time, during which any or all of the specific terms of the Securities, including the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities in accordance with the terms of the relevant supplemental indenture.
“ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or any other entity, including any government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“ Principal ” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
“ Responsible Officer ” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“ Restricted Security ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security of such Series, unless or until it has been (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
“ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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“ Securities ” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“ Senior Indebtedness ” means, without duplication, the principal, premium (if any) and unpaid interest on all present and future (i) indebtedness of the Company for borrowed money, (ii) obligations of the Company evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of the Company under (a) interest rate swaps, caps, collars, options and similar arrangements, (b) any foreign exchange contract, currency swap contract, futures contract, currency option contract, or other foreign currency hedge, and (c) credit swaps, caps, floors, collars and similar arrangements, (iv) indebtedness incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company in connection with the acquisition by it or a Subsidiary of any business, properties or assets (except purchase money indebtedness classified as accounts payable under generally accepted accounting principles), (v) all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of leases of the Company required, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of the Company and all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) under any lease or related document (including a purchase agreement) in connection with the lease of real property which provides that the Company is contractually obligated to purchase or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and thereby guarantee a minimum residual value of the leased property to the lessor and the obligations of the Company under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase such leased property, (vi) reimbursement obligations of the Company in respect of letters of credit relating to indebtedness or other obligations of the Company that qualify as indebtedness or obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above, and (vii) obligations of the Company under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above, in each case unless the instrument creating or evidencing the indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such indebtedness or obligation is not senior in right of payment to the Securities or expressly provides that such indebtedness is subordinate to other indebtedness and obligations of the Company.
“ Series ” or “ Series of Securities ” means each series of Securities of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“ Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security is due and payable.
“ Subsidiary ” of any specified Person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of outstanding shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or Persons performing similar functions) is at the time owned (and, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of whose total general partnership interests then outstanding is at the time owned), directly or indirectly, by such Person or other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof and, in the case of an entity other than a corporation or a partnership, such Person has the power to direct, directly or indirectly, the policies, management and affairs of such entity.
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“ Trust Indenture Act ” or “ TIA ” 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 Trust Indenture 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 SEC under or in furtherance of the purpose of such Trust Indenture 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 pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Trustee ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Trustee ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“ Unrestricted Securities ” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security (i) disposed of in a transaction registered under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration statement with respect to such Series or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force.
Section 1.2. Other Definitions .
DEFINED IN | |
TERM | SECTION |
“ Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 |
“ covenant defeasance ” | 8.1(b) |
“ Custodian ” | 6.1 |
“ Events of Default ” | 6.1 |
“ Judgment Currency ” | 10.14 |
“ legal defeasance ” | 8.1(c) |
“ Legal Holiday ” | 10.6 |
“ New York Banking Day ” | 10.14 |
“ Paying Agent ” | 2.4 |
“ Registrar ” | 2.4 |
“ Related Proceeding ” | 10.16 |
“ Required Currency ” | 10.14 |
“ Transfer Agent ” | 2.4 |
Section 1.3. Rules of Construction .
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
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(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “ or ” is not exclusive and “ including ” means including without limitation;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
Section 1.4. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .
If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of §§ 310 through 317, inclusive, of the TIA through the operation of § 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.
ARTICLE
II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1. Issuable in Series .
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in, or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such Series of Securities.
Section 2.2. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities .
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.29) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture:
2.2.1. the title of the Series of Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for the Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.3. the date or dates on which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.4. the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year or twelve 30-day months;
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2.2.5. the date or dates from which interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates;
2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company with respect to the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.7. the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;
2.2.8. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company if other than as set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.9. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase, if other than as set forth herein, the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, the Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.10. the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights;
2.2.11. if other than denominations of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.12. the forms of the Securities of the Series including the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication for such Series;
2.2.13. any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to the Securities of the Series, if different from those set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.14. if the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the type of Global Securities to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Indenture, upon which such Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities in definitive registered form; the Depositary for such Global Securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 2.14.2;
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2.2.15. any provisions granting special rights to Holders when a specified event occurs;
2.2.16. if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities of any Series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
2.2.17. any special tax implications of the Securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;
2.2.18. whether and upon what terms the Securities of the Series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in this Indenture;
2.2.19. with regard to the Securities of any Series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the Trustee;
2.2.20. whether the Securities of any Series will be issued as Unrestricted Securities or Restricted Securities, and, if issued as Restricted Securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act in reliance on which they will be sold;
2.2.21. any guarantees on the Securities of the Series;
2.2.22. the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of the Series shall be payable;
2.2.23. if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of the Securities of the Series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such Stated Maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the portion of the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2 or upon any maturity other than the Stated Maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined;
2.2.24. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.25. any additional restrictive covenants or Events of Default that will apply to the Securities of the Series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in Article IV or the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 that will apply to the Securities of the Series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in Article IV or Section 6.1 or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of the Series;
2.2.26. any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
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2.2.27. whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;
2.2.28. the subordination terms of the Securities of the Series; and
2.2.29. any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the Securities of the Series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of the Securities of that Series.
The Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture referred to above.
Section 2.3. Execution and Authentication .
An Officer of the Company shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate the Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by the relevant Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.2 and the preceding paragraph, in the case of Securities offered in a Periodic Offering, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities from time to time in accordance with a Company Order or such other procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or the written order of the Company delivered to the Trustee prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.
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Prior to the issuance of the Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. With respect to Securities of a Series subject to a Periodic Offering, the Trustee conclusively may rely, as to the authorization by the Company of any of such Securities, the forms and terms thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof, upon the written order of the Company, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate and other documents delivered pursuant to this Section 2.3 at or prior to the time of the first authentication of the Securities of such Series unless and until such written order, Opinion of Counsel, Officers’ Certificate or other documents have been superseded or revoked, and written notice thereof is provided to the Trustee, or expire by their terms.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities of any Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent to authenticate the Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate the Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4. Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent .
The Company will maintain one or more paying agents (each, a “ Paying Agent ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Paying Agents will be [______________] and thereafter “ Paying Agent ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Paying Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Paying Agent ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more paying agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any Series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as paying agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as paying agent.
The Company will maintain one or more registrars (each, a “ Registrar ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Registrar will be [______________] and thereafter “ Registrar ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Registrar hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Registrar ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Registrar with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more registrars, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as registrar, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as registrar.
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The Company will also maintain a transfer agent (each, a “ Transfer Agent ”) for the Securities in [______________]. The initial Transfer Agent will be [______________] and thereafter “ Transfer Agent ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Transfer Agent hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Transfer Agent ” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Transfer Agent with respect to the Securities of that Series. The Company, upon written notice to the Trustee accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate, may appoint one or more transfer agents, other than the Trustee, for all or any series of the Securities. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as transfer agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries, upon notice to the Trustee, may act as transfer agent.
The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent for its Securities without prior notice to the Holders.
Section 2.5. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .
The Company shall require each Paying Agent appointed by it other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6. Securityholder Lists .
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7. Transfer and Exchange .
Where the Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if the requirements for such transactions set forth in this Indenture are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate the Securities at the Registrar’s request upon the Trustee’s receipt of a Company Order from the Company. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
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Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange the Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the delivery of a notice of redemption of the Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such delivery, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange the Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a replacement Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section 2.8, 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 replacement Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 2.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
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Section 2.9. Outstanding Securities .
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section 2.9 as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
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, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10. Treasury Securities .
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of the Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, the Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only the Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11. Temporary Securities .
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
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Section 2.12. Cancellation .
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Agents shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace the Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest .
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14. Global Securities .
2.14.1. Transfer and Exchange . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Indenture for the Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (a) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (b) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for the Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.1, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any tax or securities laws with respect to any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
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2.14.2. Legend . Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“ This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities 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 .”
2.14.3. Acts of Holders . The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
2.14.4. Payments . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof, which in the case of a Depositary therefor will be made in accordance with its applicable procedures.
2.14.5. Holders . The Company, the Trustee and each Agent shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the register maintained by the Registrar as the Holder for all purposes including for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions permitted or required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
2.14.6. None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders with respect to the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee and each Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.
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Section 2.15. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” and/or “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE
III.
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.1. Notice to Trustee; No Liability for Calculations .
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay such Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in Section 3.9 hereof or, as applicable, in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture relating to such Series. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed at least 30 days before a redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee). The Trustee shall have no liability with respect to or obligation to calculate the redemption price of any Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 3.2. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or a supplemental indenture, if less than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will select the Securities of a Series to be redeemed by lot, in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange. The Trustee will not be liable for selections made by it as contemplated in this Section 3.2.
Notices of purchase or redemption will be given to each Holder pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 10.1.
Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will deliver a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed in accordance with Section 10.1, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII hereof.
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The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and corresponding CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, as applicable, and will state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest, if any, to be paid;
(c) if any Global Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Global Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Global Security, the principal amount thereof will be decreased by the portion thereof redeemed pursuant thereto;
(d) if any Certificated Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed, and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Certificated Security in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Certificated Security;
(e) the name and address of the Paying Agent(s) to which the Securities are to be surrendered for redemption;
(f) that the Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the relevant Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any;
(g) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on the Securities called for redemption cease to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(h) that the Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(i) the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(j) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 35 days prior to the redemption date (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
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Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption .
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, the Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but not including the redemption date.
On or after any purchase or redemption date, unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase or redemption price, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof tendered for purchase or called for redemption.
Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price .
On or before any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6. Securities Redeemed in Part .
Upon surrender of a Certificated Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Certificated Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered and concurrently cancel the surrendered Certificated Security.
Section 3.7. Sinking Fund .
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, the provisions of Sections 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.8. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of the Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
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Section 3.8. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .
The Company (a) may deliver outstanding Securities of a Series other than any Securities previously called for redemption and (b) may apply as a credit the Securities of a Series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such Series required to be made 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.
Section 3.9. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .
Not less than 35 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities (unless a shorter period is agreed to by the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of the Series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.2), the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting the Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 3.8 and the basis for such credit. Together with such Officers’ Certificate, the Company will deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 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 3.3.
ARTICLE
IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, at or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, redemption date or repurchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of each such Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2. Compliance Certificate .
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company (which as of the date of this Indenture is December 31, or if the fiscal year with respect to the Company is changed so that it ends on a date other than December 31, such other fiscal year end date as the Company shall notify to the Trustee in writing,) an Officers’ Certificate (which need not contain the statements provided for in Section 10.4), signed by the principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer, stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to his or her knowledge the Company is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge). Such Officers’ Certificate need not include a reference to any non-compliance that has been fully cured prior to the date as of which such certificate speaks.
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The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.3. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.4. Corporate Existence .
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 4.5. Reports .
(a) Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, so long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall file with the Trustee, within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and regulations, 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 SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company would be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall be deemed to have complied with the previous sentence to the extent that such information, documents and reports are filed with the SEC via EDGAR (or any successor electronic delivery procedure).
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(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
ARTICLE
V.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets .
The Company may not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person unless either the Company is the surviving corporation or the resulting, surviving or transferee entity is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States or, if such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation organized under any such laws, and any successor or purchaser expressly assumes the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture to which the Company is a party to, and immediately after which, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. An Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel will be delivered to the Trustee, which will serve as conclusive evidence of compliance with this Section 5.1.
ARTICLE
VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1. Events of Default .
The following are “ Events of Default ” with respect to the Securities of any Series, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) failure to pay any interest on the Securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such Series;
(b) failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable;
(c) failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(d) failure to comply with any of the covenants or agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that the Company has included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of another Series of Securities) for 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of a Series affected by that failure a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
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(e) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors,
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; and
(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Officers’ Certificate or Board Resolution under which such Series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such Series.
The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under one Series of Securities issued under this Indenture will not necessarily be a default under another Series of Securities under this Indenture.
Section 6.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .
If an Event of Default for a Series of Securities occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)), the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of such Series of Securities may require the Company to pay immediately the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities. If an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Series of Securities will become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VI provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(i) all overdue interest on all Securities of that Series,
(ii) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(iv) 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
(b) all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of the Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
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then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company, or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any 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 the Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid with respect to the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6.
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Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote with respect to the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities with respect to which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6. Application of Money Collected .
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI 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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.6;
Second: To the payment of all senior indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XI;
Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities with respect to which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Fourth: To the Company.
Section 6.7. Limitation on Suits .
A Holder of the Securities of any Series may pursue any remedy under this Indenture applicable to the Securities of such Series only if:
(a) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default for the Securities of such Series;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
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(c) the Holders furnish to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of notice and furnishing of indemnity; and
(e) during that 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a Holder of Securities to sue for enforcement of any overdue payment with respect to such Securities.
Section 6.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest .
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies .
If the Trustee or any Holder 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, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative .
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver .
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
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Section 6.12. Control by Holders .
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would expose the Trustee to personal liability or that it will not be adequately indemnified against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying with such direction.
Section 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults .
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series ( provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). 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 6.14. Undertaking for Costs .
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his, her or its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits, and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 6.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal and interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) or to any suit instituted by the Company, the Trustee, or any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series.
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ARTICLE
VII.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee .
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in such exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series:
(i) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, other than as required under the TIA; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether, on their face, they appear to conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1; and
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to the provisions of this Article VII.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
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(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on or investment of any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. All money received by the Trustee shall, until applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities.
Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee .
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting, upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, security or other paper or document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it shall be required to receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such instruction, Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture or with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the relevant Series of Securities.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable under or in connection with this Indenture for indirect, special, incidental, punitive or consequential losses or damages of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to lost profits, whether or not foreseeable, even if the Trustee has been advised of the possibility thereof and regardless of the form of action in which such damages are sought.
(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders of Securities shall have offered to the Trustee, security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby.
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(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.
(i) The Trustee may at any time request, and the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the specimen signatures and the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
(j) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, strikes or work stoppages for any reason, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations or the like which restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture, inability to obtain material, equipment, or communications or computer facilities, or the failure of equipment or interruption of communications or computer facilities, and other causes beyond its control whether or not of the same class or kind as specifically named above.
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, each Agent, and each other agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
Section 7.3. May Hold Securities .
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of the Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any of its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.9 and 7.10.
Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer .
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of any offering materials, this Indenture or the Securities; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision hereof; and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in any offering materials or the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
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Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults .
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing and it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Securities of such Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on or any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of Securities of such Series to do so.
Section 7.6. Compensation and Indemnity .
The Company agrees to pay to the Trustee for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company hereby indemnifies the Trustee, including its officers, directors, employees and agents from, and hold it harmless against any damage, cost, claim, loss, liability or expense (including the reasonable fees and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it arising out of or in connection with its acceptance and administration of the trusts set forth under this Indenture, the performance of its obligations and/or the exercise of its rights hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder, or any other Person) or liability except as set forth in the next following paragraph. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense, unless, the Trustee, in its reasonable discretion, determines that any actual or potential conflict of interest may exist, in which case the Trustee may have separate counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent.
The Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
To secure the payment obligations of the Company in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of any Series. Such lien and the obligations of the Company under this Section 7.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the payment of the Securities and/or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
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When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
Section 7.7. Replacement of Trustee .
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.7.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee for any or all Series of the Securities if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.9,
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law,
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property, or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason with respect to the Securities of one or more Series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those Series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such Series). Within one year after the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such Series then outstanding may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any Series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a Series fails to comply with Section 7.9, any Holder of Securities of such Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all Series, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall give a notice of its succession to Holders in accordance with Section 10.2. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.6.
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In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) Series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (a) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers 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 (c) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and 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. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers 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. On request of the Company, or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those Series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustee shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.
Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or Trustees pursuant to this Section 7.7, the obligations of the Company under Section 7.6 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee or Trustees.
Section 7.8. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc .
Subject to Section 7.9, if the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business (including this transaction) to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
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Section 7.9. Eligibility; Disqualification .
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust power, shall be subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority and shall have, or be a subsidiary of a bank or bank holding company having, a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
The Trustee for the Securities shall be subject to the provisions of TIA § 310(b) during the period of time required thereby. Nothing herein shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the SEC the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA § 310(b). In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in TIA § 310(b) with respect to the Securities of any Series, there shall be excluded Securities of any particular Series of Securities other than that Series.
Section 7.10. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .
The Trustee is subject to and shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee that has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a), as if such section applied hereto, to the extent indicated therein.
Section 7.11. Reports by Trustee .
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, if required by TIA § 313(a), the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to TIA § 313(c), a brief report that complies with TIA § 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit any reports required by TIA § 313(a) at the times specified therein.
(c) A copy of such report, if any, described in Section 7.11(a) and (b) shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the SEC and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
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ARTICLE
VIII.
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.1. Termination of Company’s Obligations .
(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Securities of a Series (except that all obligations of the Company under Section 7.6, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations under Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company shall execute instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series, when:
(i) either
(A) all outstanding Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and issued (other than destroyed, lost or stolen Securities that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all outstanding Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) 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, in the case of clause (1), (2) or (3) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds (immediately available to the Holders in the case of clause (1)) in trust for such purpose (x) cash in an amount, or (y) Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof which will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Securities of such Series for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; or
(C) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of satisfaction and discharge, as contemplated by Section 2.2 to be applicable to the Securities of such Series:
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(ii) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by it hereunder with respect to the Securities of such Series; and
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
(b) Unless this Section 8.1(b) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of a Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate certain of its obligations under this Indenture (“ covenant defeasance ”) with respect to the Securities of a Series if:
(i) the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as 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 Securities of such Series, (x) cash in an amount, or (y) Government Obligations with respect to such Series, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will ensure the availability of cash in an amount or (z) a combination thereof which will be sufficient, in the opinion (in the case of (y) or (z)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on all Securities of such Series on each date that such principal, premium (if any) or interest is due and payable and (at the Stated Maturity thereof or upon redemption as provided in Section 8.1(e)) to pay all other sums payable by it hereunder; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money and/or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to the payment of said principal, premium (if any) and interest with respect to the Securities of such Series as the same shall become due;
(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowings);
(iv) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee or a tax ruling to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 8.1(b) and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised; and
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(v) the Company has complied with any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the discharge of the Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1.
In such event, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in this paragraph), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge under this Indenture. However, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 4.1, 5.1, 7.6 and 7.7, the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 and the rights, powers, protections and privileges accorded the Trustee under Article VII shall survive until all Securities of such Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only the obligations of the Company in Section 7.6 and the Trustee’s and Paying Agent’s obligations in Section 8.3 shall survive with respect to the Securities of such Series.
In order to have money available on a payment date to pay principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the Securities, the Government Obligations shall be payable as to principal or interest on or before such payment date in such amounts as will provide the necessary money. Government Obligations shall not be callable at the issuer’s option.
(c) If the Company has previously complied or is concurrently complying with the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b) (other than any additional conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 that are expressly applicable only to covenant defeasance) with respect to the Securities of a Series, then unless this Section 8.1(c) is specified as not being applicable to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may elect to be discharged (“ legal defeasance ”) from its obligations to make payments with respect to the Securities of such Series, if:
(i) unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel from a nationally recognized counsel acceptable to the Trustee to the effect referred to in Section 8.1(b)(4) with respect to such legal defeasance, which opinion is based on (A) a private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service addressed to the Company, (B) a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or (C) a change in the applicable federal income tax law (including regulations) after the date of this Indenture; the Company has complied with any other conditions specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be applicable to the legal defeasance of Securities of such Series pursuant to this Section 8.1(c); and
(ii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee a Company Request requesting such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series and an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance of the Securities of such Series have been complied with, together with an Opinion of Counsel to the same effect.
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In such event, the Company will be discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such Series to pay principal of, premium (if any) and interest on, the Securities of such Series, the Company’s obligations under Sections 4.1 and 5.1 shall terminate with respect to such Securities, and the entire indebtedness of the Company evidenced by such Securities shall be deemed paid and discharged.
(d) If and to the extent additional or alternative means of satisfaction, discharge or defeasance of the Securities of a Series are specified to be applicable to such Series as contemplated by Section 2.2, the Company may terminate any or all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to its Securities of a Series and any or all of its obligations under the Securities of such Series if it fulfills such other means of satisfaction and discharge as may be so specified, as contemplated by Section 2.2, to be applicable to the Securities of such Series.
(e) If the Securities of any Series subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 8.1 are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions, the terms of the applicable trust arrangement shall provide for such redemption, and the Company shall make such arrangements as are reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
Section 8.2. Application of Trust Money .
The Trustee or a trustee satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of premium (if any) and interest on the Securities of the Series with respect to which the deposit was made.
Section 8.3. Repayment to Company .
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon written request any excess money or Government Obligations (or proceeds therefrom) held by them at any time upon the written request of the Company.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal, premium (if any), interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person, and all liability of the Trustee and the Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
Section 8.4. Reinstatement .
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations deposited with respect to the Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
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ARTICLE
IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders .
Without the consent of any Holder of Securities of a Series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Series of Securities in the following circumstances:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture by a successor or transferee upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities;
(d) to provide any security for or guarantees of its Securities or for the addition of an additional obligor on its Securities;
(e) to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if applicable;
(f) to add covenants that would benefit the Holders of its Securities or to surrender any rights the Company has under this Indenture;
(g) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding Securities of any Series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
(h) to provide for the issuance of and establish forms and terms and conditions of a new series of Securities;
(i) to facilitate the defeasance and discharge of the Securities of any Series otherwise in accordance with Article VIII; provided that any such action does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding Securities of such Series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the principal executive officer, the principal financial or accounting officer or the Treasurer of the Company;
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(j) to issue additional Securities of any Series, provided that such additional Securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same Series as, the applicable Series of Securities to the extent required under this Indenture; and provided further that if the additional Securities are not fungible with such Series for United States federal income tax purposes, the additional Securities will have a separate CUSIP number;
(k) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of and appointment 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 trust by more than one trustee;
(l) to add additional Events of Default with respect to any Series of Securities; and
(m) to make any change that does not adversely affect any of its outstanding Securities in any material respect.
Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders .
This Indenture or the Securities of a Series may be amended or supplemented, and waivers may be obtained, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, such Securities of a Series), and any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, such Securities of a Series, except a payment Default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such Series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, such Securities of a Series).
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series issued by the Company may waive any existing or past Default or Event of Default with respect to those Securities. Those Holders may not, however, waive any Default or Event of Default in any payment on any Security.
For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment, supplement or waiver to any Series of Securities made with the consent of Holders of such Series of Securities, shall be made with respect to that Series of Securities only, and not any other Series of Securities.
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Section 9.3. Limitations .
Without the consent of each Holder of Securities of a Series affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities of such Series held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the Securities of such Series;
(c) reduce the principal of the Securities of such Series or change the Stated Maturity of the Securities of such Series;
(d) reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the Securities of such Series or change the time at which the Securities of such Series may or must be redeemed or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities of such series;
(e) make payments on the Security of such Series payable in currency other than as originally stated in such Security;
(f) modify the subordination provisions of the Security of such Series in a manner adverse in any material respect to the Holder thereof;
(g) impair the Holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Security of such Series; or
(h) waive a continuing Default or Event of Default regarding any payment on the Securities of such Series.
In the event that consent is obtained from some of the Holders but not from all of the Holders with respect to any amendments or waivers pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) of this Section 9.3, new Securities of such Series with such amendments or waivers will be issued to those consenting Holders. Such new Securities shall have separate CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code numbers from those Securities of such Series held by non-consenting Holders.
Section 9.4. Form of Amendments .
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture.
Section 9.5. Revocation and Effect of Consents .
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his, her or its Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the written notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
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Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security that has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6. Notation on or Exchange of the Securities .
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company, in exchange for its Securities of that Series, may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7. Trustee Protected .
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with such supplemental indenture’s terms. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any supplemental indentures which affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities, or indemnities under this Indenture, the Securities or otherwise.
ARTICLE
X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Notices .
Any request, direction, instruction, demand, document, notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, shall be in English and in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first-class mail, or delivered by overnight courier as provided below, or if sent by facsimile transmission or email in PDF format, to a facsimile number or email address, as the case may be, provided by the Company or the Trustee, with a copy, mailed by first-class mail, to the Company or the Trustee, as provided below:
if to the Company:
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
Attention: General Counsel
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, NJ 08037
Facsimile No: (609) 561-7130
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with a copy to:
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
200 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10166
Facsimile No: (212) 351-5237
Attention: Andrew L. Fabens
if to the Trustee:
[______________]
[______________]
[______________]
Facsimile No: [______________]
Attention: [______________]
with a copy to:
[______________]
[______________]
[______________]
Facsimile No: [______________]
Attention: [______________]
Notices shall be effective upon the recipient’s actual receipt thereof. Any party by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to (a) a Securityholder of a Certificated Security shall be mailed by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar and (b) a Securityholder of a Global Security shall be delivered to the Depositary in accordance with its applicable procedures. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication to any Securityholder is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
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With respect to this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information by electronic transmission is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information to the Trustee, including the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
Section 10.2. Communication by Holders with Other Holders .
Securityholders of a Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b), as if such section applied hereto, with other Securityholders of such Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it by TIA § 312.
Section 10.3. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 10.4. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) 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
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(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.5. Rules by Trustee and Agents .
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.6. Legal Holidays .
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “ Legal Holiday ” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.7. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Certain Others .
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or similar founder, stockholder or member of the Company will have any liability for or any obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Securities or for any claim based on, with respect to or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
Section 10.8. Counterparts .
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 10.9. Governing Laws .
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Section 10.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.11. Successors .
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.12. Severability .
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.13. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.14. 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 with respect to the principal of or interest or other amount 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 recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the recipient could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a) of this clause), 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 with respect to 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 on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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Section 10.15. English Language .
This Indenture has been negotiated and executed in the English language. All certificates, reports, notices and other documents and communications delivered pursuant to this Indenture (including any modifications or supplements hereto), shall be in the English language, or accompanied by a certified English translation thereof. In the case of any document originally issued in a language other than English, the English language version of any such document shall for purposes of this Indenture, and absent manifest error, control the meaning of the matters set out therein.
Section 10.16. Submission to Jurisdiction .
Any suit, action or proceeding against the Company or its respective properties, assets or revenues with respect to this Indenture or the Securities (a “ Related Proceeding ”) may be brought in any state or Federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York, as the Person bringing such Related Proceeding may elect in its sole discretion. The Company hereby consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court for the purpose of any Related Proceeding and has irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in any such court and to the fullest extent it may effectively do so and the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any Related Proceeding or any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.
Section 10.17. Waiver of Immunity .
To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or execution, on the ground of sovereignty or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, such immunity with respect to its obligations under this Indenture, and, the Securities.
Section 10.18. Waiver of Jury Trial .
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 10.19. USA Patriot Act
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with § 326 of the USA Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act as such requirements pertain to this Indenture.
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ARTICLE
XI.
Subordination
Section 11.1. Subordination Terms
The Securities of a Series issued hereunder shall be subordinated in right of payment to the extent provided in the subordination terms with respect to the Securities of such Series that are established pursuant to Section 2.2.
Section 11.2. Notice to Trustee
The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Failure to give such notice shall not affect in any manner the subordination of the Securities to Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding the provisions of this or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof at the address specified in Section 10.1 from the Company or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee or agent therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received, at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal amount, accrued original issue discount, redemption price or interest, if any, as the case may be, in respect of any Security), the notice with respect to such money provided for in this Section 11.2, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of any such holder). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XI, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such person, the extent to which such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such person under this Article XI, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment that it may be required to make for the benefit of such person pursuant to the terms of this Indenture pending judicial determination as to the rights of such person to receive such payment.
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Section 11.3. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, Custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XI.
Section 11.4. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XI or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XI and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
Section 11.5. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.
The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XI with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent of any of its rights as such holder.
Nothing in this Article XI shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.6.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
South Jersey Industries, Inc. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[______________], as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Exhibit 5.1
[Letterhead of South Jersey Industries, Inc.]
May 10, 2016
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, NJ 08037
Re: |
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I, as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of South Jersey Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the “ Company ”), have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of:
(i) the Company’s unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (“ Senior Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities, the “ Debt Securities ”);
(ii) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.25 per share (the “ Common Stock ”);
(iii) shares of the Company’s preference stock, without par value (the “ Preference Stock ”);
(iv) depositary shares each representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of Preference Stock (the “ Depositary Shares ”);
(v) contracts for the purchase or sale of Debt Securities, Preference Stock or Common Stock or other securities, currencies or commodities (the “ Purchase Contracts ”);
(vi) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares or Debt Securities (the “ Warrants ”); and
(vii) units of the Company comprising combination of Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts or Debt Securities (the “ Units ”).
May 10, 2016
Page 2
The Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Warrants, and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities .” The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and a financial institution to be named at the time such indenture is executed (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ,” and together with the Senior Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”).
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, I have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of forms of the Base Indentures, specimen Common Stock certificates, and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable to enable me to render these opinions. In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, I have relied to the extent I deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
I have assumed without independent investigation that:
(i) at the time any Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “ Relevant Time ”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws;
(ii) at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and all related documentation and will comply with all applicable laws;
(iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;
(iv) at the Relevant Time, all corporate or other action required to be taken by the Company to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities and any related documentation (including (i) the due reservation of any shares of Common Stock or Preference Stock for issuance upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Securities for Common Stock or Preference Stock (a “ Convertible Security ”), and (ii) the execution (in the case of certificated Securities), delivery and performance of the Securities and any related documentation referred to in paragraphs 1 through 3 below) shall have been duly completed and shall remain in full force and effect;
May 10, 2016
Page 3
(v) upon issuance of any Common Stock or Preference Stock, including upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Security, the total number of shares of Common Stock or Preference Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock or Preference Stock, as applicable, that the Company is then authorized to issue under its certificate of incorporation and other relevant documents; and
(vi) at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action of the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto.
Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, I am of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any shares of Preference Stock, when:
a. | the Board of Directors has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of such shares of Preference Stock and related matters, |
b. | the certificate of designations relating to such Preference Stock (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) has been duly executed and filed with the Office of the Department of the Treasury of the State of New Jersey, |
c. | such shares have been issued either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and for the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any Convertible Security and for any additional consideration specified in such Convertible Security or the instrument governing such Convertible Security providing for such conversion or exercise, which consideration (including any consideration paid for such Convertible Security), on a per-share basis, shall in either event not be less than the par value of the Preference Stock, and |
d. | any such Convertible Security was previously validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of an equity Security) or is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, |
such shares of Preference Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
May 10, 2016
Page 4
2. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when:
a. | the Board of Directors has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of such shares of Common Stock and related matters, |
b. | such shares of Common Stock have been duly executed (in the case of certificated shares) and delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein, or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any Convertible Security, in accordance with the terms of such Convertible Security or the instrument governing such Convertible Security providing for such conversion or exercise, and for any additional consideration specified therein, which consideration (including any consideration paid for such Convertible Security), on a per-share basis, shall in either event not be less than the par value of the Common Stock, and |
c. | any such Convertible Security was previously validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of an equity Security) or is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, |
such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. The Company is duly incorporated, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and has all requisite power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Base Indentures and all other documents related to the Securities.
I render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New Jersey and the United States of America. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of New Jersey, the United States of America and the facts as they currently exist. I assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.
I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and I further consent to the use of my name under the caption “Validity of the Securities” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, I do not thereby admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Gina Merritt-Epps
Gina Merritt-Epps, Esq.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Exhibit 5.2
May 10, 2016
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
1 South Jersey Plaza
Folsom, NJ 08037
Re: |
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to South Jersey Industries, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the “ Company ”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of:
(i) the Company’s unsecured debt securities, which may either be senior debt securities (“ Senior Debt Securities ”) or subordinated debt securities (the “ Subordinated Debt Securities ” and, collectively with the Senior Debt Securities, the “ Debt Securities ”);
(ii) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.25 per share (the “ Common Stock ”);
(iii) shares of the Company’s preference stock, without par value (the “ Preference Stock ”);
(iv) depositary shares each representing a fraction of a share of a particular series of Preference Stock (the “ Depositary Shares ”);
(v) contracts for the purchase or sale of Debt Securities, Preference Stock or Common Stock or other securities, currencies or commodities (the “ Purchase Contracts ”);
(vi) warrants for the purchase of Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares or Debt Securities (the “ Warrants ”); and
(vii) units of the Company comprising any combination of Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts or Debt Securities (the “ Units ”).
The Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preference Stock, Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Warrants, and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities .” The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and a financial institution to be named at the time such indenture is executed (the “ Trust Company ”), as indenture trustee (the “ Senior Base Indenture ”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the Trust Company, as indenture trustee (the “ Subordinated Base Indenture ,” and together with the Senior Base Indenture, the “ Base Indentures ”).
May 10, 2016 Page 2 |
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of forms of the Base Indentures and such other documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render these opinions. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
We have assumed without independent investigation that:
(i) at the time any Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “ Relevant Time ”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws;
(ii) at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and all related documentation and will comply with all applicable laws;
(iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;
(iv) at the Relevant Time, all corporate or other action required to be taken by the Company to duly authorize each proposed issuance of Securities and any related documentation, and (ii) the execution (in the case of certificated Securities), delivery and performance of the Securities and any related documentation referred to in paragraphs 1 through 5 below) shall have been duly completed and shall remain in full force and effect;
(v) in the case of Debt Securities, at the Relevant Time, the relevant trustee shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “ TIA ”), a Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1 shall have been properly filed with the Commission and the relevant Base Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and all other parties thereto and duly qualified under the TIA; and
May 10, 2016 Page 3 |
(vi) at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action of the Company and duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto.
Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any Debt Securities, when:
a. | the terms and conditions of such Debt Securities have been duly established by supplemental indenture or officers’ certificate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant Base Indenture, |
b. | any such supplemental indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the relevant trustee (together with the relevant Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), and |
c. | such Debt Securities have been executed (in the case of certificated Debt Securities), delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and issued and sold for the consideration set forth in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, |
such Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
2. With respect to Depositary Shares, when:
a. | a deposit agreement relating to such Depositary Shares (“ Deposit Agreement ”) has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary appointed by the Company, |
b. | the terms of the Depositary Shares have been established in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, and |
c. | the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed and countersigned (in the case of certificated Depositary Shares), registered and delivered in accordance with the related Deposit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided therein, |
the depositary receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
May 10, 2016 Page 4 |
3. With respect to any Purchase Contracts, when:
a. | the related purchase contract agreement (“ Purchase Contract Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed by the Company and each other party thereto, |
b. | the terms of the Purchase Contracts have been established in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement, if any, or the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, |
c. | the terms of any collateral or security arrangements relating to such Purchase Contracts have been established and the agreements thereto have been validly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto and any collateral has been deposited with the collateral agent, if applicable, in accordance with such arrangements, and |
d. | such Purchase Contracts have been executed (in the case of certificated Purchase Contracts) and delivered in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein, |
such Purchase Contracts will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms.
4. With respect to any Warrants, when:
a. | the warrant agreement relating to such Warrants (the “ Warrant Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto, |
b. | the terms of the Warrants have been established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and |
c. | the Warrants have been duly executed (in the case of certificated Warrants) and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein, |
May 10, 2016 Page 5 |
such Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. With respect to any Units, when:
a. | the unit agreement relating to the Units (the “ Unit Agreement ”), if any, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and each other party thereto, |
b. | the terms of the Units have been duly established in accordance with the Unit Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, and |
c. | the Units have been duly executed (in the case of certificated Units) and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement for the consideration provided for therein, |
the Units will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:
A. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and the United States of America. This opinion is limited to the effect of the current state of the laws of the State of New York , the United States of America and the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or the interpretations thereof or such facts.
B. The opinions above with respect to the Indenture, the Debt Securities, the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares, the Deposit Agreement, the Purchase Contracts, any Purchase Contract Agreement, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement, the Units and the Unit Agreement (collectively, the “ Documents ”) are each subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement or similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ generally, including without limitation the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers, and (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
May 10, 2016 Page 6 |
C. We express no opinion regarding the effectiveness of (i) any waiver of stay, extension or usury laws or of unknown future rights; (ii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) under the Indenture or any other Document of, or any consent thereunder relating to, unknown future rights or the rights of any party thereto existing, or duties owing to it, as a matter of law; (iii) any waiver (whether or not stated as such) contained in the Indenture or any other Document of rights of any party, or duties owing to it, that is broadly or vaguely stated or does not describe the right or duty purportedly waived with reasonable specificity; (iv) provisions relating to indemnification, exculpation or contribution, to the extent such provisions may be held unenforceable as contrary to public policy or federal or state securities laws or due to the negligence or willful misconduct of the indemnified party; (v) any provision in any Document waiving the right to object to venue in any court; (vi) any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any Federal court; (vii) any waiver of the right to jury trial or (viii) any provision to the effect that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy or that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others.
D. To the extent relevant to our opinions in paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 and not covered by our opinions in paragraph 1, we have assumed that any securities, currencies or commodities underlying, comprising or issuable upon exchange, conversion or exercise of any Depositary Shares, Purchase Contracts, Warrants, or Units are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (in the case of an equity security) or a legal, valid and binding obligation of the issuer thereof, enforceable against such issuer in accordance with its terms.
You have informed us that you intend to issue Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and we understand that prior to issuing any Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (i) you will advise us in writing of the terms thereof, and (ii) you will afford us an opportunity to (x) review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued or sold (including the applicable offering documents), and (y) file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate.
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of the Securities” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Exhibit 12.1
SOUTH JERSEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
Calculation of Ratio of Earnings from Continuing Operations to
Fixed Charges (Before Income Taxes)
(IN THOUSANDS)
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income* | $ | 68,187 | $ | 105,610 | $ | 97,628 | $ | 82,389 | $ | 92,776 | $ | 89,859 | ||||||||||||
Income taxes | 39,267 | 1,360 | 4,449 | (19,014 | ) | 11,479 | 22,502 | |||||||||||||||||
Loss (earnings) on affiliates | (158 | ) | 27,812 | 7,785 | (1,585 | ) | (2,239 | ) | 810 | |||||||||||||||
Fixed charges** | 10,835 | 36,995 | 34,549 | 27,721 | 24,462 | 25,323 | ||||||||||||||||||
Capitalized interest | (1,675 | ) | (4,919 | ) | (4,636 | ) | (8,684 | ) | (5,358 | ) | (1,220 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total earnings available for fixed charges | $ | 116,456 | $ | 166,858 | $ | 139,775 | $ | 80,827 | $ | 121,120 | $ | 137,274 | ||||||||||||
Fixed charges: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | 9,160 | $ | 31,622 | $ | 29,560 | $ | 18,825 | $ | 18,986 | $ | 24,078 | ||||||||||||
Capitalized interest | 1,675 | 4,919 | 4,636 | 8,684 | 5,358 | 1,220 | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of premiums/discounts/issuance costs (SJI)*** | — | 429 | 328 | 187 | 93 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
Amortization of premiums/discounts/issuance costs (Marina)*** | — | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 10,835 | $ | 36,995 | $ | 34,549 | $ | 27,721 | $ | 24,462 | $ | 25,323 | |||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges | 10.7 | x | 4.5 | x | 4.0 | x | 2.9 | x | 5.0 | x | 5.4 | x |
* | Income from continuing operations. |
** | Includes interest charges and capitalized interest. |
*** | Recorded with interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016. |
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 29, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of South Jersey Industries, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of South Jersey Industries, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2015, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 10, 2016