Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2024

Registration No. 333-   

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   13-4996950
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

500 Charles Ewing Boulevard

Ewing, NJ 08628

(609) 806-1200

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

 

 

Patrick de Maynadier

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Princeton South Corporate Center

500 Charles Ewing Boulevard

Ewing, NJ 08628

(609) 806-1200

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

 

 

Copies to:

Louis E. Rambo, Esq.

Steven Burwell, Esq.

Proskauer Rose LLP

Eleven Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 969-3000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

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

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

 

 

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. from time to time may offer and sell senior or subordinated debt securities, preferred stock and common stock in one or more classes or series. We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms that we may determine at the time of the offering.

Each time securities are offered under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will contain more specific information about the terms of the offering and the offered securities. A prospectus supplement also may modify or supersede information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the applicable offering.

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, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth their names and any applicable commissions or discounts. The net proceeds to us from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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

 

 

Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this Prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents incorporated by reference, carefully before you invest in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator 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 17, 2024


Table of Contents

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference as described under “Where You Can Find More Information,” and any free writing prospectus that we prepare and distribute. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If you receive any other information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is truthful or complete at any date other than the date appearing on the cover page of those documents. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted or in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     1  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     1  

RISK FACTORS

     3  

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

     4  

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

     5  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     6  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     18  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     22  

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     24  

EXPERTS

     24  


Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

All references in this prospectus to “Church & Dwight,” “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Registrant,” and “the Company” refer to Church & Dwight Co., Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. Each time we sell securities under this shelf registration, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. Such prospectus supplement may also modify or supersede the information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information referred to below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

We also make our annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information available free of charge on the “Investors – Financials – SEC Filings” page of our website at www.churchdwight.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file these materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC. The contents of our website are not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any references to the website are intended to be inactive textual references only.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement and related exhibits under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information about us and the securities we may issue. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, please be aware that the reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This enables us to disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and the information we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update, modify and, where applicable, supersede any information included in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to be furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules). The SEC file number for these documents is 1-10585.

 

   

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 15, 2024;

 

   

The portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023;

 

   

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 2, 2024;

 

   

Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 6, 2024; and

 

1


Table of Contents
   

The description of our common stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and as subsequently amended or updated.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between the date of this prospectus and the termination of any applicable offering of securities under this prospectus. To the extent that information contained in any current report on Form 8-K, or any exhibit to such report, was furnished to, rather than filed with the SEC, such information or exhibit is specifically not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Any statement made in a document incorporated by reference hereto will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement made in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

To obtain a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you may write or telephone us at the following address and telephone number:

By Mail:

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Princeton South Corporate Center 500 Charles Ewing Boulevard

Ewing, NJ 08628

Attention: General Counsel

By telephone:

(609) 806-1200

Attention: General Counsel

 

2


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the securities described herein involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our periodic reports referred to above in “Documents Incorporated by Reference” or incorporated by reference into any prospectus supplement, and, if included in a prospectus supplement, under the caption “Risk Factors” in such prospectus supplement.

 

3


Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain forward-looking statements, including, among others, statements relating to net sales and earnings growth; gross margin changes; trade, marketing, and SG&A spending; recessionary conditions; interest rates; inflation; sufficiency of cash flows from operations; earnings per share; cost savings programs; consumer demand and spending; the effects of competition; the effect of product mix; volume growth, including the effects of new product launches into new and existing categories; the impact of acquisitions (including earn-outs); and capital expenditures. Other forward-looking statements in this release may be identified by the use of such terms as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “anticipate,” “to be,” “to make” or other comparable terms. These statements represent the intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs of the Company, and are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable but may prove to be incorrect. In addition, these statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include a decline in market growth, retailer distribution and consumer demand (as a result of, among other things, political, economic and marketplace conditions and events), including those relating to the outbreak of contagious diseases; other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Company’s operations, customers, suppliers, employees, and other constituents, and market volatility and impact on the economy (including contributions to recessionary conditions), resulting from global, nationwide or local or regional outbreaks or increases in infections, new variants, and the risk that the Company will not be able to successfully execute its response plans with respect to the pandemic or localized outbreaks and the corresponding uncertainty; the impact of new legislation such as the U.S. CARES Act, the EU Medical Device Regulation, new cosmetic and device regulations in Mexico, and the U.S. Modernization of Cosmetic Regulation Act; the impact on the global economy of the Russia/Ukraine war and increased conflict in the Middle East, including the impact of export controls and other economic sanctions; potential recessionary conditions or economic uncertainty; the impact of continued shifts in consumer behavior, including accelerating shifts to on-line shopping; unanticipated increases in raw material and energy prices, including as a result of the Russia/Ukraine war, increased conflict in the Middle East or other inflationary pressures; delays and increased costs in manufacturing and distribution; increases in transportation costs; labor shortages; the impact of price increases for our products; the impact of inflationary conditions; the impact of supply chain and labor disruptions; the impact of severe or inclement weather on raw material and transportation costs; adverse developments affecting the financial condition of major customers and suppliers; competition; changes in marketing and promotional spending; growth or declines in various product categories and the impact of customer actions in response to changes in consumer demand and the economy, including increasing shelf space or on-line share of private label and retailer-branded products or other changes in the retail environment; consumer and competitor reaction to, and customer acceptance of, new product introductions and features; the Company’s ability to maintain product quality and characteristics at a level acceptable to our customers and consumers; disruptions in the banking system and financial markets; the Company’s borrowing capacity and ability to finance its operations and potential acquisitions; higher interest rates; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; transition to, and shifting economic policies in the United States; potential changes in export/import and trade laws, regulations and policies of the United States and other countries, including any increased trade restrictions or tariffs; increased or changing regulation regarding the Company’s products and its suppliers in the United States and other countries where it or its suppliers operate; market volatility; issues relating to the Company’s information technology and controls; the impact of natural disasters, including those related to climate change, on the Company and its customers and suppliers, including third party information technology service providers; integrations of acquisitions or divestiture of assets; the outcome of contingencies, including litigation, pending regulatory proceedings and environmental matters; and changes in the regulatory environment in the countries where we do business.

 

4


Table of Contents

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

Our Company was founded in 1846 and incorporated in Delaware in 1925. We develop, manufacture and market a broad range of consumer household and personal care products and specialty products focused on animal and food production, chemicals and cleaners. Our well-recognized brands include ARM & HAMMER® baking soda, cat litter, laundry detergent, carpet deodorizer and other baking soda-based products; OXICLEAN® stain removers, cleaning solutions, laundry detergents and bleach alternatives; VITAFUSION® and L’IL CRITTERS® gummy dietary supplements for adults and children, respectively; BATISTE® dry shampoo; WATERPIK® water flossers and showerheads; THERABREATH® oral care products; HERO® acne treatment products; TROJAN condoms, lubricants and vibrators; SPINBRUSH battery-operated toothbrushes; FIRST RESPONSE home pregnancy and ovulation test kits; NAIR depilatories; ORAJEL oral analgesic; XTRA laundry detergent; and ZICAM cold shortening and relief products. Seven of those brands are designated as “power brands” because they compete in large categories, and we believe they have the potential for significant global expansion. Those seven brands are ARM & HAMMER®; OXICLEAN®; VITAFUSION® and L’IL CRITTERS®; BATISTE®; WATERPIK®; THERABREATH®; and HERO® and represent approximately 70% of our net sales and profits. We sell our consumer products under a variety of brands through a broad distribution platform that includes supermarkets, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, drugstores, convenience stores, home stores, dollar and other discount stores, pet and other specialty stores and websites and other e-commerce channels, all of which sell our products to consumers. We sell our specialty products to industrial customers, livestock producers and through distributors.

Our principal executive offices are located at 500 Charles Ewing Boulevard Ewing, NJ, 08628, and our telephone number is (609) 806-1200.

 

5


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures and the repayment of indebtedness.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may use this prospectus to offer from time to time:

 

   

Senior and subordinated debt securities. These debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable into our common stock, preferred stock or other securities. Our senior debt will rank equally with any of our other unsubordinated and unsecured indebtedness, and our subordinated debt will rank junior in right of payment and priority to any senior indebtedness.

 

   

Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. The preferred stock may be convertible or exchangeable into other series of preferred stock or our common stock. We can offer different series of preferred stock with different dividend, liquidation, redemption and voting rights.

 

   

Common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

A prospectus supplement will describe the specific types, amounts, prices and detailed terms of any offering pursuant to this prospectus relating to these securities.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

In this section, references to “holders” mean those who own debt securities of the Company registered in their own names on the books that we or the trustee maintains for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities of the Company should read the section below entitled “Legal Ownership of Debt Securities.” Further, any references to “debt securities” in this section relate to debt securities to be offered in connection with this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement in connection herewith.

General

The debt securities offered by this prospectus will be either senior or subordinated debt. We will issue senior debt under a senior debt indenture, and we will issue subordinated debt under a subordinated debt indenture. We sometimes refer to the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt indenture individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” The trustee under each of the senior debt indenture and the subordinated debt is expected to be U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “trustee”). We have filed forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You can obtain copies of the indentures by following the directions outlined in “Where You Can Find More Information,” or by contacting the trustee.

The following summary briefly describes the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities, other than pricing and related terms, which will be disclosed for a particular issuance in the applicable prospectus supplement. The summary is not complete. You should read the more detailed provisions of the applicable indenture, including the defined terms, for provisions that may be important to you. The summary below and that contained in any prospectus supplement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the applicable indenture. You should also read the particular terms of a series of debt securities, which will be described in more detail in an applicable prospectus supplement. Throughout the summary we have included parenthetical references to the indenture sections, which, except for subordination provisions addressed only in the subordinated debt indenture, are the same in each document, to help you locate the provisions being discussed.

 

6


Table of Contents

The indentures provide that our unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities may be issued in one or more series, with different terms, in each case as we authorize from time to time. We also have the right, from time to time, to issue debt securities of any series previously issued. (Section 3.01)

Information in the Prospectus Supplement

The prospectus supplement for any offered series of debt securities will describe the following terms, as applicable:

 

   

the title or designation;

 

   

whether the debt is senior or subordinated;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount offered and authorized denominations;

 

   

the initial public offering price;

 

   

the maturity date or dates;

 

   

any sinking fund or other provision for payment of the debt securities prior to their stated maturity;

 

   

whether the debt securities are fixed rate debt securities or floating rate debt securities or original issue discount debt securities;

 

   

if the debt securities are fixed rate debt securities, the yearly rate at which the debt security will bear interest, if any;

 

   

if the debt securities are floating rate debt securities, the method of calculating the interest rate;

 

   

if the debt securities are original issue discount debt securities, their yield to maturity;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or how such date or dates will be determined, and the interest payment dates and any related record dates;

 

   

if other than in U.S. Dollars, the currency or currency unit in which payment will be made;

 

   

any provisions for the payment of additional amounts for taxes;

 

   

the denominations in which the currency or currency unit of the securities will be issuable if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be convertible;

 

   

the terms and conditions on which the debt securities may be redeemed at our option;

 

   

any obligation we may have to redeem, purchase or repay the debt securities at the option of a holder upon the happening of any event and the terms and conditions of redemption, purchase or repayment;

 

   

the names and duties of any co-indenture trustees, depositaries, auction agents, authenticating agents, calculation agents, paying agents, transfer agents or registrars for the debt securities;

 

   

any material provisions of the applicable indenture described in this prospectus that do not apply to the debt securities;

 

   

the ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other outstanding indebtedness, including our subsidiaries’ debt;

 

   

if the debt securities are subordinated, the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of a recent date, that is senior to the subordinated securities, and any limitation on the issuance of additional senior debt;

 

   

the place where we will pay principal and interest;

 

   

additional provisions, if any, relating to the defeasance of the debt securities;

 

7


Table of Contents
   

any United States federal income tax consequences relating to the offered securities, if material;

 

   

the dates on which premiums, if any, will be paid;

 

   

our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of such deferral period;

 

   

any listing of the debt securities on a securities exchange; and

 

   

any other specific terms of the debt securities.

We will issue the debt securities only in registered form. (Section 3.02) As currently anticipated, debt securities of a series will trade in book-entry form, and global securities will be issued in physical (paper) form, as described below under “What Is a Global Security?”.

We will issue senior debt securities under the senior debt indenture. These senior debt securities will rank on an equal basis with all our other unsecured debt and unsubordinated debt.

We will issue subordinated debt securities under the subordinated debt indenture. Subordinated debt will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated debt indenture, to all our “senior indebtedness” (both secured and unsecured). (Section 15.01)

In general, the holders of all of our senior debt securities are first entitled to receive payment of the full amount unpaid on senior indebtedness before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities in certain events.

If we default in the payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, or interest or other monetary amounts on any senior indebtedness when it becomes due and payable after any applicable grace period, then, unless and until the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we cannot make a payment on account of or redeem or otherwise acquire the subordinated debt securities. (Section 15.04)

If there is any insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation or other similar proceeding relating to us or our property, then all senior indebtedness must be paid in full before any payment may be made to any holders of subordinated debt securities. (Section 15.02)

Furthermore, if we default in the payment of the principal of and accrued interest on any subordinated debt securities that are declared due and payable upon an event of default under the subordinated debt indenture, holders of all our senior indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash before holders of such subordinated debt can receive any payments. (Section 15.03)

“Senior indebtedness” means:

 

   

the principal, interest and any other amounts owing in respect of our indebtedness for borrowed money or indebtedness of others that we guarantee and indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or other similar instruments or letters of credit issued by us, including any senior debt securities issued under any senior debt security or letters of credit;

 

   

all capitalized lease obligations;

 

   

all hedging obligations;

 

   

all obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property; and

 

   

all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of obligations of the type referred to above;

but “senior indebtedness” does not include:

 

   

subordinated debt securities; and

 

8


Table of Contents
   

any indebtedness that by its terms is subordinated to, or ranks on an equal basis with, our subordinated debt securities.

Covenants

Merger and Sale of Assets

We may not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions:

 

   

consolidate or merge with or into any other person or permit any other person to consolidate or merge with or into us; or

 

   

transfer, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets,

unless, in either such case:

 

   

in a transaction in which we do not survive or in which we sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, the successor entity to us is organized under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and expressly assumes, by supplemental indentures, all of our obligations under the indentures;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default on the debt securities exists; and

 

   

an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel concerning certain matters are delivered to the trustee. (Section 8.01)

Other Covenants

In addition, any offered series of debt securities may have additional covenants which will be described in the prospectus supplement, limiting or restricting, among other things:

 

   

our ability to incur indebtedness;

 

   

our ability to pay dividends or to repurchase or redeem our share capital;

 

   

our ability to create dividend and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries;

 

   

sales of assets by us;

 

   

our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

our ability to incur liens.

Modification of the Indentures

Under the indentures, we and the trustee may amend the indentures, without the consent of any holder of the debt securities to:

 

   

evidence the succession of another obligor to the company and the assumption of the covenants in the indentures and in the debt securities by such successor;

 

   

add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of debt securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any rights or power conferred upon us;

 

   

add any additional events of default;

 

   

add or change any provision of the indentures to permit the issuance of the debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, with or without interest coupons;

 

9


Table of Contents
   

add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indentures in respect of one or more series of debt securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (i) will neither apply to any debt security created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture nor adversely affect the rights of the holders thereof in any material respect or (ii) will become effective only when no such debt securities are outstanding;

 

   

secure the debt securities;

 

   

provide for the issuance of additional securities of any series;

 

   

establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted in the indentures;

 

   

establish provisions with respect to conversion rights, if any;

 

   

reflect our consolidation or merger with or into any other person or permit the consolidation or merger of any other person with or into us, or the transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, in conformity with the limitations set forth in the indentures;

 

   

permit the issuance of uncertificated debt securities in addition to, or in place of, certificated debt securities;

 

   

appoint a successor trustee under either indenture;

 

   

cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, provided that the amendment may not adversely affect the interests of holders of debt securities in any material respect;

 

   

conform any provisions of the indentures to the “Description of Debt Securities” contained in this prospectus or any similar provision in an applicable prospectus supplement; or

 

   

maintain the qualification of the indentures under the Trust Indenture Act. (Section 9.01)

We and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series or such other percentage as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, modify the applicable indenture or the rights of the holders of the securities of such series. However, no such modification may, without the consent of each holder of an affected debt security:

 

   

change the fixed maturity of any such debt securities or the date on which any payment of interest on the debt securities is due and payable;

 

   

reduce the principal amount or interest rate on any debt security;

 

   

reduce the premium payable upon any redemption of the debt securities;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable on the acceleration of any securities issued originally at a discount;

 

   

change the place of payment of, or type of currency for payment of, debt securities;

 

   

impair the right to sue for the enforcement of any payment of principal, any installment of interest or premium on or after the maturity (including in connection with a redemption, on or after the redemption date) of the debt securities;

 

   

adversely affect the right, if any, to convert such debt securities, or modify the provisions of the indentures with respect to the ranking of the debt securities in a manner adverse to the holder thereof;

 

   

reduce the percentage of debt securities of a series whose holders need to consent to a modification or a waiver;

 

   

modify any of the provisions in the applicable indentures related to modifications that require the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series or provisions in the applicable indentures related to the waiver of past defaults by the holders of debt securities, except to increase any such percentage or provide that certain other provisions may not be modified without the consent of each holder of the debt securities;

 

10


Table of Contents
   

adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of the holder of debt securities; or

 

   

reduce or postpone any sinking fund. (Section 9.02)

Defaults

Each indenture provides that events of default regarding any series of debt securities will be:

 

   

our failure to pay interest on any debt security of such series for 30 days after such payment is due;

 

   

our failure to pay principal on any debt security of such series when due;

 

   

our failure to make any deposit of any sinking fund payment when due on debt securities of such series;

 

   

our failure to perform for 90 days after written notice given by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities any other covenant in the relevant indenture other than a covenant (i) included in the relevant indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series or (ii) expressly excluded from events giving rise to a default, including the obligation to file SEC filings with the trustee;

 

   

our failure to pay beyond any applicable grace period, or the acceleration (which is not rescinded or cured within 30 days of notice of acceleration) of, indebtedness in excess of $100,000,000; or

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or not, with respect to us or any material subsidiary. (Section 5.01)

In addition, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe any other events of default set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If an event of default regarding debt securities of any series issued under the indentures should occur and be continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in the principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the principal amount, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, of each debt security of that series due and payable. If an event of default regarding debt securities results from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us or any material subsidiary, such amount with respect to the debt securities will be due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the holders of outstanding debt securities or the trustee. (Section 5.02)

No event of default regarding one series of debt securities issued under an indenture is necessarily an event of default regarding any other series of debt securities.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of our outstanding debt securities of any series will be entitled to control certain actions of the trustee under the indentures and to waive certain past defaults regarding such series. (Sections 5.12 and 5.13) The trustee generally cannot be required by any of the holders of debt securities to take any action, unless one or more of such holders shall have provided to the trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. (Section 6.02)

If an event of default occurs and is continuing regarding a series of debt securities, the trustee may use any sums that it holds under the relevant indenture for its own compensation and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) incurred prior to paying the holders of debt securities of such series. (Section 5.06)

Before any holder of any series of debt securities may institute action for any remedy, the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding must request the trustee in writing to take action. Holders must also offer indemnity and/or security satisfactory to the trustee against liabilities incurred by the trustee for taking such action, and the trustee must have failed to institute any proceeding within 60 days after receiving such written notice and offer of indemnity and/or security. These limitations do not apply if the holders of a majority of debt securities of the applicable series give an inconsistent direction. (Section 5.07) In addition, these limitations also do not apply, however, to a suit by a holder of any series of debt securities to enforce payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, and the right to convert such debt security, if applicable. (Section 5.08)

 

11


Table of Contents

Each trustee will, if a default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee in accordance with the terms of the indenture, within the earlier of 90 days after such default occurs or 30 days after it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, give notice of the default to the holders of the debt securities of that series, unless the default was already cured or waived. Unless there is a default in paying principal, interest or any premium when due, the trustee can withhold giving notice to the holders if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders. (Section 6.05)

We are required to furnish to each trustee an annual statement as to compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture. (Section 10.05)

Defeasance

After we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee cash or U.S. government securities, in trust for the benefit of the holders, sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of such series when due, and satisfied certain other conditions described below, we may elect to have our obligations under the applicable indenture discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“legal defeasance and discharge”). Legal defeasance and discharge means that we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of such series under the applicable indenture, except for:

 

   

the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive principal, interest and any premium when due from amounts deposited with the trustee, which will be held in trust funds for the purpose of such payments;

 

   

our obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning issuing temporary debt securities, registration of transfer of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency where securities may be presented for payment, transfer, exchange or, if applicable, conversion for security payments held in trust;

 

   

the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the trustee; and

 

   

the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

Alternatively, we may elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain covenants in the applicable indenture (“covenant defeasance”). The released obligations include:

 

   

our obligations regarding delivery of reports to the trustee and holders of debt securities;

 

   

our obligations relating to a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets; and

 

   

our obligation to present and keep in full force and effect our corporate existence.

Any omission to comply with these obligations so released will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series. In the event covenant defeasance occurs, certain events relating to these obligations, as well as the failure to deposit a sinking fund payment when due and the failure to pay or acceleration of indebtedness in excess of $100,000,000, as described above will no longer constitute an event of default for that series.

In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds cash or specified United States government obligations in an amount, in each case, sufficient without reinvestment, in the written opinion of an nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, to pay and discharge all of the principal, interest and any premium at due date or maturity. In addition:

 

   

in the case of legal defeasance, we must have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel confirming that (i) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service, a ruling or (ii) since the date of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in

 

12


Table of Contents
 

either case, to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge to be effected and will be subject to the same federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge did not occur;

 

   

in the case of covenant defeasance and discharge, we must have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that, under then applicable federal income tax law, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and covenant defeasance to be effected and will be subject to the same federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit and covenant defeasance did not occur;

 

   

no default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of that series may have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit after giving effect to the deposit;

 

   

the legal defeasance and discharge or covenant defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party;

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that we did not make the deposit with the intent of preferring the noteholders over our other creditors with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of our creditors or others; and

 

   

we must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the legal defeasance and discharge or covenant defeasance have been complied with. (Article XIII)

Governing Law

Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities and the indentures will be governed by New York law. (Section 1.13)

Concerning our Relationship with the Trustee

An affiliate of the trustee is a participating lender in connection with our principal credit facility, and the trustee and its affiliates perform a range of financial services for us in the normal course of their business, for which they receive customary fees.

Payment and Paying Agents

Distributions on the debt securities other than those represented by global securities will be made in the designated currency against surrender of the debt securities at the principal corporate trust office of the trustee in New York, New York or such other corporate trust office designated in the indenture. Payment will be made to the registered holders of the debt securities at the close of business on the record date for such payment. Interest payments will be made at the principal corporate trust office or agency of the trustee in New York, New York or such other corporate trust office designated in the indenture, or by wire transfer to the holders of the debt securities in accordance with the wire instructions of such holder as it shall appear in the security register. Payments in any other manner will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Calculation Agents

Calculations relating to floating rate debt securities will be made by the calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. We may appoint one of our affiliates as calculation agent. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date of the debt securities without your consent and without notifying you of the change. The initial calculation agent will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

13


Table of Contents

Transfer and Exchange

The debt securities may be presented for exchange, and debt securities other than a global security may be presented for registration of transfer, at the principal corporate trust office or agency of the trustee in New York, New York or such other corporate trust office as provided for in the indenture. Holders will not have to pay any service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we or the trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities. (Section 3.05)

Legal Ownership of Debt Securities

Unless the prospectus supplement specifies otherwise, we will issue debt securities initially in the form of a global security. However, we may elect to issue debt securities in fully registered or bearer form or both. We refer to those who have debt securities registered in their own names on the books that we or our agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those debt securities. These persons are the legal holders of the debt securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in debt securities that are not registered in their own names as “indirect holders” of those debt securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in debt securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

Book-Entry Holders

If we issue debt securities in global—i.e., book-entry—form, the debt securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the debt securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

For registered debt securities, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized under the indentures as the holder of that debt security. (Section 3.08) Debt securities issued in global form will be issued in the form of a global security registered in the name of the depositary or its nominees. Consequently, for debt securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the debt securities and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities.

As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the debt securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

In the future, we may terminate a global security under the circumstances specified below under “What Is a Global Security?—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated” or issue debt securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their debt securities in their own names or in “street name.” Debt securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those debt securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those debt securities.

 

14


Table of Contents

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustee, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security or has no choice because we are issuing the debt securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose—e.g., to amend the applicable indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the applicable indenture—we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

When we refer below to “you,” we mean those who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those debt securities. When we refer to your debt securities, we mean the debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

   

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

   

if the debt securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

What Is a Global Security?

A global security is a security that represents one or more debt securities and is held by a depositary. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution that we select or its nominees. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the debt security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

 

15


Table of Contents

If the prospectus supplement for a particular debt security indicates that the debt security will be issued in global form only, then the debt security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” If termination occurs, we may issue the debt securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the debt securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor as a holder of debt securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

An investor cannot cause the debt securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

   

An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities, as we describe under “Legal Ownership of Debt Securities” above;

 

   

An investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

   

An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the debt securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

   

The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way;

 

   

The depositary may (and we understand that DTC will) require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and

 

   

Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own bank or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under “Legal Ownership of Debt Securities.”

 

16


Table of Contents

The global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

 

   

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;

 

   

if we notify the trustee in writing that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

   

if an event of default has occurred with regard to debt securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. We discuss defaults above under “Default and Related Matters.”

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary—and not we or the trustee—is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

17


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our common stock and preferred stock will apply generally to any future common stock or preferred stock that we may offer, but is not complete. We will describe the particular terms of any class or series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. For more information regarding the common stock and preferred stock that may be offered by this prospectus, please refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (our “Certificate of Incorporation”), and our amended and restated by-laws (our “By-laws”), which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The summary below and that contained in any prospectus supplement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, and our By-laws. The terms of these securities also may be affected by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Description of Common Stock

Our authorized common stock consists of 600 million shares of common stock, $1.00 par value. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election.

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for distribution. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Holders of common stock will have no liability for further calls or assessments and will not be personally liable for the payment of our debts except as they may be liable by reason of their own conduct or acts.

Description of Preferred Stock

Our authorized preferred stock consists of 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.

We may issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, without stockholder approval, when authorized by the board of directors. Subject to limitations prescribed by law, the board of directors is authorized, by a two-thirds vote of the entire board of directors, to fix for any series of preferred stock the number of shares of such series and the voting powers (if any), designation, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series.

For any series of preferred stock that we may issue, our board of directors will determine and the prospectus supplement relating to such series will describe:

 

   

The designation and number of shares of such series;

 

   

The rate and time at which, and the preferences and conditions under which, any dividends will be paid on shares of such series, as well as whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and participating or non-participating;

 

   

Any provisions relating to convertibility or exchangeability of the shares of such series;

 

   

The rights and preferences, if any, of holders of shares of such series upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

 

18


Table of Contents
   

The voting powers, if any, of the holders of shares of such series;

 

   

Any provisions relating to the redemption of the shares of such series;

 

   

Any limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions on, or acquire or redeem, other securities while shares of such series are outstanding;

 

   

Any conditions or restrictions on our ability to issue additional shares of such series or other securities; and

 

   

Any other specific terms, preferences, limitations or restrictions.

Charter Provisions

Our Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that were designed to help assure that all of our stockholders will be treated similarly if certain kinds of business combinations are effected. However, these provisions may make it more difficult to accomplish certain transactions that are opposed by the incumbent board of directors and that could be beneficial to stockholders. Delaware law and these provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control of our management, which could depress the trading price of our common stock.

Our Certificate of Incorporation also authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock that may have voting rights and, if convertible into common stock, could increase the number of shares of common stock outstanding.

Additionally, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that:

 

   

no action may be taken by our stockholders otherwise than at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and, therefore, stockholder action may not be effected by a consent in writing;

 

   

the authorized number of directors may be changed only by a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors, which is based on the total number of director positions, including vacant positions, and the board of directors, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors then in office, may appoint new directors to fill any newly created directorships.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

We are a Delaware corporation. Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“Section 203”) prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder. The term “business combination” is broadly defined to include mergers, consolidations, sales and other dispositions of assets having an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and other specified transactions resulting in financial benefits to the interested stockholder. Under Section 203, an interested stockholder generally is defined as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the three prior years did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

This prohibition is effective unless:

 

   

the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder was approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to the time the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation, other than stock held by directors who are also officers or by specified employee stock plans; or

 

19


Table of Contents
   

at or after the time the stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination was approved by a majority of the board of directors and, at an annual or special meeting, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, the prohibition does not apply to business combinations with persons who acquired shares in excess of the 15% limitation prior to December 23, 1987 and continued to own shares in excess of the 15% limitation.

Advance Nomination Requirements

Our By-laws generally provide that stockholders must give us advance notice, at least 120 days prior to the anniversary of the mailing of the previous year’s proxy materials, of a proposed nominee for director or of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an annual stockholders’ meeting. The notice must contain specified information.

Proxy Access Nominations

Under our By-laws, a stockholder (or a group of up to 20 stockholders) who has held at least 3% of our common stock for three years or more may nominate a director and have that nominee included in our proxy materials, provided that the stockholder and nominee satisfy the requirements specified in our By-laws. Any stockholder who intends to use these procedures to nominate a candidate for election to the board of directors for inclusion in our proxy statement must satisfy the requirements specified in our By-laws.

Forum Selection Clause

Under our By-laws, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for making certain types of claims shall be the Delaware Court of Chancery (except that, in the event the Delaware Court of Chancery lacks subject matter jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding, then the sole and exclusive forum for such action or proceeding shall be the federal district court for the District of Delaware). This provision applies to (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, or employee or stockholder of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or our Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (as in effect at the time), none of our directors or certain officers will be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer. The Delaware General Corporation Law currently provides that directors and certain officers are not exempted from liability resulting from (1) any breach of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, or (3) as set forth under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (relating to unlawful payments of dividends or stock repurchases), or (4) for any transaction in which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, of every person made or threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of ours or is or was serving at our request in one of the same capacities for another enterprise, against all expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. A provision having the same general effect also is included in our By-laws.

 

20


Table of Contents

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the registrar and transfer agent for the common stock.

Stock Exchange Listing

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

 

21


Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer and sell the securities from time to time as follows:

 

   

through agents;

 

   

“at the market” sales to or through market makers or into an existing market for the securities;

 

   

to or through brokers or dealers;

 

   

to underwriters;

 

   

directly to other purchasers;

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods of sale; or

 

   

through other means permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The distribution of the securities may be made from time to time in one or more transactions, either:

 

   

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

   

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

   

at prices related to prevailing market prices;

 

   

at prices determined by an auction process; or

 

   

at negotiated prices.

Through Agents

We and the agents designated by us may solicit offers to purchase securities. Agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act. Any agent will be acting on a “best efforts” basis for the period of its appointment, unless we indicate differently in the prospectus supplement.

To Dealers

The securities may be sold to a dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices determined by it at the time of resale. The dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter under the Securities Act.

To Underwriters

We may sell securities to one or more underwriters under an underwriting agreement that we enter into with them at the time of sale. The names of the underwriters will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle such sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of a derivative transaction to close out any related open borrowings of stock. We otherwise may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities, in either case using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

22


Table of Contents

Direct Sales

We may sell securities directly to you, without the involvement of underwriters or agents.

General Information

Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation described in a prospectus supplement.

We may have agreements with the underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their businesses.

 

23


Table of Contents

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Proskauer Rose LLP.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus by reference to Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and the effectiveness of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

24


Table of Contents

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 offer and sale of securities registered under this registration statement.

 

SEC registration fee

   $     

Legal fees and expenses

     *

Accounting fees and expenses

     *

Printing fees

     *

Trustee fees and expenses

     *

Rating Agency fees

     *

Miscellaneous

     *
  

 

 

 

Total

   $    

 

*

Deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

**

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 registrant is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “GCL”), provides that a Delaware corporation has the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation in such capacity in another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action or suit brought by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification of any director, officer, employee and other agent against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit is permitted if such person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; however, no indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery, or the court in which such action or suit was brought, shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Article Seventh of the registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for the indemnification of directors, officers, employees and agents of the registrant to the fullest extent permitted by the GCL. A provision having the same general effect is contained in Article IX, Section 2 of the registrant’s by-laws.

Under the GCL, a Delaware corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or other agent of the corporation or, if serving in such capacity at the request of the corporation, of another enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation has the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the GCL. Article Seventh of the registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the purchase of such insurance,

 

II-1


Table of Contents

and the registrant has purchased directors and officers liability insurance. A Delaware corporation also may, with certain limitations, set forth in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or certain officers to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (1) for any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the GCL (relating to unlawful payments of dividends or stock repurchases), or (4) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. Article Seventh of the registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation includes such a provision.

In addition, the registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of a proceeding as to which they may be indemnified. These indemnification agreements are intended to be in addition to any other rights that the indemnitee may have under the registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation, by-laws and applicable law.

Item 16. Exhibits.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

 1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 4.1    Form of Indenture between the registrant and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Senior Debt (including the form of Senior Debt Security).
 4.2    Form of Indenture between the registrant and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee, relating to the Subordinated Debt (including the form of Subordinated Debt Security).
 5.1    Opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP.
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2    Consent of Proskauer Rose LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this registration statement).
24    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement).
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture relating to the Senior Debt Securities.
25.2    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture relating to the Subordinated Debt Securities.
107    Filing fee exhibit.

 

*

To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or an as exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

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

 

  (i)

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

 

II-2


Table of Contents
  (ii)

to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii)

to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (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 the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  (5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are

 

II-3


Table of Contents
  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.

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 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. 

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 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 a registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a 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-4


Table of Contents

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 Ewing, New Jersey, on May 17, 2024.

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
By:  

/s/ Matthew T. Farrell

 

  Matthew T. Farrell
  President and Chief Executive Officer

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.

Each person in so signing also makes, constitutes and appoints Matthew T. Farrell and Patrick de Maynadier, and each of them acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to execute and cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, with exhibits to such registration statements and amendments and other documents in connection therewith, and hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Matthew T. Farrell

Matthew T. Farrell

  

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

  May 17, 2024
          

/s/ Bradlen S. Cashaw

Bradlen S. Cashaw

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Bradley C. Irwin

Bradley C. Irwin

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Penry W. Price

Penry W. Price

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Susan G. Saideman

Susan G. Saideman

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Ravichandra K. Saligram

Ravichandra K. Saligram

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Robert K. Shearer

Robert K. Shearer

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Janet S. Vergis

Janet S. Vergis

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Arthur B. Winkleblack

Arthur B. Winkleblack

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

 

II-5


Table of Contents
Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Laurie J. Yoler

Laurie J. Yoler

  

Director

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Richard A. Dierker

Richard A. Dierker

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  May 17, 2024

/s/ Joseph J. Longo

Joseph J. Longo

  

Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  May 17, 2024

 

II-6

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of ____________, 202__

Senior Debt Securities

 

 

 

 


Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to

Sections 3.10 through 3.18, inclusive, of the

Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended:

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

   Indenture Section

§ 310

     
   (a)(1)    6.09
   (a)(2)    6.09
   (a)(3)    Not Applicable
   (a)(4)    Not Applicable
   (a)(5)    6.09
   (b)    6.07
      6.09
   (c)    Not Applicable

§ 311

   (a)    6.10
   (b)    6.10
   (c)    Not Applicable

§ 312

   (a)    7.01
      7.02
   (b)    7.02
   (c)    7.02

§ 313

   (a)    7.03
   (b)    7.03
   (c)    7.03
   (d)    7.03

§ 314

   (a)    7.04
   (a)(4)    1.01
      10.05
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c)(1)    1.02
   (c)(2)    1.02
   (c)(3)    Not Applicable
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    1.02

§ 315

   (a)    6.01
   (b)    6.05
   (c)    6.01
   (d)    6.01
   (e)    5.14

§ 316

   (a)    1.01
   (a)(1)(A)    5.02
      5.12
      5.13
   (a)(1)(B)    5.13
   (a)(2)    Not Applicable
   (b)    5.08
   (c)    1.05

§ 317

   (a)(1)    5.03
   (a)(2)    5.04
   (b)    10.03

§ 318

   (a)    1.08

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

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION      1  

Section 1.01

   Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions      7  

Section 1.03

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      8  

Section 1.04

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      8  

Section 1.05

   Acts of Holders; Record Dates      8  

Section 1.06

   Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company      10  

Section 1.07

   Notice to Holders; Waiver      10  

Section 1.08

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      11  

Section 1.09

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11  

Section 1.10

   Successors and Assigns      11  

Section 1.11

   Separability Clause      11  

Section 1.12

   Benefits of Indenture      11  

Section 1.13

   Governing Law      11  

Section 1.14

   Jurisdiction      11  

Section 1.15

   Legal Holidays      12  

Section 1.16

   Waiver of Jury Trial      12  

Section 1.17

   Force Majeure      12  

Section 1.18

   U.S.A. Patriot Act      12  
ARTICLE II  SECURITY FORMS      12  

Section 2.01

   Forms Generally      12  

Section 2.02

   Form of Face of Security      13  

Section 2.03

   Form of Reverse of Security      14  

Section 2.04

   Form of Legend for Global Securities      19  

Section 2.05

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      19  
ARTICLE III  THE SECURITIES      19  

Section 3.01

   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      19  

Section 3.02

   Denominations      22  

Section 3.03

   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      22  

Section 3.04

   Temporary Securities      23  

Section 3.05

   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      23  

Section 3.06

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      25  

Section 3.07

   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      26  

Section 3.08

   Persons Deemed Owners      27  

Section 3.09

   Cancellation      27  

Section 3.10

   Computation of Interest      27  

Section 3.11

   CUSIP or ISIN Numbers      27  

Section 3.12

   General Provisions Relating to Global Securities      27  
ARTICLE IV  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      28  

Section 4.01

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      28  

Section 4.02

   Application of Trust Money      29  

 

ii


ARTICLE V  REMEDIES      29  

Section 5.01

   Events of Default      29  

Section 5.02

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      30  

Section 5.03

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      31  

Section 5.04

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      32  

Section 5.05

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      32  

Section 5.06

   Application of Money Collected      32  

Section 5.07

   Limitation on Suits      33  

Section 5.08

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert      33  

Section 5.09

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      33  

Section 5.10

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative      34  

Section 5.11

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver      34  

Section 5.12

   Control by Holders      34  

Section 5.13

   Waiver of Past Defaults      34  

Section 5.14

   Undertaking for Costs      35  

Section 5.15

   Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      35  
ARTICLE VI  THE TRUSTEE      35  

Section 6.01

   Duties of Trustee      35  

Section 6.02

   Rights of Trustee      36  

Section 6.03

   Individual Rights of Trustee      38  

Section 6.04

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      38  

Section 6.05

   Notice of Default      39  

Section 6.06

   Compensation and Indemnity      39  

Section 6.07

   Replacement of Trustee      40  

Section 6.08

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.      41  

Section 6.09

   Eligibility; Disqualification      41  

Section 6.10

   Preferential Collection of Claims against Company      41  
ARTICLE VII  HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY      42  

Section 7.01

   Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      42  

Section 7.02

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      42  

Section 7.03

   Reports by Trustee      42  

Section 7.04

   Reports by Company      42  
ARTICLE VIII  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE      43  

Section 8.01

   Company May Merge, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      43  

Section 8.02

   Successor Corporation Substituted      43  

ARTICLE IX  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     44  

Section 9.01

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      44  

Section 9.02

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      45  

Section 9.03

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures      46  

Section 9.04

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures      46  

Section 9.05

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      46  

Section 9.06

   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      46  

 

iii


ARTICLE X  COVENANTS      46  

Section 10.01

   Payment of Securities      46  

Section 10.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      47  

Section 10.03

   Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      47  

Section 10.04

   Corporate Existence      48  

Section 10.05

   Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default      48  
ARTICLE XI  REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      49  

Section 11.01

   Applicability of Article      49  

Section 11.02

   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      49  

Section 11.03

   Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      49  

Section 11.04

   Notice of Redemption      50  

Section 11.05

   Deposit of Redemption Price      50  

Section 11.06

   Securities Payable on Redemption Date      51  

Section 11.07

   Securities Redeemed in Part      51  
ARTICLE XII  SINKING FUNDS      51  

Section 12.01

   Applicability of Article      51  

Section 12.02

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      51  

Section 12.03

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      52  
ARTICLE XIII  DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      52  

Section 13.01

   Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      52  

Section 13.02

   Defeasance and Discharge      52  

Section 13.03

   Covenant Defeasance      53  

Section 13.04

   Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      53  

Section 13.05

   Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      54  

Section 13.06

   Reinstatement      55  
ARTICLE XIV  CONVERSION OF SECURITIES      55  

Section 14.01

   Applicability; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price      55  

Section 14.02

   Exercise of Conversion Privilege      55  

Section 14.03

   Fractions of Shares      56  

Section 14.04

   Adjustment of Conversion Price      56  

Section 14.05

   Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price      59  

Section 14.06

   Notice of Certain Corporate Action      59  

Section 14.07

   Company to Reserve Common Stock      60  

Section 14.08

   Taxes on Conversions      60  

Section 14.09

   Covenant as to Common Stock      60  

Section 14.10

   Cancellation of Converted Securities      60  

Section 14.11

   Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets      60  

Section 14.12

   Responsibility of Trustee and Conversion Agent      61  

Section 14.13

   Electronic Signatures      62  

 

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of    , 202  , between Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 500 Charles Ewing Boulevard, Ewing, NJ 08628, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture and has appointed U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as Trustee hereunder.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

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

(4) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

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

(6) “including” means including without limitation;

(7) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and


(8) certain terms used principally in Articles VI, X, and XIII are defined in those Articles.

Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.05.

Add On Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

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

Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or Corporate Trust Office are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at any time any determination thereof is made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

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

Common Stock” includes any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company. However, subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(20) and (21) and Section 14.11, shares issuable on conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this instrument or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

2


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 Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Operating Officer, its Treasurer, its Secretary or a Vice President, and delivered to the Trustee.

Constituent Person” has the meaning specified in Section 14.11.

Conversion Agent” means the transfer agent for the Company’s Common Stock, which as of the date hereof is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., or such other Person as the Company may name from time to time.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office as of the date hereof is located at (i) for purposes of presentment of Securities for transfer, exchange or surrender, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 111 Fillmore Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55107, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Church & Dwight Co., Inc., and (ii) for all other purposes, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 333 Thornhall Street, 4th Floor, Edison, NJ 08837, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Church & Dwight Co., Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee.

Corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

Defeasible Series” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and, to the extent not superseded thereby, the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or in such other statements by such other entity as have been adopted by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

 

3


Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

Guarantee” or “guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness, or (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness (and “Guaranteed” and “Guaranteeing” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that the Guarantee by any Person shall not include endorsements by such Person for collection or deposit, in either case, in the ordinary course of business.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the Obligations of such Person under interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, and interest rate collar agreements, and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of obligations of any of the foregoing, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee of any indebtedness of such Person or any other Person.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only at Maturity, means interest payable at Maturity.

Interest Payment Date” shall be defined by the terms of the Security established in accordance with Section 3.01.

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

 

4


Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 6.05.

Obligations” means any principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

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

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel acceptable to the Trustee, which counsel may be an employee of the Company.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

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

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

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

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; and

(4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the

 

5


Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

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

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

Prospectus” means a Prospectus of the Company relating to the offering from time to time of the Securities.

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

Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to Article XI of this Indenture.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and who customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

6


Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

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

Subsidiary” means a corporation, association or other business entity more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor 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 each Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

U.S. Government Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04.

Section 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Subject to the terms hereof, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (including certificates provided for in Section 10.05) shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

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

 

7


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

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

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

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

Section 1.04 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 1.05 Acts of Holders; Record Dates. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

8


The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series but shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. With regard to any action that may be given or taken hereunder only by Holders of a requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series (or their duly appointed agents) and for which a record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company may, at its option, set an expiration date after which no such action purported to be given or taken by any Holder shall be effective hereunder unless given or taken on or prior to such expiration date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents). On or prior to any expiration date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company may, on one or more occasions at its option, extend such date to any later date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect). Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent any Holder (or any duly appointed agent thereof) from giving or taking, after any such expiration date, any action identical to, or, at any time, contrary to or different from, the action or purported action to which such expiration date relates, in which event the Company may set a new record date in respect thereof pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken at any time by the Holders (or their duly appointed agents) of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is so taken. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, any notice, declaration or direction referred to in the next paragraph.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, if an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee shall not have given such a declaration to the Company, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee shall notify the Company and the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series of any such record date so fixed and the proposed action. The Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, unless such notice, declaration, request or direction shall have become effective by virtue of Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents) having joined therein on or prior to the 90th day after such record date, such notice, declaration, request or direction shall automatically and without any action by any Person be cancelled and of no further effect. Nothing

 

9


in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent a Holder (or a duly appointed agent thereof) from giving, before or after the expiration of such 90-day period, a notice, declaration, request or direction contrary to or different from, or, after the expiration of such period, identical to, the notice, declaration, request or direction to which such record date relates, in which event the Trustee may set a new record date in respect thereof pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect). Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any notice, declaration, request or direction of the type referred to in this paragraph given at any time to the Trustee and the Company by Holders (or their duly appointed agents) of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such notice, declaration, request or direction is so given.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

Section 1.06 Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

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

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

Any electronically signed document delivered via e-mail or any other electronic method from a person purporting to be an officer of the Company shall be considered signed or executed by such officer on behalf of the Company. The Company also hereby acknowledges that the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to rely on any such electronic signature.

Section 1.07 Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered electronically or mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the customary

 

10


procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and note earlier than the earliest date, if any prescribed for given such notice.

Section 1.08 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. Wherever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

commission” means the Commission;

indenture securities” means the Securities;

indenture security holder” means a Holder;

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

obligor on the indenture securities” means the Company and any other obligor on the Securities.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by the Trust Indenture Act, referenced to another statute or defined by any Commission rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined to them thereby.

Section 1.09 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11 Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 1.12 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.13 Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Section 1.14 Jurisdiction. The parties to this Indenture hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.

 

11


Section 1.15 Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert his Securities shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or conversion of the Securities need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such last day for conversion, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 1.16 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 1.17 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, accidents, disease, epidemics or pandemics, quarantine, national emergency, unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems or unavailability of any securities clearing system, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.18 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01 Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officer or officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

12


Any Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officer or officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of such Securities.

Section 2.02 Form of Face of Security. [Insert any legend required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]

[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder]

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

No.: _____________

CUSIP No. _____________

ISIN No.  _____________                                           $________

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to    , or registered assigns, the principal sum of    Dollars on    [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert —, and to pay interest thereon from    or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on    and    in each year, commencing    at the rate of    % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert — , and at the rate of    % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the    or    (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity, and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of    % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of    % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [    ] , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert —; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by wire transfer in accordance with the wire instructions of the Person entitled thereto as such wire instructions shall appear in the Security Register].

 

13


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

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

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Section 2.03 Form of Reverse of Security.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of    , 20    (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties, indemnities, and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert —, limited in aggregate principal amount to $     ].

[If applicable, insert — Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security is entitled, at his option, at any time on or before the close of business on     , or in case this Security or a portion hereof is called for redemption, then in respect of this Security or such portion hereof until and including, but (unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption) not after, the close of business on the 10th calendar day before the Redemption Date, to convert this Security (or any portion of the principal amount hereof which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof), at the principal amount hereof, or of such portion, into fully paid and non-assessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100 of a share) of Common Stock of the Company at a conversion price per share of Common Stock equal to $     per each share of Common Stock (or at the current adjusted conversion price if an adjustment has been made as provided in the Indenture) by surrender of this Security, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in blank, to the Company at its office or agency in     , accompanied by written notice to the Company that the Holder hereof elects to convert this Security, or if less than the entire principal amount hereof is to be converted, the portion hereof to be converted, and, in case such surrender shall be made during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date within such period), also accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of this Security then being

 

14


converted. Subject to the aforesaid requirement for payment and, in the case of a conversion after the Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, to the right of the Holder of this Security (or any Predecessor Security) of record at such Regular Record Date to receive an installment of interest (with certain exceptions provided in the Indenture), no payment or adjustment is to be made on conversion for interest accrued hereon or for dividends on the Common Stock issued on conversion. No fractions of shares or scrip representing fractions of shares will be issued on conversion, but instead of any fractional interest the Company shall pay a cash adjustment as provided in the Indenture. The conversion price is subject to adjustment as provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture provides that in case of certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company is a party or the transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Indenture shall be amended, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, so that this Security, if then outstanding, will be convertible thereafter, during the period this Security shall be convertible as specified above, only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon the consolidation, merger or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which this Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer (assuming such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election and received per share the kind and amount received per share by a plurality of non-electing shares).]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice delivered, [if applicable, insert — (1) on    in any year commencing with the year 20 and ending with the year 20 through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after    , 20    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before    ,    %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning    of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

Year

  

Redemption
Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice delivered, (1) on    in any year commencing with the year    and ending with the year    through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after     ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning    of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption
Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

 

15


and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to    redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert — clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than    % per annum.]

[If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on    in each year beginning with the year    and ending with the year    of [if applicable, insert — not less than $     (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $     aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments [if applicable, insert — and Securities surrendered for conversion] may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made.]

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If the Security is subject to conversion of any kind, insert — In the event of conversion of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unconverted portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [(1) the entire indebtedness of this Security or (2)] certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to [insert formula for determining the amount ]. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee

 

16


with the consent of the Holders of [_______] in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such written request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 90 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein [Insert, if applicable — or for enforcement of the right to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture].

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Trustee or the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is

 

17


registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Securities or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act). Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

[If applicable, insert —

[FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE]

To: CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of Church & Dwight Co., Inc., in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any payment for fractional shares and any Securities, representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Dated:     
Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Securities if to be issued otherwise than to the registered holder.         Principal Amount to be converted (in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all):
Name      $
Address     
(Please print name and address, including zip code number)      Signature

SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER IDENTIFYING NUMBER

[_________________________________

     [SIGNATURE GUARANTEED required only if Common Stock and Securities are to be issued and delivered to other than registered holder]
______________________________]

 

18


Section 2.04 Form of Legend for Global Securities. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered 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 A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

Section 2.05 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee

By:    
  Authorized Signatory
Dated:    

 

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

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

(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 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 3.04, 3.05, 3.06 or 9.06 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

19


(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and the applicability, nonapplicability or variation of Article XI with respect to the Securities of such series;

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions 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 Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

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

(10) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

(11) if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

(13) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.05 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

 

20


(14) any addition to or change in the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.01 which applies to Securities of the series;

(15) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

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

(17) the applicability, nonapplicability, or variation of Article XII with respect to the Securities of such Series;

(18) if applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be subject to either or both of Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article XIII; provided that no series of Securities that is convertible into Common Stock as provided in Article XIV or convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities pursuant to Section 3.01(20) shall be subject to Defeasance pursuant to Section 13.02;

(19) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities are convertible into Common Stock of the Company pursuant to Article XIV, and any variation thereof;

(20) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities; and

(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(5)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

The Company may, from time to time, by adoption of a Board Resolution and subject to compliance with any other applicable provisions of this Indenture, without the consent of the Holders, create and issue pursuant to this Indenture additional securities of any series of Securities (“Add On Securities”) having terms and conditions identical to those of such series of Outstanding Securities, except that such Add On Securities:

(A) may have a different issue date from such series of Outstanding Securities;

(B) may have a different amount of interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date after issuance than is payable on such series of Outstanding Securities; and

 

21


(C) may have terms specified in such Board Resolution for such Add On Securities making appropriate adjustments to this Article III applicable to such Add On Securities in order to conform to and ensure compliance with the Securities Act (or applicable securities laws) which are not adverse in any material respect to the Holder of any Outstanding Securities (other than such Add On Securities) and which shall not affect the rights or duties of the Trustee.

Section 3.02 Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Operating Officer, its Treasurer, its Secretary or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of an individual who was at any time the proper officer of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such office at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any Series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, (a) a copy of the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors in or pursuant to which the terms and form of the Securities were established, and if the terms and form of such Securities are established by an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to general authorization of the Board of Directors, such Officer’s Certificate; (b) an Officer’s Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 1.02; and (c) an Opinion of Counsel stating, in addition to the statements required by Section 1.02 hereof,

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

22


If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, a Company Order shall be delivered to the Trustee but it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or electronic signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officer or officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

Section 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

23


Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

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

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company, the Trustee or Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04 or 9.06 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests 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.

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as Depositary for such Global Security

 

24


and the Company has not appointed a successor within 90 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) the Company so directs the Trustee by Company Order or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

(3) Subject to clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.04, 3.06 or 9.06 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

In connection with any proposed transfer outside the Book Entry Only system, the Company or the Depositary shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Any transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

Section 3.06 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 new 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 (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new 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 new Security, pay such Security.

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

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, 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.

 

25


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

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

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

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days prior to the date of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be delivered electronically or mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so delivered or mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

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

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

 

26


Subject to the provisions of Section 14.02, in the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable.

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 3.09 Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in its customary manner. The Trustee shall provide the Company with a list of all Securities that have been cancelled from time to time as requested in writing by the Company.

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

Section 3.11 CUSIP or ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use such 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 identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

Section 3.12 General Provisions Relating to Global Securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the Securities evidenced by a Global Security will not be entitled to any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and the Depositary or its nominee may be treated by the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, including any Security Registrar or Paying Agent, as the owner and Holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, the Guarantors or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial

 

27


ownership interests. None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability to any person for any acts or omissions of the Depositary or its nominee in respect of a Global Security, for the records of any such Depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of such Global Security, for any transactions between such Depositary and any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary or between or among such Depositary, any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary and/or any Holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar or the Paying Agent or such agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or its nominee or impair, as between the Depositary or its nominee and such owners of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary or its nominee as Holder of any Global Security.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (i)

have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

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

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount of money sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and any other amounts due hereunder;

 

28


(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.06, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02, shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for payment of Securities of a series that is convertible in accordance with Article XIV and that are subsequently converted, shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.01 Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) a default in any payment of interest on any Security of that series when due and payable and such default continues for 30 days;

(2) a default in the payment of principal of any Security in that series when due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required redemption or repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

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

(4) (i) a default in the observance or performance of Article VIII or (ii) a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture (other than

 

29


(a) those addressed in (1), (2) or (3) above, (b) the obligations under Section 7.04 hereof or (c) any covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series) which default under this clause (ii) continues for a period of 90 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

(5) the failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 30 days of receipt by the Company of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated (in each case with respect to which the 30-day period described above has elapsed), aggregates $100 million or more at any time;

(6) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case;

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

(E) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing; or

(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) that is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or 5.01(7) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue

 

30


Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or 5.01(7) with respect to the Company with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) and unpaid interest shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article 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

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

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) 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,

(C) 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

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

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

Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

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 any premium and interest

 

31


and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of 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 for an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sum so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary 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 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), or any of the property or creditors of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized 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 to it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder.

No provision of this Indenture 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 in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.05 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium 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:

 

32


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

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

THIRD: To the Company.

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert. 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 any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to convert such Security in accordance with Article XIV and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.09 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.

 

33


Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, 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 prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 5.11 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 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 5.12 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

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

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

subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Before proceeding to exercise any right or power hereunder at the direction of the Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders, and shall not be required to act unless it so receives, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses, and liabilities (including fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

Section 5.13 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

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

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

 

34


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 5.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant; provided that this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holders of the Securities, or group of Holders of the Securities, holding in the aggregate more than 10% of principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of the Outstanding Securities for the enforcement of the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Outstanding Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Outstanding Securities, and provided, further, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee or, if applicable, in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article XIV.

Section 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

The Trustee hereby accepts the trust imposed upon it by this Indenture and covenants and agrees to perform the same, as herein expressed.

Section 6.01 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 their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in or read into this Indenture.

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

 

35


(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.01.

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

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity and/or security against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(e) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of this Section 6.01 and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any assets received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.01 and of Section 6.02.

Section 6.02 Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 6.01:

(a) The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) 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 document.

(b) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the member or members of the Company or Board of Directors of the Company, as the case may be, shall be sufficiently evidenced by resolutions of the Board of Directors;

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

 

36


(d) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and/or 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 certificate or opinion.

(e) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys or independent contractors and the Trustee will not be responsible for any acts or omissions on the part of any agent, attorney or independent contractor appointed with due care by it hereunder.

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

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document, but the Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

(h) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(i) The Trustee (i) shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default unless, in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) of, or interest on, any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if any), it has actual knowledge thereof, or with respect to all other Events of Default, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received a written notice of any event which is in fact such a default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities, the Company and this Indenture and (ii) shall have no duty to take any action to determine whether any such Event of Default has occurred.

(j) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities, indemnities 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, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

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

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

 

37


(m) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

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

(o) The Trustee shall not be under any liability for interest on any moneys received in connection herewith and all such moneys shall remain uninvested except as may be agreed upon in writing among the parties hereto.

(p) The Trustee shall not be responsible for the application of the security proceeds or the use or application of any moneys or property paid out hereunder or in connection herewith.

(q) The Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity, or otherwise, for the obligations evidenced by any Securities issued hereunder.

(r) The Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake or verify any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder.

(s) The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of the Depositary or any other depositary or clearinghouse.

(t) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

(u) The Trustee shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law.

(v) If any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee had actual knowledge of such event.

Section 6.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Security Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 6.09 and 6.10.

Section 6.04 Trustees Disclaimer. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, or the use or application of any funds received by a Paying Agent other than the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default under Sections 5.01(4) or (5) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 1.06 hereof from the Company or any Holder.

 

38


Section 6.05 Notice of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to each Holder of Securities of such series notice of the uncured Event of Default (hereinafter called a “Notice of Default”) within the earlier of 90 days after such Event of Default occurs or 30 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) of, or interest on, any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series.

Section 6.06 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services hereunder (in any capacity) 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 shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all expenses made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents, accountants, experts and counsel.

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees against any and all fees, costs, loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties (in any capacity) hereunder without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order), including the fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 6.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Company may, subject to the approval of the Trustee, defend the claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense and, in the Trustee’s reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and such parties in connection with such defense. The Company need not pay for any written settlement made without its prior written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. Any settlement that affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the prior written consent of the Trustee, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

 

39


To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 6.06, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any Bankruptcy Law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or (7), the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and/or the removal or resignation of the Trustee.

Section 6.07 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holder or Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series by so notifying the Company and the Trustee in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal and may appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series with the Company’s consent. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.09;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(3) a receiver, custodian, or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee at any time for any reason to the extent the Company has given the Trustee at least 30 days’ written notice and as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

With respect to the Securities of one or more series, if the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, with respect to Securities of that or those series.

A 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 Trustee under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Holder of Securities of that or those series. The retiring Trustee shall (upon payment of its charges hereunder) promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee with respect to such series of Securities to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 6.06. Any retiring or removed Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

 

40


If a successor Trustee with respect to a series of Securities does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Holder or Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.09, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of Securities of a series for at least six months may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 6.08 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor 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 6.09 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a)(1) and Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) are met.

Section 6.10 Preferential Collection of Claims against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

41


ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(1) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the Regular Record Date, as the case may be, and

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

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee. As promptly as practicable but not later than 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee, in writing, when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

Section 7.04 Reports by Company. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or

 

42


determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the filing, timeliness or content of any report, information or other document other than any report required by Section 7.03 hereunder. The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the covenants hereunder or with respect to any reports, information or other documents filed with the Commission or on the Company’s website hereunder, or to participate in any conference calls.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.01 Company May Merge, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. The Company may not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions:

(a) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate or merge with or into the Company, or

(b) directly or indirectly transfer, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, unless:

(1) in a transaction in which the Company does not survive or in which the Company sells, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, the successor entity to the Company (A) is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and (B) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities and this Indenture;

(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease, sale, disposition or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and that the Indenture and Securities are the legal, valid and binding obligation of the successor or surviving Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with their terms.

Section 8.02 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer or other disposition of assets in accordance with Section 8.01, the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Person had been named as the Company herein; provided that in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities. When a surviving or successor Person duly assumes all of the obligations of the Company pursuant hereto and pursuant to the Securities, except in the circumstances described in the provision to the preceding sentence, the predecessor shall be relieved of the performance and observance of all obligations and covenants of this Indenture and the Securities, including but not limited to the obligation to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities then outstanding, and the Company may thereupon or any time thereafter be liquidated and dissolved.

 

43


ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(3) to add any additional Events of Default;

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) adversely affect the rights of the Holder of any such Security in any material respect or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(6) to secure the Securities;

(7) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

(8) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01;

(9) to comply with Section 8.01;

(10) to permit or facilitate the issuance of uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(11) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.07;

 

44


(12) to make provisions with respect to the conversion rights of Holders pursuant to the requirements of Article XIV;

(13) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this clause (12) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

(14) to conform any provision of this Indenture to the “Description of Debt Securities” contained in the Prospectus or any similar provision contained in any supplement to the Prospectus relating to an offering of debt securities under this Indenture (as provided for in an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee); or

(15) to comply with any requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of the requirements of the Commission in connection with maintaining the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or adversely affect the right to convert any Security as provided in Article XIV, or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the ranking of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders;

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby;

(4) adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of the Holder; or

(5) reduce or postpone any sinking fund or similar provision.

 

45


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

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

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be given, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in the Indenture to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with and that such supplementary indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; provided, however, that no such Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate shall be required in the case of any supplemental indenture executed and delivered concurrently with the original execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities, or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order, and such new Securities may be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 10.01 Payment of Securities. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will pay the principal of and interest on the Securities of that series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of that series and this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds for the benefit of the Holders, on that date, immediately available funds deposited and designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

 

46


The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and on overdue installments of interest at the rate specified in the Securities compounded semi-annually, to the extent lawful.

Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in the Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of any series that is convertible may be surrendered for conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands (which shall not include service of process).

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Securities. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Registrar and the Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

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

Section 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, no later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Business Day prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

 

47


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

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

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

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

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

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request subject to applicable escheatment laws, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 10.04 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article VIII, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence in accordance with its organizational documents and its rights (charter and statutory) and corporate franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise, if (a) the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and (b) the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 10.05 Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof (which fiscal year ends on [    ]) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act and stating that, as to the officer or officers signing such certificate, whether or not the signer knows of any failure by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to comply with any conditions or covenants in this Indenture and, if such signer does know of such a failure to comply, the certificate shall describe such failure with particularity. The Officer’s Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the relevant fiscal year end on any date other than the current fiscal year end date.

 

48


(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities of any series are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after becoming aware of any Event of Default with respect to such series under this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default unless one of its Responsible Officers receives written notice of the Event of Default from the Company or any of the Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction. The Trustee is permitted to accept the Company’s direction regarding redemptions, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, and the Trustee shall have no liability for any action taken at the Company’s direction.

Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, and such method of selection shall provide for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence and in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Depositary and Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of the Depositary.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

49


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

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be delivered electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

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

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

(5) in the case of any Securities that are convertible pursuant to Article XIV, the conversion price or rate, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion,

(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

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

(8) applicable CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request and with the notice information provided to the Trustee, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable; provided, in the latter case, the Company will give the Trustee at least 15 days’ prior notice of the date of the giving of the notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee). Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company received by the Trustee shall also be given by the Trustee to each Paying Agent in the name of and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date other than any Securities called for redemption on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

 

50


If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.07) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

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

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been converted pursuant to Article XIV or which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such

 

51


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 as provided for by the terms of such series; 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 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than [__] days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than [__] 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 11.03 and in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary 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 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.06 and Section 11.07.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may elect, at its option by Board Resolution at any time, to have either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to this Article XIII (hereinafter called a “Defeasible Series”), upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; provided that Section 13.02 shall not apply to any series of Securities that is convertible into Common Stock as provided in Article XIV or convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities pursuant to Section 3.01(20).

Section 13.02 Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.02 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”), and the Trustee shall execute appropriate instruments of satisfaction, discharge and release provided to it by the Company. For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities of such series when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.02 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option provided in Section 13.01 to have Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

52


Section 13.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 7.04 and Section 8.01 and Section 10.04, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 5.01(3), 5.01(4) (with respect to any of Sections 8.01 and 10.04) and 5.01(5) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.01(5)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.

Section 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee that satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.08 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation 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, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation specified in clause (x) and held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

(2) In the case of an election under Section 13.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date first set forth hereinabove, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to the Securities of such series and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

53


(3) In the case of an election under Section 13.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to the Securities of such series and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) After giving pro forma effect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, no Event of Default or event that (after notice or lapse of time or both) would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit.

(5) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(6) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company did not make the deposit with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series over the Company’s other creditors with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of the Company’s other creditors or others.

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of the Securities of any Defeasible Series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Securities of such series, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to Securities of any Defeasible Series that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

54


Section 13.06 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to Securities of such series until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect to Securities of such series in accordance with this Article XIII; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE XIV

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.01 Applicability; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price. Securities of any series which are convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall be convertible in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article, at the option of the Holder thereof, any Security or any portion of the outstanding principal amount thereof which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof may, at the times specified for conversion as hereinafter provided, be converted at the principal amount thereof, or of such portion thereof, into fully paid and nonassessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/10,000 of a share) of Common Stock of the Company at the conversion price, determined as hereinafter provided, in effect at the time of conversion. Such conversion right shall expire at the close of business on the date specified for Securities of such series. In case a Security or portion thereof is called for redemption at the election of the Company, such conversion right in respect of the Security or portion so called shall expire at the close of business on the 10th calendar day before the Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption.

The price at which shares of Common Stock shall be delivered upon conversion (herein called the “conversion price”) shall be the price specified in relation to Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.01, as it shall be adjusted in certain instances as provided in this Article. The time or times at which Securities of a series shall be convertible shall be as specified for such series pursuant to Section 3.01.

Section 14.02 Exercise of Conversion Privilege. In order to exercise the conversion privilege, the Holder of any Security to be converted shall surrender such Security, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in blank, at any office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.02, accompanied by written notice to the Company (which shall be substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.03), with a copy to the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, the Conversion Agent, at such office or agency that the Holder elects to convert such Security or, if less than the entire principal amount thereof is to be converted, the portion thereof to be converted. Securities surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date to the close of business on such Interest Payment Date shall (except in the case of Securities or portions thereof which have been called for redemption on a Redemption Date within such period) be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of Securities being surrendered for conversion. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.07 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company, the interest payment with respect to a Security called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately

 

55


preceding any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Security at the close of business on such Regular Record Date notwithstanding the conversion of such Security after such Regular Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, and the Holder converting such Security need not include a payment of such interest payment amount upon surrender of such Security for conversion. Except as provided in the preceding sentence and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.07, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock issued upon conversion.

Securities shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the day of surrender of such Securities for conversion in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and at such time the rights of the Holders of such Securities as Holders shall cease, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Stock at such time. As promptly as practicable on or after the conversion date, the Company shall issue and shall deliver at such office or agency a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, together with payment in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 14.03.

Section 14.03 Fractions of Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Securities. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof) so surrendered. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable upon conversion of any Security or Securities (or specified portions thereof), the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fraction in an amount equal to the same fraction of the daily closing price per share of Common Stock (consistent with Section 14.04(6) below) at the close of business on the day of conversion.

Section 14.04 Adjustment of Conversion Price.

(1) In case the Company shall pay or make a dividend or other distribution on any class of capital stock of the Company in Common Stock, the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution shall be reduced by multiplying such conversion price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator shall be the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other distribution, such reduction to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. If, after any such date fixed for determination, any dividend or distribution is not in fact paid, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if such determination date had not been fixed. For the purposes of this paragraph (1), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(2) In case the Company shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of its Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (6) of this Section) of the Common Stock on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights,

 

56


options or warrants (other than pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan), the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be reduced by multiplying such conversion price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock that the aggregate of the offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase would purchase at such current market price and the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase, such reduction to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. If, after any such date fixed for such determination, any such rights, options or warrants are not in fact issued, or are not exercised prior to the expiration thereof, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date such rights, options or warrants expire, or the date the Board of Directors determines not to issue any such rights, options or warrants, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if the unexercised rights, options or warrants had never been granted or such determination date had not been fixed, as the case may be. For the purposes of this paragraph (2), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not issue any rights, options or warrants in respect of shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(3) In case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall each be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination becomes effective shall be proportionately increased, such reduction or increase, as the case may be, to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(4) In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of its Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class of capital stock (other than any rights, options or warrants that by their terms will also be issued to any Holder upon conversion of a Security of such series into shares of Common Stock without any action required by the Company or any other Person) or other property (including cash or assets or securities, but excluding (i) any rights, options or warrants referred to in paragraph (2) of this Section, (ii) any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash, (iii) any dividend or distribution referred to in paragraph (1) of this Section and (iv) any consideration distributed in any merger or consolidation to which Section 14.11 applies, the conversion price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (6) of this Section) of the Common Stock on the date fixed for such determination less the then fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee) of the portion of the assets, shares or evidences of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock and the denominator shall be such current market price per share of the Common Stock, such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution. If, after any such date fixed for determination, any such distribution is not in fact made, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted effective as of the date that the Board of Directors determines not to make such

 

57


distribution, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if such determination date had not been fixed. In the event the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or other property so distributed is equal to or greater than the current market price per share of the Common Stock on such date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder of a Security shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of such evidences of indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or other property such Holder would have received had such Holder converted each Security on such date.

(5) The reclassification of Common Stock into securities other than Common Stock (other than any reclassification upon a consolidation or merger to which Section 14.11 applies) shall be deemed to involve (a) a distribution of such securities other than Common Stock to all holders of Common Stock (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution” and “the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of paragraph (4) of this Section), and (b) a subdivision or combination, as the case may be, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such reclassification into the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately thereafter (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective” or “the day upon which such combination becomes effective”, as the case may be, and “the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective” within the meaning of paragraph (3) of this Section).

(6) For the purpose of any computation under paragraphs (2) and (4) of this Section, the current market price per share of Common Stock on any day shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices for the five consecutive trading days (i.e., Business Days on which the Common Stock is traded) selected by the Board of Directors commencing not more than 20 trading days before, and ending not later than, the earlier of the day in question and the day before the “ex” date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation. For this purpose, the term “ex” date, when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, shall mean the first date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market without the right to receive such issuance or distribution. The closing price for each day shall be the reported last sale price (or, in case no such reported sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal national securities on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter market as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the Board of Directors for that purpose or in the absence of any such quotations, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

(7) The Company may make such reductions in the conversion price, in addition to those required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Section, as it considers to be advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to any holders of shares of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes or for any other reasons. The Company shall have the power to resolve any ambiguity or correct any error pursuant to this Section and its actions in so doing shall be final and conclusive.

(8) The Company may make such decreases to the conversion price, for the remaining term of the Securities of a series that is convertible or any shorter term, in addition to those required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this Section as it considers to be advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to any holders of shares of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.

 

58


(9) No adjustment in the conversion price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in such conversion price; provided, however, that any adjustment which by reason of this paragraph (9) is not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Article shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000 of a share, as the case may be.

(10) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company from time to time may decrease the conversion price by any amount for any period of time of at least twenty (20) days, the decrease being irrevocable during such period, provided the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such decrease would be in the best interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the conversion price is decreased pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall prepare a certificate signed by the Treasurer or other appropriate officer of the Company stating the decreased conversion price and the period during which it will be in effect, and such certificate shall be filed with the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, with the Conversion Agent at such office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of securities pursuant to Section 10.02 at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date the decreased conversion price takes effect.

Section 14.05 Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price. Whenever the conversion price is adjusted as herein provided:

(a) the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price in accordance with Section 14.04 and shall prepare an Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the adjusted conversion price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall promptly be filed with the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, with the Conversion Agent at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.02; provided that in the absence of such Officer’s Certificate being filed with the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, the Conversion Agent, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may assume without inquiry that the conversion price has not been adjusted and that the last conversion price of which they have knowledge remains in effect; and

(b) a notice stating that the conversion price has been adjusted and setting forth the adjusted conversion price shall be required, and as soon as practicable after it is required, such notice shall be delivered electronically or mailed by the Company to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register.

Section 14.06 Notice of Certain Corporate Action. In case:

(a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash; or

(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than pursuant to a rights agreement referenced in Section 14.04(11)); or

(c) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock), or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

59


(d) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

then the Company shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.02, and shall cause to be mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in clause (a) or (b) above) prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a written notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Neither the failure to give such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of the proceedings described in clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 14.06. If at the time the Trustee shall not be the Conversion Agent, a copy of such written notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the Company’s instruction in connection with effecting any such exchange and shall have no liability for such exchange. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any obligation to independently determine or verify if any of the proceedings described in clauses (a) through (d) above has occurred or notify the Holders of any such proceedings.

Section 14.07 Company to Reserve Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon the conversion of all Outstanding Securities.

Section 14.08 Taxes on Conversions. The Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

Section 14.09 Covenant as to Common Stock. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue be fully paid and nonassessable and, except as provided in Section 14.08, the Company will pay all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

Section 14.10 Cancellation of Converted Securities. All Securities delivered for conversion shall be delivered to the Trustee to be cancelled by or at the direction of the Trustee, which shall dispose of the same as provided in Section 3.09.

Section 14.11 Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person, any merger of another Person into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall

 

60


execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, subject to Article IX hereof, providing that the Holder of each convertible Security then outstanding shall have the right thereafter, during the period such Security shall be convertible as specified in Section 14.01, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not (A) a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or (B) an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his, her or its rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“non-electing share”), then for the purpose of this Section the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by each non-electing share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article. The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales or transfers. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any obligation to independently determine or verify if any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer has occurred or notify the Holders of any such event.

Section 14.12 Responsibility of Trustee and Conversion Agent. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine whether any fact exists which may require any adjustment of the conversion price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be accountable with respect to the registration, validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Security, or for monitoring the price of the Common Stock or effecting any calculations hereunder; and neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue or transfer or deliver any Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or to make any cash payment upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article XIV. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall have no liability or responsibility for calculating the conversion price or for any information relating thereto, and shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the Company for the making and accuracy of all calculations relating to conversion without independent verification. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent written notice of the commencement or termination of such conversion rights,

 

61


on which notice the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notice to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event. The parties agree that all notices to the Trustee or the Conversion Agent under this Article IV shall be in writing or as otherwise provided for herein.

Section 14.13. Electronic Signatures. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the [Uniform Commercial Code/UCC] (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to the Securities must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or Adobe (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

(Signature Page to Follow)

 

62


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

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Trustee:

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as trustee

By:    
 

Name:

Title:

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of ____________, 202__

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

 

 


Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to

Sections 3.10 through 3.18, inclusive, of the

Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended:

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

   Indenture Section

§ 310

     
   (a)(1)    6.09
   (a)(2)    6.09
   (a)(3)    Not Applicable
   (a)(4)    Not Applicable
   (a)(5)    6.09
   (b)    6.07
      6.09
   (c)    Not Applicable

§ 311

   (a)    6.10
   (b)    6.10
   (c)    Not Applicable

§ 312

   (a)    7.01
      7.02
   (b)    7.02
   (c)    7.02

§ 313

   (a)    7.03
   (b)    7.03
   (c)    7.03
   (d)    7.03

§ 314

   (a)    7.04
   (a)(4)    1.01
      10.05
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c)(1)    1.02
   (c)(2)    1.02
   (c)(3)    Not Applicable
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    1.02

§ 315

   (a)    6.01
   (b)    6.05
   (c)    6.01
   (d)    6.01
   (e)    5.14

§ 316

   (a)    1.01
   (a)(1)(A)    5.02
      5.12
      5.13
   (a)(1)(B)    5.13
   (a)(2)    Not Applicable
   (b)    5.08
   (c)    1.05

§ 317

   (a)(1)    5.03
   (a)(2)    5.04
   (b)    10.03

§ 318

   (a)    1.08

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

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

Section 1.01

   Definitions      1  

Section 1.02

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions      7  

Section 1.03

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      8  

Section 1.04

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements      8  

Section 1.05

   Acts of Holders; Record Dates      8  

Section 1.06

   Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company      10  

Section 1.07

   Notice to Holders; Waiver      10  

Section 1.08

   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      10  

Section 1.09

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11  

Section 1.10

   Successors and Assigns      11  

Section 1.11

   Separability Clause      11  

Section 1.12

   Benefits of Indenture      11  

Section 1.13

   Governing Law      11  

Section 1.14

   Jurisdiction      11  

Section 1.15

   Legal Holidays      11  

Section 1.16

   Waiver of Jury Trial      11  

Section 1.17

   Force Majeure      12  

Section 1.18

   U.S.A. Patriot Act      12  
ARTICLE II  SECURITY FORMS      12  

Section 2.01

   Forms Generally      12  

Section 2.02

   Form of Face of Security      12  

Section 2.03

   Form of Reverse of Security      14  

Section 2.04

   Form of Legend for Global Securities      18  

Section 2.05

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      18  
ARTICLE III  THE SECURITIES      19  

Section 3.01

   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      19  

Section 3.02

   Denominations      21  

Section 3.03

   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      21  

Section 3.04

   Temporary Securities      22  

Section 3.05

   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      23  

Section 3.06

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      24  

Section 3.07

   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved      25  

Section 3.08

   Persons Deemed Owners      26  

Section 3.09

   Cancellation      26  

Section 3.10

   Computation of Interest      26  

Section 3.11

   CUSIP or ISIN Numbers      26  

Section 3.12

   General Provisions Relating to Global Securities      27  
ARTICLE IV  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE      27  

Section 4.01

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      27  

Section 4.02

   Application of Trust Money      28  

 

ii


ARTICLE V  REMEDIES

     28  

Section 5.01

   Events of Default      28  

Section 5.02

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      29  

Section 5.03

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      30  

Section 5.04

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      31  

Section 5.05

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      31  

Section 5.06

   Application of Money Collected      31  

Section 5.07

   Limitation on Suits      32  

Section 5.08

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert      32  

Section 5.09

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies      32  

Section 5.10

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative      32  

Section 5.11

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver      33  

Section 5.12

   Control by Holders      33  

Section 5.13

   Waiver of Past Defaults      33  

Section 5.14

   Undertaking for Costs      33  

Section 5.15

   Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      34  
ARTICLE VI  THE TRUSTEE      34  

Section 6.01

   Duties of Trustee      34  

Section 6.02

   Rights of Trustee      35  

Section 6.03

   Individual Rights of Trustee      37  

Section 6.04

   Trustee’s Disclaimer      37  

Section 6.05

   Notice of Default      37  

Section 6.06

   Compensation and Indemnity      37  

Section 6.07

   Replacement of Trustee      38  

Section 6.08

   Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.      39  

Section 6.09

   Eligibility; Disqualification      40  

Section 6.10

   Preferential Collection of Claims against Company      40  
ARTICLE VII  HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY      40  

Section 7.01

   Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      40  

Section 7.02

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      40  

Section 7.03

   Reports by Trustee      40  

Section 7.04

   Reports by Company      41  
ARTICLE VIII  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE      41  

Section 8.01

   Company May Merge, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      41  

Section 8.02

   Successor Corporation Substituted      41  
ARTICLE IX  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      42  

Section 9.01

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      42  

Section 9.02

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      43  

Section 9.03

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures      44  

Section 9.04

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures      44  

Section 9.05

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      44  

Section 9.06

   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      44  

 

iii


ARTICLE X  COVENANTS      44  

Section 10.01

   Payment of Securities      44  

Section 10.02

   Maintenance of Office or Agency      45  

Section 10.03

   Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      45  

Section 10.04

   Corporate Existence      46  

Section 10.05

   Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default      46  
ARTICLE XI  REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      47  

Section 11.01

   Applicability of Article      47  

Section 11.02

   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      47  

Section 11.03

   Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed      47  

Section 11.04

   Notice of Redemption      47  

Section 11.05

   Deposit of Redemption Price      48  

Section 11.06

   Securities Payable on Redemption Date      48  

Section 11.07

   Securities Redeemed in Part      49  
ARTICLE XII  SINKING FUNDS      49  

Section 12.01

   Applicability of Article      49  

Section 12.02

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      49  

Section 12.03

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      49  
ARTICLE XIII  DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE      50  

Section 13.01

   Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      50  

Section 13.02

   Defeasance and Discharge      50  

Section 13.03

   Covenant Defeasance      50  

Section 13.04

   Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      51  

Section 13.05

   Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      52  

Section 13.06

   Reinstatement      52  
ARTICLE XIV  CONVERSION OF SECURITIES      52  

Section 14.01

   Applicability; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price      52  

Section 14.02

   Exercise of Conversion Privilege      53  

Section 14.03

   Fractions of Shares      54  

Section 14.04

   Adjustment of Conversion Price      54  

Section 14.05

   Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price      56  

Section 14.06

   Notice of Certain Corporate Action      57  

Section 14.07

   Company to Reserve Common Stock      57  

Section 14.08

   Taxes on Conversions      57  

Section 14.09

   Covenant as to Common Stock      58  

Section 14.10

   Cancellation of Converted Securities      58  

Section 14.11

   Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets      58  

Section 14.12

   Responsibility of Trustee and Conversion Agent      58  

Section 14.13

   Electronic Signatures      59  

 

iv


ARTICLE XV  SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

     60  

Section 15.01

   Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness      60  

Section 15.02

   Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.      60  

Section 15.03

   Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of Securities      61  

Section 15.04

   No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default      61  

Section 15.05

   Payment Permitted If No Default      61  

Section 15.06

   Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness      61  

Section 15.07

   Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights      62  

Section 15.08

   Trustee to Effectuate Subordination      62  

Section 15.09

   No Waiver of Subordination Provisions      62  

Section 15.10

   Notice to Trustee      62  

Section 15.11

   Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent      63  

Section 15.12

   Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness      63  

Section 15.13

   Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights      63  

Section 15.14

   Article Applicable to Paying Agents      63  

Section 15.15

   Certain Conversions Deemed Payment      64  

Section 15.16

   Trust Moneys Not Subordinated      64  

 

 

v


INDENTURE, dated as of    , 202 , between Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 500 Charles Ewing Boulevard, Ewing, NJ 08628, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture and has appointed U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association to act as Trustee hereunder.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

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

(4) the words “Article” and “Section” refer to an Article and Section, respectively, of this Indenture;

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

(6) “including” means including without limitation;

(7) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and

(8) certain terms used principally in Articles VI, X, and XIII are defined in those Articles.

Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.05.


Add On Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

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

Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or Corporate Trust Office are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Lease Obligation” means, at any time any determination thereof is made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

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

Common Stock” includes any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which is not subject to redemption by the Company. However, subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(21) and (22) and Section 14.11, shares issuable on conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this instrument or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

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 Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Operating Officer, its Treasurer, its Secretary or a Vice President, and delivered to the Trustee.

Constituent Person” has the meaning specified in Section 14.11.

 

2


Conversion Agent” means the transfer agent for the Company’s Common Stock, which as of the date hereof is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., or such other Person as the Company may name from time to time.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office as of the date hereof is located at (i) for purposes of presentment of Securities for transfer, exchange or surrender, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 111 Fillmore Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota, 55107, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Church & Dwight Co., Inc., and (ii) for all other purposes, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 333 Thornhall Street, 4th Floor, Edison, NJ 08837, Attention: Global Corporate Trust – Church & Dwight Co., Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee.

Corporation” means a corporation, association, company, limited liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.

Defeasible Series” has the meaning specified in Section 13.01.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and, to the extent not superseded thereby, the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or in such other statements by such other entity as have been adopted by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and is authenticated and delivered to, and registered in the name of, the Depositary for such Securities or a nominee thereof.

Guarantee” or “guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of

 

3


assuring the holder of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness, or (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness (and “Guaranteed” and “Guaranteeing” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided, however, that the Guarantee by any Person shall not include endorsements by such Person for collection or deposit, in either case, in the ordinary course of business.

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the Obligations of such Person under interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, and interest rate collar agreements, and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.

Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of obligations of any of the foregoing, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee of any indebtedness of such Person or any other Person.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only at Maturity, means interest payable at Maturity.

Interest Payment Date” shall be defined by the terms of the Security established in accordance with Section 3.01.

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

Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 6.05.

Obligations” means any principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

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

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel acceptable to the Trustee, which counsel may be an employee of the Company.

 

4


Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

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

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

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

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.02; and

(4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in clause (A) above) of such Security, and (C) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

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

 

5


Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

Prospectus” means a Prospectus of the Company relating to the offering from time to time of the Securities.

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

Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to Article XI of this Indenture.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and who customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any), accrued interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing in bankruptcy or reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and other amounts owing with respect to all Indebtedness of the Company (including Indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company) other than the Securities, in any such case whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or the date Securities of any series are issued hereunder or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless in any case in the instrument creating or evidencing any such Indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such Indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the Securities, or it is provided that such obligation is subordinated to senior indebtedness to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.

Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.

 

6


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

Subsidiary” means a corporation, association or other business entity more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor 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 each Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

U.S. Government Obligations” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04.

Section 1.02 Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Subject to the terms hereof, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (including certificates provided for in Section 10.05) shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

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

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

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

7


Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

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

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

Section 1.04 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 1.05 Acts of Holders; Record Dates. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

 

8


The Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, set any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series but shall have no obligation to do so. With regard to any record date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to give or take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. With regard to any action that may be given or taken hereunder only by Holders of a requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series (or their duly appointed agents) and for which a record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company may, at its option, set an expiration date after which no such action purported to be given or taken by any Holder shall be effective hereunder unless given or taken on or prior to such expiration date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents). On or prior to any expiration date set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company may, on one or more occasions at its option, extend such date to any later date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect). Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent any Holder (or any duly appointed agent thereof) from giving or taking, after any such expiration date, any action identical to, or, at any time, contrary to or different from, the action or purported action to which such expiration date relates, in which event the Company may set a new record date in respect thereof pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken at any time by the Holders (or their duly appointed agents) of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is so taken. Notwithstanding the foregoing or the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, any notice, declaration or direction referred to in the next paragraph.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, if an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing and the Trustee shall not have given such a declaration to the Company, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee shall notify the Company and the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series of any such record date so fixed and the proposed action. The Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, unless such notice, declaration, request or direction shall have become effective by virtue of Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date (or their duly appointed agents) having joined therein on or prior to the 90th day after such record date, such notice, declaration, request or direction shall automatically and without any action by any Person be cancelled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent a Holder (or a duly appointed agent thereof) from giving, before or after the expiration of such 90-day period, a notice, declaration, request or direction contrary to or different from, or, after the expiration of such period, identical to, the notice, declaration, request or direction to which such record date relates, in which event the Trustee may set a new record date in respect thereof pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect). Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any notice, declaration, request or direction of the type referred to in this paragraph given at any time to the Trustee and the Company by Holders (or their duly appointed agents) of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such notice, declaration, request or direction is so given.

 

9


Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

Section 1.06 Notices, Etc., to Trustee, Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

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

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

Any electronically signed document delivered via e-mail or any other electronic method from a person purporting to be an officer of the Company shall be considered signed or executed by such officer on behalf of the Company. The Company also hereby acknowledges that the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire into or investigate the authenticity or authorization of any such electronic signature and shall be entitled to rely on any such electronic signature.

Section 1.07 Notice to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and delivered electronically or mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver. Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the customary procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and note earlier than the earliest date, if any prescribed for given such notice.

Section 1.08 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be. Wherever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, such provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

commission” means the Commission;

indenture securities” means the Securities;

 

10


indenture security holder” means a Holder;

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

obligor on the indenture securities” means the Company and any other obligor on the Securities.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by the Trust Indenture Act, referenced to another statute or defined by any Commission rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings defined to them thereby.

Section 1.09 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 1.10 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company or the Trustee shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 1.11 Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 1.12 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 1.13 Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Section 1.14 Jurisdiction. The parties to this Indenture hereby (i) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the city of New York, (ii) waive any objection to laying of venue in any such action or proceeding in such courts, and (iii) waive any objection that such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party.

Section 1.15 Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert his Securities shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or conversion of the Securities need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such last day for conversion, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 1.16 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

11


Section 1.17 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, accidents, disease, epidemics or pandemics, quarantine, national emergency, unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex system or other wire or other funds transfer systems or unavailability of any securities clearing system, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 1.18 U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01 Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officer or officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

Any Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officer or officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of such Securities.

Section 2.02 Form of Face of Security. [Insert any legend required by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.]

[Insert any legend required by the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder]

 

12


CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

No.: _____________

CUSIP No. _____________

ISIN No. _____________                                        $________

Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to     , or registered assigns, the principal sum of    Dollars on    [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert —, and to pay interest thereon from    or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on    and    in each year, commencing    at the rate of    % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert — , and at the rate of    % per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the    or    (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity, and in such case the overdue principal of this Security shall bear interest at the rate of    % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such default in payment to the date payment of such principal has been made or duly provided for. Interest on any overdue principal shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on any overdue principal that is not so paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of    % per annum, which shall accrue from the date of such demand for payment to the date payment of such interest has been made or duly provided for, and such interest shall also be payable on demand.]

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [    ] , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert —; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made wire transfer in accordance with the wire instructions of the Person entitled thereto as such wire instructions shall appear in the Security Register].

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

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

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

13


Section 2.03 Form of Reverse of Security. This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of    , 20 (herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties, indemnities and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert —, limited in aggregate principal amount to $    ].

[If applicable, insert — Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security is entitled, at his option, at any time on or before the close of business on    , or in case this Security or a portion hereof is called for redemption, then in respect of this Security or such portion hereof until and including, but (unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption) not after, the close of business on the 10th calendar day before the Redemption Date, to convert this Security (or any portion of the principal amount hereof which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof), at the principal amount hereof, or of such portion, into fully paid and non-assessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100 of a share) of Common Stock of the Company at a conversion price per share of Common Stock equal to $    per each share of Common Stock (or at the current adjusted conversion price if an adjustment has been made as provided in the Indenture) by surrender of this Security, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in blank, to the Company at its office or agency in    , accompanied by written notice to the Company that the Holder hereof elects to convert this Security, or if less than the entire principal amount hereof is to be converted, the portion hereof to be converted, and, in case such surrender shall be made during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date within such period), also accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of this Security then being converted. Subject to the aforesaid requirement for payment and, in the case of a conversion after the Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, to the right of the Holder of this Security (or any Predecessor Security) of record at such Regular Record Date to receive an installment of interest (with certain exceptions provided in the Indenture), no payment or adjustment is to be made on conversion for interest accrued hereon or for dividends on the Common Stock issued on conversion. No fractions of shares or scrip representing fractions of shares will be issued on conversion, but instead of any fractional interest the Company shall pay a cash adjustment as provided in the Indenture. The conversion price is subject to adjustment as provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture provides that in case of certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company is a party or the transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Indenture shall be amended, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, so that this Security, if then outstanding, will be convertible thereafter, during the period this Security shall be convertible as specified above, only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon the consolidation, merger or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which this Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or transfer (assuming such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any rights of election and received per share the kind and amount received per share by a plurality of non-electing shares).]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice delivered, [if applicable, insert — (1) on    in any year commencing with the year 20 and ending with the year 20 through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after    , 20 ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before    ,    %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning    of the years indicated,

 

14


Year

 

Redemption
Price

 

Year

  

Redemption
Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice delivered, (1) on    in any year commencing with the year    and ending with the year    through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after    ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning    of the years indicated,

 

Year

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

 

Redemption Price for
Redemption
Otherwise Than Through
Operation of the Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to    % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to    redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert — clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than    % per annum.]

[If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on    in each year beginning with the year    and ending with the year of    [if applicable, insert — not less than $    (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $    aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments [if applicable, insert — and Securities surrendered for conversion] may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made.]

 

15


[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If the Security is subject to conversion of any kind, insert — In the event of conversion of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unconverted portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

[If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [(l) the entire indebtedness of this Security or (2)] certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to [ insert formula for determining the amount ]. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

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

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such written

 

16


request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 90 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein [Insert, if applicable — or for enforcement of the right to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture].

Subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness, as set forth in the Indenture, no other reference herein to the Indenture and no other provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed or to convert this Security as provided in the Indenture.

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

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company, the Trustee or the Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Securities or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act). Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and constructed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

[If applicable, insert —

[FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE]

To:  CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

 

17


The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of Church & Dwight Co., Inc., in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any payment for fractional shares and any Securities, representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

Dated:   
Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Securities if to be issued otherwise than to the registered holder.    Principal Amount to be converted (in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all):

 

   $
Name   

 

  
Address   

 

  

 

(Please print name and address, including zip code number)    Signature
SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER TAXPAYER IDENTIFYING NUMBER    [SIGNATURE GUARANTEED required only if Common Stock and Securities are to be issued and delivered to other than registered holder]

[

  

]

Section 2.04 Form of Legend for Global Securities. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered 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 A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

Section 2.05 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

18


U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee
By:    
 

Authorized Signatory

Dated:    

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

Section 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

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

(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 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 3.04, 3.05, 3.06 or 9.06 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

(6) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and the applicability, nonapplicability or variation of Article XI with respect to the Securities of such series;

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions 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 Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

19


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

(10) the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01;

(11) if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

(13) if and as applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.05 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and in which any such transfer may be registered;

(14) any addition to or change in the Events of Default set forth in Section 5.01 which applies to Securities of the series;

(15) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02;

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

(17) the applicability, nonapplicability, or variation of Article XII with respect to the Securities of such Series;

(18) if applicable, that the Securities of the series shall be subject to either or both of Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article XIII; provided that no series of Securities that is convertible into Common Stock as provided in Article XIV or convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities pursuant to Section 3.01(21) shall be subject to Defeasance pursuant to Section 13.02;

(19) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities are convertible into Common Stock of the Company pursuant to Article XIV, and any variation thereof;

(20) any addition to or change in the provisions of Article XV with respect to the Securities of such series;

(21) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the Securities are convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities; and

 

20


(22) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.01(5)).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 3.03, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

The Company may, from time to time, by adoption of a Board Resolution and subject to compliance with any other applicable provisions of this Indenture, without the consent of the Holders, create and issue pursuant to this Indenture additional securities of any series of Securities (“Add On Securities”) having terms and conditions identical to those of such series of Outstanding Securities, except that such Add On Securities:

(A) may have a different issue date from such series of Outstanding Securities;

(B) may have a different amount of interest payable on the first Interest Payment Date after issuance than is payable on such series of Outstanding Securities; and

(C) may have terms specified in such Board Resolution for such Add On Securities making appropriate adjustments to this Article III applicable to such Add On Securities in order to conform to and ensure compliance with the Securities Act (or applicable securities laws) which are not adverse in any material respect to the Holder of any Outstanding Securities (other than such Add On Securities) and which shall not affect the rights or duties of the Trustee.

Section 3.02 Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Chief Operating Officer, its Treasurer, its Secretary or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of an individual who was at any time the proper officer of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individual has ceased to hold such office prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such office at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any Series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in

 

21


conclusively relying upon, (a) a copy of the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors in or pursuant to which the terms and form of the Securities were established, and if the terms and form of such Securities are established by an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to general authorization of the Board of Directors, such Officer’s Certificate; (b) an Officer’s Certificate delivered in accordance with Section 1.02; and (c) an Opinion of Counsel stating, in addition to the statements required by Section 1.02 hereof,

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, a Company Order shall be delivered to the Trustee but it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual or electronic signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officer or officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by such officer’s or officers’ execution of such Securities.

 

22


If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

Section 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

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

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

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company, the Trustee or Security Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04 or 9.06 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests 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.

 

23


The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as Depositary for such Global Security and the Company has not appointed a successor within 90 days of receipt of such notice or (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) the Company so directs the Trustee by Company Order or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

(3) Subject to clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.04, 3.06 or 9.06 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

In connection with any proposed transfer outside the Book Entry Only system, the Company or the Depositary shall be required to provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Any transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Section 6045 of the Code. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

Section 3.06 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 new 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 (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security and/or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

24


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

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

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in exchange for any mutilated Security or in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, 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 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

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

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days prior to the date of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be delivered electronically or mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so delivered or mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

25


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

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

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.02, in the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable.

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 3.09 Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in its customary manner. The Trustee shall provide the Company with a list of all Securities that have been cancelled from time to time as requested in writing by the Company.

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

Section 3.11 CUSIP or ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use such 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 identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.

 

26


Section 3.12 General Provisions Relating to Global Securities. Owners of beneficial interests in the Securities evidenced by a Global Security will not be entitled to any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and the Depositary or its nominee may be treated by the Company, the Guarantors, and the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantors or the Trustee, including any Security Registrar or Paying Agent, as the owner and Holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, the Guarantors or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. None of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, the Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability to any person for any acts or omissions of the Depositary or its nominee in respect of a Global Security, for the records of any such Depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of such Global Security, for any transactions between such Depositary and any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary or between or among such Depositary, any participant or indirect participant in such Depositary and/or any Holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar or the Paying Agent or such agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or its nominee or impair, as between the Depositary or its nominee and such owners of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary or its nominee as Holder of any Global Security.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (i)

have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii)

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

 

  (iii)

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,

 

27


and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount of money sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and any other amounts due hereunder;

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

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

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.06, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02, shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 4.02 Application of Trust Money. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for payment of Securities of a series that is convertible in accordance with Article XIV and that are subsequently converted, shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.01 Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article XV or be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) a default in any payment of interest on any Security of that series when due and payable and such default continues for 30 days;

(2) a default in the payment of principal of any Security in that series when due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required redemption or repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

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

 

28


(4) (i) a default in the observance or performance of Article VIII or (ii) a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture (other than (a) those addressed in (1), (2) or (3) above, (b) the obligations under Section 7.04 hereof or (c) any covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series) which default under this clause (ii) continues for a period of 90 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

(5) the failure to pay at final stated maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 30 days of receipt by the Company of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final maturity or which has been accelerated (in each case with respect to which the 30-day period described above has elapsed), aggregates $100 million or more at any time;

(6) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case;

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property;

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or

(E) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing; or

(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) that is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

and such order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or 5.01(7) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) and unpaid interest of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the

 

29


Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or 5.01(7) with respect to the Company with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) and unpaid interest shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article 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

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

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) 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,

(C) 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

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

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

Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

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 any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of its agents and counsel.

 

30


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

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary 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 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), or any of the property or creditors of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized 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 to it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee hereunder.

No provision of this Indenture 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 in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

Section 5.05 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 compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, including the reasonable costs and expenses of its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium 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 (acting in any capacity) hereunder;

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

 

31


THIRD: To the Company.

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, but subject to Article XV, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.07) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to convert such Security in accordance with Article XIV and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 5.09 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 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, 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 prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

32


Section 5.11 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 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 5.12 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

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

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

(3) subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Before proceeding to exercise any right or power hereunder at the direction of the Holders, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders, and shall not be required to act unless it so receives, security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses, and liabilities (including fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

Section 5.13 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

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

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

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any 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 5.14 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, against any such party litigant, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant; provided that this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holders of the Securities, or group of Holders of the Securities, holding in the aggregate more than 10% of principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of the Outstanding Securities for the enforcement of the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Outstanding Securities held by such Holder, on or after the

 

33


respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Outstanding Securities, and provided, further, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee or, if applicable, in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article XIV.

Section 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

The Trustee hereby accepts the trust imposed upon it by this Indenture and covenants and agrees to perform the same, as herein expressed.

Section 6.01 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 their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) The Trustee need perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in or read into this Indenture.

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

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(1) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 6.01.

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

(3) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series pursuant to Section 5.12 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

34


(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity and/or security against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(e) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (f) of this Section 6.01 and to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any assets received by it, except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other assets except to the extent required by law.

Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.01 and of Section 6.02.

Section 6.02 Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 6.01:

(a) The Trustee may rely conclusively and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) 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 document.

(b) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the member or members of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, shall be sufficiently evidenced by resolutions of the Board of Directors;

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

(d) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate and/or 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 certificate or opinion.

(e) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys or independent contractors and the Trustee will not be responsible for any acts or omissions on the part of any agent, attorney or independent contractor appointed with due care by it hereunder.

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

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document, but the Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or

 

35


investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(h) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.

(i) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(j) The Trustee (i) shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default unless, in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) of, or interest on, any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if any), it has actual knowledge thereof, or with respect to all other Events of Default, a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received a written notice of any event which is in fact such a default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities, the Company and this Indenture and (ii) shall have no duty to take any action to determine whether any such Event of Default has occurred.

(k) The rights, privileges, protections, indemnities, 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, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

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

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

(n) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

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

(p) The Trustee shall not be under any liability for interest on any moneys received in connection herewith and all such moneys shall remain uninvested except as may be agreed upon in writing among the parties hereto.

(q) The Trustee shall not be responsible for the application of the security proceeds or the use or application of any moneys or property paid out hereunder or in connection herewith.

(r) The Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity, or otherwise, for the obligations evidenced by any Securities issued hereunder.

 

36


(s) The Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake or verify any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder.

(t) The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of the Depositary or any other depositary or clearinghouse.

(u) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

(v) The Trustee shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law.

(w) If any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee had actual knowledge of such event.

Section 6.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Security Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 6.09 and 6.10.

Section 6.04 Trustees Disclaimer. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, or the use or application of any funds received by a Paying Agent other than the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default under Sections 5.01(4) or (5) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof in accordance with Section 1.06 hereof from the Company or any Holder.

Section 6.05 Notice of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to each Holder of Securities of such series notice of the uncured Event of Default (hereinafter called a “Notice of Default”) within the earlier of 90 days after such Event of Default occurs or 30 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer. Except in the case of an Event of Default in payment of principal (or premium, if any) of, or interest on, any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series.

Section 6.06 Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services hereunder (in any capacity) 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 shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all expenses made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents, accountants, experts and counsel.

 

37


The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees against any and all fees, costs, loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties (in any capacity) hereunder without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order), including the fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 6.06) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its rights, powers or duties hereunder. The Trustee shall notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Company may, subject to the approval of the Trustee, defend the claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense and, in the Trustee’s reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and such parties in connection with such defense. The Company need not pay for any written settlement made without its prior written consent, which consent will not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. Any settlement that affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the prior written consent of the Trustee, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 6.06, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 6.06 shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any Bankruptcy Law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(6) or (7), the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and/or the removal or resignation of the Trustee.

Section 6.07 Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holder or Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series by so notifying the Company and the Trustee in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal and may appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series with the Company’s consent. The Company may remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.09;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(3) a receiver, custodian, or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

38


(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee at any time for any reason to the extent the Company has given the Trustee at least 30 days’ written notice and as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

With respect to the Securities of one or more series, if the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, with respect to Securities of that or those series.

A 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 Trustee under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Holder of Securities of that or those series. The retiring Trustee shall (upon payment of its charges hereunder) promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee with respect to such series of Securities to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 6.06. Any retiring or removed Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

If a successor Trustee with respect to a series of Securities does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Company’s expense), the Company or the Holder or Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.09, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of Securities of a series for at least six months may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.06 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 6.08 Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall, if such resulting, surviving or transferee corporation is otherwise eligible hereunder, be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor 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.

 

39


Section 6.09 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a)(1) and Trust Indenture Act Section 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b), subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b)(1) are met.

Section 6.10 Preferential Collection of Claims against Company. The Trustee shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(1) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the Regular Record Date, as the case may be, and

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

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee. As promptly as practicable but not later than 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee, in writing, when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

 

40


Section 7.04 Reports by Company. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the filing, timeliness or content of any report, information or other document other than any report required by Section 7.03 hereunder. The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the covenants hereunder or with respect to any reports, information or other documents filed with the Commission or on the Company’s website hereunder, or to participate in any conference calls.

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

Section 8.01 Company May Merge, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. The Company may not, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions:

(a) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate or merge with or into the Company, or

(b) directly or indirectly transfer, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets, unless:

(1) in a transaction in which the Company does not survive or in which the Company sells, leases or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets, the successor entity to the Company (A) is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and (B) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities and this Indenture;

(2) immediately before and after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, lease, sale, disposition or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and that the Indenture and Securities are the legal, valid and binding obligation of the successor or surviving Person enforceable against such Person in accordance with their terms.

Section 8.02 Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger or any transfer or other disposition of assets in accordance with Section 8.01, the surviving Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same

 

41


effect as if such Person had been named as the Company herein; provided that in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the predecessor Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities. When a surviving or successor Person duly assumes all of the obligations of the Company pursuant hereto and pursuant to the Securities, except in the circumstances described in the provision to the preceding sentence, the predecessor shall be relieved of the performance and observance of all obligations and covenants of this Indenture and the Securities, including but not limited to the obligation to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities then outstanding, and the Company may thereupon or any time thereafter be liquidated and dissolved.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

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

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(3) to add any additional Events of Default;

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons;

(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) adversely affect the rights of the Holder of any such Security in any material respect or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding;

(6) to secure the Securities;

(7) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

(8) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01;

(9) to comply with Section 8.01;

(10) to permit or facilitate the issuance of uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

 

42


(11) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.07;

(12) to make provisions with respect to the conversion rights of Holders pursuant to the requirements of Article XIV;

(13) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this clause (12) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

(14) to conform any provision of this Indenture to the “Description of Debt Securities” contained in the Prospectus or any similar provision contained in any supplement to the Prospectus relating to an offering of debt securities under this Indenture (as provided for in an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee); or

(15) to comply with any requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of the requirements of the Commission in connection with maintaining the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or adversely affect the right to convert any Security as provided in Article XIV, or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the ranking of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders;

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

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby;

(4) modify or change any provision of this Indenture or the related definitions affecting the subordination or ranking of the Securities in a manner which adversely affects the Holders;

 

43


(5) adversely affect any right of repayment or repurchase at the option of the Holder; or

(6) reduce or postpone any sinking fund or similar provision.

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

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

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be given, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent in the Indenture to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with and that such supplementary indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; provided, however, that no such Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate shall be required in the case of any supplemental indenture executed and delivered concurrently with the original execution and delivery of this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order, and such new Securities may be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

Section 10.01 Payment of Securities. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will pay the principal of and interest on the Securities of that series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of that series and this Indenture. An installment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds for the benefit of the Holders, on that date, immediately available funds deposited and designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

 

44


The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and on overdue installments of interest at the rate specified in the Securities compounded semi-annually, to the extent lawful.

Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in the Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of any series that is convertible may be surrendered for conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands (which shall not include service of process).

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Securities. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Registrar and the Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

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

Section 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, no later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Business Day prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure so to act.

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

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

 

45


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

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

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

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request subject to applicable escheatment laws, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 10.04 Corporate Existence. Subject to Article VIII, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence in accordance with its organizational documents and its rights (charter and statutory) and corporate franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise, if (a) the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and (b) the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 10.05 Compliance Certificate; Notice of Default.

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof (which fiscal year ends on [ ]) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act and stating that, as to the officer or officers signing such certificate, whether or not the signer knows of any failure by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to comply with any conditions or covenants in this Indenture and, if such signer does know of such a failure to comply, the certificate shall describe such failure with particularity. The Officer’s Certificate shall also notify the Trustee should the relevant fiscal year end on any date other than the current fiscal year end date.

(b) The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities of any series are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after becoming aware of any Event of Default with respect to such series under this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default unless one of its Responsible Officers receives written notice of the Event of Default from the Company or any of the Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

46


ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction. The Trustee is permitted to accept the Company’s direction regarding redemptions, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, and the Trustee shall have no liability for any action taken at the Company’s direction.

Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, and such method of selection shall provide for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence and in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary.

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Depositary and Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of the Depositary.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

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

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be delivered electronically or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

47


All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

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

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

(5) in the case of any Securities that are convertible pursuant to Article XIV, the conversion price or rate, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion,

(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

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

(8) applicable CUSIP or ISIN Numbers.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request and with the notice information provided to the Trustee, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable; provided, in the latter case, the Company will give the Trustee at least 15 days’ prior notice of the date of the giving of the notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee). Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company received by the Trustee shall also be given by the Trustee to each Paying Agent in the name of and at the expense of the Company.

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date other than any Securities called for redemption on that date which have been converted prior to the date of such deposit.

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.07) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the

 

48


Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

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

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any Securities previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been converted pursuant to Article XIV or which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, 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 as provided for by the terms of such series; 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 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than [ ] days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to

 

49


be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than [ ] 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 11.03 and in accordance with the customary procedures of the Depositary 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 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.06 and Section 11.07.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 13.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may elect, at its option by Board Resolution at any time, to have either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to this Article XIII (hereinafter called a “Defeasible Series”), upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; provided that Section 13.02 shall not apply to any series of Securities that is convertible into Common Stock as provided in Article XIV or convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities pursuant to Section 3.01(21).

Section 13.02 Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.02 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”), and the Trustee shall execute appropriate instruments of satisfaction, discharge and release provided to it by the Company. For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities of such series when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, indemnities, and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.02 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option provided in Section 13.01 to have Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section 13.03 Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 13.01 to have this Section 13.03 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 7.04 and Section 8.01 and Section 10.04, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 5.01(3), 5.01(4) (with respect to any of Sections 8.01 and 10.04) and 5.01(5) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.01(5)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.

 

50


Section 13.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 to the Outstanding Securities of any Defeasible Series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee that satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.08 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation 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, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation specified in clause (x) and held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

(2) In the case of an election under Section 13.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date first set forth hereinabove, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to the Securities of such series and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

(3) In the case of an election under Section 13.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to the Securities of such series and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

(4) After giving pro forma effect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, no Event of Default or event that (after notice or lapse of time or both) would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit.

(5) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

51


(6) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company did not make the deposit with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series over the Company’s other creditors with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of the Company’s other creditors or others.

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 13.05 Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. All money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04 in respect of the Securities of any Defeasible Series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Securities of such series, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to Securities of any Defeasible Series that, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Securities of such series.

Section 13.06 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to the Securities of any series by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to Securities of such series until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect to Securities of such series in accordance with this Article XIII; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company, as the case may be, shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

ARTICLE XIV

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

Section 14.01 Applicability; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price. Securities of any series which are convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall be convertible in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

52


Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article, at the option of the Holder thereof, any Security or any portion of the outstanding principal amount thereof which is $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof may, at the times specified for conversion as hereinafter provided, be converted at the principal amount thereof, or of such portion thereof, into fully paid and nonassessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/10,000 of a share) of Common Stock of the Company at the conversion price, determined as hereinafter provided, in effect at the time of conversion. Such conversion right shall expire at the close of business on the date specified for Securities of such series. In case a Security or portion thereof is called for redemption at the election of the Company, such conversion right in respect of the Security or portion so called shall expire at the close of business on the 10th calendar day before the Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption.

The price at which shares of Common Stock shall be delivered upon conversion (herein called the “conversion price”) shall be the price specified in relation to Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.01, as it shall be adjusted in certain instances as provided in this Article. The time or times at which Securities of a series shall be convertible shall be as specified for such series pursuant to Section 3.01.

Section 14.02 Exercise of Conversion Privilege. In order to exercise the conversion privilege, the Holder of any Security to be converted shall surrender such Security, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in blank, at any office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.02, accompanied by written notice to the Company (which shall be substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.03), with a copy to the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, the Conversion Agent, at such office or agency that the Holder elects to convert such Security or, if less than the entire principal amount thereof is to be converted, the portion thereof to be converted. Securities surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date to the close of business on such Interest Payment Date shall (except in the case of Securities or portions thereof which have been called for redemption on a Redemption Date within such period) be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of Securities being surrendered for conversion. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.07 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company, the interest payment with respect to a Security called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date immediately preceding any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Security at the close of business on such Regular Record Date notwithstanding the conversion of such Security after such Regular Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, and the Holder converting such Security need not include a payment of such interest payment amount upon surrender of such Security for conversion. Except as provided in the preceding sentence and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.07, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock issued upon conversion.

Securities shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the day of surrender of such Securities for conversion in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and at such time the rights of the Holders of such Securities as Holders shall cease, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Stock at such time. As promptly as practicable on or after the conversion date, the Company shall issue and shall deliver at such office or agency a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, together with payment in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 14.03.

 

53


Section 14.03 Fractions of Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Securities. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof) so surrendered. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable upon conversion of any Security or Securities (or specified portions thereof), the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such fraction in an amount equal to the same fraction of the daily closing price per share of Common Stock (consistent with Section 14.04(6) below) at the close of business on the day of conversion.

Section 14.04 Adjustment of Conversion Price.

(1) In case the Company shall pay or make a dividend or other distribution on any class of capital stock of the Company in Common Stock, the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution shall be reduced by multiplying such conversion price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator shall be the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other distribution, such reduction to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. If, after any such date fixed for determination, any dividend or distribution is not in fact paid, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if such determination date had not been fixed. For the purposes of this paragraph (1), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(2) In case the Company shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of its Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (6) of this Section) of the Common Stock on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights, options or warrants (other than pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan), the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination shall be reduced by multiplying such conversion price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock that the aggregate of the offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase would purchase at such current market price and the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus the number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase, such reduction to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. If, after any such date fixed for such determination, any such rights, options or warrants are not in fact issued, or are not exercised prior to the expiration thereof, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date such rights, options or warrants expire, or the date the Board of Directors determines not to issue any such rights, options or warrants, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if the unexercised rights, options or warrants had never been granted or such determination date had not been fixed, as the case may be. For the purposes of this paragraph (2), the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not issue any rights, options or warrants in respect of shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(3) In case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall each be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock,

 

54


the conversion price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination becomes effective shall be proportionately increased, such reduction or increase, as the case may be, to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(4) In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of its Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class of capital stock (other than any rights, options or warrants that by their terms will also be issued to any Holder upon conversion of a Security of such series into shares of Common Stock without any action required by the Company or any other Person) or other property (including cash or assets or securities, but excluding (i) any rights, options or warrants referred to in paragraph (2) of this Section, (ii) any dividend or distribution paid exclusively in cash, (iii) any dividend or distribution referred to in paragraph (1) of this Section and (iv) any consideration distributed in any merger or consolidation to which Section 14.11 applies, the conversion price shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the price determined by multiplying the conversion price in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (6) of this Section) of the Common Stock on the date fixed for such determination less the then fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee) of the portion of the assets, shares or evidences of indebtedness so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock and the denominator shall be such current market price per share of the Common Stock, such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution. If, after any such date fixed for determination, any such distribution is not in fact made, the conversion price shall be immediately readjusted effective as of the date that the Board of Directors determines not to make such distribution, to the conversion price that would have been in effect if such determination date had not been fixed. In the event the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or other property so distributed is equal to or greater than the current market price per share of the Common Stock on such date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder of a Security shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of such evidences of indebtedness, shares of any class of capital stock or other property such Holder would have received had such Holder converted each Security on such date.

(5) The reclassification of Common Stock into securities other than Common Stock (other than any reclassification upon a consolidation or merger to which Section 14.11 applies) shall be deemed to involve (a) a distribution of such securities other than Common Stock to all holders of Common Stock (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution” and “the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of paragraph (4) of this Section), and (b) a subdivision or combination, as the case may be, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such reclassification into the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately thereafter (and the effective date of such reclassification shall be deemed to be “the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective” or “the day upon which such combination becomes effective”, as the case may be, and “the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective” within the meaning of paragraph (3) of this Section).

(6) For the purpose of any computation under paragraphs (2) and (4) of this Section, the current market price per share of Common Stock on any day shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices for the five consecutive trading days (i.e., Business Days on which the Common Stock is traded) selected by the Board of Directors commencing not more than 20 trading days before, and ending not later than, the earlier of the day in question and the day before the “ex” date with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation. For this purpose, the term “ex” date, when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, shall mean the first date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on the applicable exchange

 

55


or in the applicable market without the right to receive such issuance or distribution. The closing price for each day shall be the reported last sale price (or, in case no such reported sale takes place on such day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal national securities on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices in the over-the-counter market as furnished by any New York Stock Exchange member firm selected from time to time by the Board of Directors for that purpose or in the absence of any such quotations, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

(7) The Company may make such reductions in the conversion price, in addition to those required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this Section, as it considers to be advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to any holders of shares of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes or for any other reasons. The Company shall have the power to resolve any ambiguity or correct any error pursuant to this Section and its actions in so doing shall be final and conclusive.

(8) The Company may make such decreases to the conversion price, for the remaining term of the Securities of a series that is convertible or any shorter term, in addition to those required by paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this Section as it considers to be advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to any holders of shares of Common Stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase or subscribe for stock or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes.

(9) No adjustment in the conversion price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in such conversion price; provided, however, that any adjustment which by reason of this paragraph (9) is not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Article shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/10,000 of a share, as the case may be.

(10) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company from time to time may decrease the conversion price by any amount for any period of time of at least twenty (20) days, the decrease being irrevocable during such period, provided the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such decrease would be in the best interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the conversion price is decreased pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall prepare a certificate signed by the Treasurer or other appropriate officer of the Company stating the decreased conversion price and the period during which it will be in effect, and such certificate shall be filed with the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, with the Conversion Agent at such office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of securities pursuant to Section 10.02 at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date the decreased conversion price takes effect.

Section 14.05 Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price. Whenever the conversion price is adjusted as herein provided:

(a) the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price in accordance with Section 14.04 and shall prepare an Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the adjusted conversion price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall promptly be filed with the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, with the Conversion Agent at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.02; provided that in the absence of such Officer’s Certificate being filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, the Trustee and, if other than the Trustee, the Conversion Agent may assume without inquiry that the conversion price has not been adjusted and that the last conversion price of which they have knowledge remains in effect.; and

 

56


(b) a notice stating that the conversion price has been adjusted and setting forth the adjusted conversion price shall be required, and as soon as practicable after it is required, such notice shall be delivered electronically or mailed by the Company to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register.

Section 14.06 Notice of Certain Corporate Action. In case:

(a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash; or

(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than pursuant to a rights agreement referenced in Section 14.04(11)); or

(c) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock), or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(d) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

then the Company shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.02, and shall cause to be mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in clause (a) or (b) above) prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a written notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights or warrants are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Neither the failure to give such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of the proceedings described in clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 14.06. If at the time the Trustee shall not be the Conversion Agent, a copy of such written notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the Company’s instruction in connection with effecting any such exchange and shall have no liability for such exchange. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any obligation to independently determine or verify if any of the proceedings described in clauses (a) through (d) above has occurred or notify the Holders of any such proceedings.

Section 14.07 Company to Reserve Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon the conversion of all Outstanding Securities.

Section 14.08 Taxes on Conversions. The Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

 

57


Section 14.09 Covenant as to Common Stock. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue be fully paid and nonassessable and, except as provided in Section 14.08, the Company will pay all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

Section 14.10 Cancellation of Converted Securities. All Securities delivered for conversion shall be delivered to the Trustee to be cancelled by or at the direction of the Trustee, which shall dispose of the same as provided in Section 3.09.

Section 14.11 Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person, any merger of another Person into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, subject to Article IX hereof, providing that the Holder of each convertible Security then outstanding shall have the right thereafter, during the period such Security shall be convertible as specified in Section 14.01, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not (A) a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or (B) an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his, her or its rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“non-electing share”), then for the purpose of this Section the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by each non-electing share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the non-electing shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article. The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales or transfers. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any obligation to independently determine or verify if any such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer has occurred or notify the Holders of any such event.

Section 14.12 Responsibility of Trustee and Conversion Agent. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine whether any fact exists which may require any adjustment of the conversion price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be accountable with respect to the registration, validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Security, or for monitoring the price of the Common Stock or effecting any calculations hereunder; and neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue or transfer or deliver any Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or to make any cash payment upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this

 

58


Article XIV. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall have no liability or responsibility for calculating the conversion price or for any information relating thereto, and shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon the Company for the making and accuracy of all calculations relating to conversion without independent verification. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent written notice of the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notice the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notice to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event. The parties agree that all notices to the Trustee or the Conversion Agent under this Article IV shall be in writing or as otherwise provided for herein.

Section 14.13. Electronic Signatures. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party only when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) any electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including relevant provisions of the [Uniform Commercial Code/UCC] (collectively, “Signature Law”); (ii) an original manual signature; or (iii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to the Securities must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign or Adobe (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

59


ARTICLE XV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 15.01 Securities Subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, the indebtedness represented by the Securities and the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on each and all of the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

Section 15.02 Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc. In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Company, to its creditors, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company, then and in any such event the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or money’s worth, before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities, and to that end the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up or event.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Trustee or the Holder of any Security shall have received any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full or payment thereof provided for, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment or distribution shall be paid over or delivered forthwith to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee, agent or other Person making payment or distribution of assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

For purposes of this Article only, the words “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment which are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another Person upon the terms and conditions set forth in Article VIII shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company for the purposes of this Section if the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or which acquires by conveyance or transfer such properties and assets substantially as an entirety, as the case may be, shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions set forth in Article VIII.

 

60


Section 15.03 Prior Payment to Senior Indebtedness Upon Acceleration of Securities. In the event that any Securities are declared due and payable before their Stated Maturity, then and in such event the holders of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time such Securities so become due and payable shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall be made for such payment in money or money’s worth, before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment by the Company on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article XII by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 12.02 Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default or which have been converted pursuant to Article XIV.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the Company.

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 15.02 would be applicable.

Section 15.04 No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default.

(a) In the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period with respect thereto, or in the event that any event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have resulted in such Senior Indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, unless and until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist and such acceleration shall have been rescinded or annulled, or (b) in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default in payment or event of default, then no payment shall be made by the Company on account of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article XII by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 12.02 Securities which have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such default or which have been converted pursuant to Article XIV.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the Company.

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 15.02 would be applicable.

Section 15.05 Payment Permitted If No Default. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company referred to in Section 15.02 or under the conditions described in Section 15.03 or 15.04, from making payments at any time of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities.

Section 15.06 Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Company) to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and

 

61


premium, if any) and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

Section 15.07 Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand and the holders of Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, are intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

Section 15.08 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each holder of a Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 15.09 No Waiver of Subordination Provisions. No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any non-compliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

Section 15.10 Notice to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company, a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the

 

62


receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security), 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 6.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, 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, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 15.11 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

Section 15.12 Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

Section 15.13 Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustees Rights. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06.

Section 15.14 Article Applicable to Paying Agents. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee.

 

63


Section 15.15 Certain Conversions Deemed Payment. For the purposes of this Article only, (1) the issuance and delivery of junior securities upon conversion of Securities in accordance with Article XIV shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of or premium or interest on Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities, and (2) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or securities (other than junior securities) upon conversion of a Security shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such Security. For the purposes of this Section, the term “junior securities” means (a) shares of any stock of any class of the Company and (b) securities of the Company which are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness which may be outstanding at the time of issuance or delivery of such securities to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Security to convert such Security in accordance with Article XIV.

Section 15.16 Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from moneys or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article XIII by the Trustee for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities from the date of deposit (if made in compliance with this Indenture) shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restraints set forth in this Article, and none of the Holders of Securities shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any other creditor of the Company.

The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture; the recitals and statements herein are deemed to be those of the Company and not of the Trustee.

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic 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 and signature pages for all purposes.

(Signature Page to Follow)

 

64


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

 

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
Trustee:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO    Proskauer Rose LLP  Eleven Times Square  New York, NY 10036-8299

May 17, 2024

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

500 Charles Ewing Boulevard

Ewing, New Jersey 08628

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Church & Dwight Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed on or about the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in connection with the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the offer and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of:

 

  1.

debt securities of the Company, which may be senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) or subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities,” and together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”);

 

  2.

shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”); and

 

  3.

shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”).

The Debt Securities, the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities” and each, a “Security.”

We have examined: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”); (iii) the by-laws of the Company as amended and restated and currently in effect; (iv) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended and restated and as amended and currently in effect; (v) the form of indenture for the Senior Debt Securities (the “Senior Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the “Trustee”) and filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (vi) the form of indenture for the Subordinated Debt Securities (the “Subordinated Indenture,” and together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”), to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee and filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (vii) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

In connection with this opinion, we have assumed that:

 

  1.

the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indentures;

 

  2.

prior to the delivery of any Security, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall have duly established the terms of such Security and duly authorized the issuance and sale of such Security and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded;

Boca Raton | Boston | Chicago | Hong Kong | London | Los Angeles | New Orleans | New York | Paris | São Paulo | Washington, DC


LOGO

May 17, 2024

Page 2

 

 

  3.

the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded;

 

  4.

a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby;

 

  5.

all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the appropriate prospectus supplement;

 

  6.

a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto;

 

  7.

there shall be no change in law affecting the validity of any of the Securities (between the date hereof and the date of issuance and sale of such Securities); and

 

  8.

all parties to agreements involving the issuance or sale of the Securities will perform their obligations thereunder in compliance with the terms of such documents.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

  1.

With respect to the Debt Securities, when (i) the applicable Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (ii) the Board (or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance of the Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (iii) the Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company, and upon payment of the consideration therefor or provided for therein, then the Debt Securities will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity.

 

  2.

With respect to the Common Stock, when (i) the Board (or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and sale of the Common Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (ii) such shares of Common Stock have been issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of any applicable convertible or exchangeable security, definitive purchase, underwriting or other agreement binding on the Company and the terms approved by the Board (or a duly constituted


LOGO

May 17, 2024

Page 3

 

  and acting committee thereof) and (iii) the Company has received payment of the cash or other lawful consideration provided to be paid for the Common Stock, which consideration shall not be less than the par value thereof, such shares of Common Stock will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3.

With respect to the Preferred Stock, when (i) the Board (or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) has taken all necessary action to approve the designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock, (ii) a Certificate of Designations relating to such series of Preferred Stock has been properly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the Board (or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and sale of such shares of Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (iv) such shares of Preferred Stock have been issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of any applicable convertible or exchangeable security, definitive purchase, underwriting or other agreement binding on the Company and the terms approved by the Board (or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof) and (v) the Company has received payment of the cash or other lawful consideration provided to be paid for the Preferred Stock, which consideration shall not be less than the par value thereof, such shares of Preferred Stock will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

The opinions expressed herein are qualified in the following respects:

 

  1.

We have assumed that (i) each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original and all signatures on each such document are genuine and (ii) each certificate from governmental officials reviewed by us is accurate, complete and authentic, and all official public records are accurate and complete.

 

  2.

This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

  3.

Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters.

 

  4.

Our opinion expressed herein is as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our opinion expressed herein.

We hereby consent to the references to this firm under the caption “Validity of Securities” in the Prospectus and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. In giving such


LOGO

May 17, 2024

Page 4

 

consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Proskauer Rose LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 15, 2024 relating to the financial statements of Church & Dwight Co., Inc., and the effectiveness of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Morristown, NJ

May 17, 2024

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

91-1821036

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

 

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Andrea Harris

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Thornall St., 4th Fl

Edison, NJ 08837

(732) 321-2518

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

 

 

New Jersey   13-4996950

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

500 Charles Ewing Boulevaard

Ewing, NJ

  08628
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.

AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15

Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16.

LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1.

A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1.

 

  2.

A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3.

A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2.

 

  4.

A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4.

 

  5.

A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7.

Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2023, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the Township of Edison, State of New Jersey on the 17th day of May, 2024.

 

By:   /s/ Andrea Harris
  Andrea Harris
  Vice President


Exhibit 1

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

OF

U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:

FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.

SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.

THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.

Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.

Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.

FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the

 

- 1 -


Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.

In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.

A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.

FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.

No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.

Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.

Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.

 

- 2 -


Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.

Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.

The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.

SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.

The board of directors shall have the power to:

 

(1)

Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(2)

Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(3)

Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law.

 

(4)

Dismiss officers and employees.

 

(5)

Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof.

 

(6)

Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board.

 

(7)

Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital.

 

- 3 -


(8)

Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association.

 

(9)

Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association.

 

(10)

Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders.

 

(11)

Make contracts.

 

(12)

Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform.

SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.

EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.

NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.

TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.

 

- 4 -


In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.

 

LOGO

 

Jeffrey T. Grubb

 

LOGO

 

Robert D. Sznewajs

 

LOGO

 

Dwight V. Board

 

LOGO

 

P. K. Chatterjee

 

LOGO

 

Robert Lane


Exhibit 2

 

LOGO


Exhibit 4

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Shareholders

Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.

Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.

Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.

Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.

Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.


Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.

Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.

Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.

Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.

Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.

Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board


by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.

Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.

Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.

Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.

Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.


Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.

Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE III

Committees

Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.

Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).

The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:

(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and


(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.

Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.

Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.

Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.


ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.

Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.


Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.

Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.

ARTICLE V

Stock

Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.

ARTICLE VI

Corporate Seal

Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:


ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.

Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.

Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.

Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.

Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.

Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.


ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification

Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).

Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

ARTICLE IX

Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment

Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.

Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.


ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.

Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.

***

(February 8, 2021)


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: May 17, 2024

 

By:   /s/ Andrea Harris
  Andrea Harris
  Vice President


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

as of 12/31/2023

($000’s)

 

     12/31/2023  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 1,171,838  

Securities

     4,441  

Federal Funds

     0  

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     0  

Fixed Assets

     1,409  

Intangible Assets

     578,492  

Other Assets

     218,268  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 1,974,448  

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 0  

Fed Funds

     0  

Treasury Demand Notes

     0  

Trading Liabilities

     0  

Other Borrowed Money

     0  

Acceptances

     0  

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     0  

Other Liabilities

     255,900  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 255,900  

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     200  

Surplus

     1,171,635  

Undivided Profits

     546,713  

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     0  
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 1,718,548  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 1,974,448  

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A

CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(B)(2)

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

91-1821036

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

 

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

  55402
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Andrea Harris

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

333 Thornall St., 4th Fl

Edison, NJ 08837

(732) 321-2518

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

 

 

New Jersey   13-4996950

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

500 Charles Ewing Boulevaard

Ewing, NJ

  08628
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 


FORM T-1

 

Item 1.

GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

  a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

  b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.

AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15

Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16.

LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

  1.

A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1.

 

  2.

A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

  3.

A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2.

 

  4.

A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4.

 

  5.

A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

  7.

Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2023, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the Township of Edison, State of New Jersey on the 17th day of May, 2024.

 

By:   /s/ Andrea Harris
 

Andrea Harris

Vice President


Exhibit 1

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:

FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.

SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.

THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.

Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.

Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.

FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the

 

- 1 -


Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.

In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.

A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.

FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.

No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.

Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.

Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.

 

- 2 -


Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.

Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.

The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.

SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.

The board of directors shall have the power to:

 

(1)

Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(2)

Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

 

(3)

Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law.

 

(4)

Dismiss officers and employees.

 

(5)

Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof.

 

(6)

Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board.

 

(7)

Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital.

 

- 3 -


(8)

Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association.

 

(9)

Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association.

 

(10)

Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders.

 

(11)

Make contracts.

 

(12)

Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform.

SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.

EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.

NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.

TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.

 

- 4 -


In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.

 

LOGO

 

Jeffrey T. Grubb

LOGO

 

Robert D. Sznewajs

LOGO

 

Dwight V. Board

LOGO

 

P. K. Chatterjee

LOGO

 

Robert Lane


Exhibit 2

 

LOGO


Exhibit 4

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Shareholders

Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.

Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.

Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.

Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.

Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.

Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any


meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.

Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.

Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.

Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.

Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.

Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board


by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.

Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.

Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.

Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.

Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.


Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.

Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE III

Committees

Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.

Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).


The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:

(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and

(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.

Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.

Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.

Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.


ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.

Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.

Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other


officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.

Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.

ARTICLE V

Stock

Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.

ARTICLE VI

Corporate Seal

Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:


ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.

Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.

Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.

Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.

Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.

Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.


ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification

Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12

U.S.C. § 1813(u).

Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

ARTICLE IX

Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment

Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.

Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.


ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.

Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.

***

(February 8, 2021)


Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Dated: May 17, 2024

 

    By:   /s/ Andrea Harris
     

Andrea Harris

Vice President


Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

as of 12/31/2023

($000’s)

 

     12/31/2023  

Assets

  

Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions

   $ 1,171,838  

Securities

     4,441  

Federal Funds

     0  

Loans & Lease Financing Receivables

     0  

Fixed Assets

     1,409  

Intangible Assets

     578,492  

Other Assets

     218,268  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 1,974,448  

Liabilities

  

Deposits

   $ 0  

Fed Funds

     0  

Treasury Demand Notes

     0  

Trading Liabilities

     0  

Other Borrowed Money

     0  

Acceptances

     0  

Subordinated Notes and Debentures

     0  

Other Liabilities

     255,900  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 255,900  

Equity

  

Common and Preferred Stock

     200  

Surplus

     1,171,635  

Undivided Profits

     546,713  

Minority Interest in Subsidiaries

     0  
  

 

 

 

Total Equity Capital

   $ 1,718,548  

Total Liabilities and Equity Capital

   $ 1,974,448  

Exhibit 107

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLE

FORM S-3

(Form Type)

CHURCH & DWIGHT CO., INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

                         
     Security
Type
  Security Class Title   Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule
  Amount
Registered
 

Proposed
Maximum 

Offering

Price Per

Unit

 

Maximum 

Aggregate 

Offering
Price

  Fee
Rate 
 

Amount of 

Registration 

Fee

  Carry
Forward
Form
Type
 

Carry
Forward 

File
Number

 

Carry
Forward 

Initial
effective
date

  Filing Fee
Previously
Paid In
Connection
with
Unsold
Securities
to be
Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
                         

Fees to be

Paid

  Equity  

Common Stock, par value 

$1.00 per share

 

Rule 456(b) and 

Rule 457(r)

  (1)   (1)   (1)     (2)          
                         

Fees to be

Paid

  Equity  

Preferred Stock, par value 

$1.00 per share

 

Rule 456(b) and 

Rule 457(r)

  (1)   (1)   (1)     (2)          
                         

Fees to be

Paid

  Debt   Debt Securities  

Rule 456(b) and 

Rule 457(r)

  (1)   (1)   (1)     (2)          
                         

Fees Previously

Paid

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A     N/A          
 
Carry Forward Securities
                         
Carry Forward Securities   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A     N/A       N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A
                   
    Total Offering Amounts      N/A     N/A          
                   
    Total Fees Previously Paid          N/A          
                   
    Total Fee Offsets          N/A          
                   
    Net Fee Due                N/A                

 

(1)

An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at unspecified prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.

(2)

The registrant is relying on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to defer payment of all of the registration fee.


Church and Dwight (NYSE:CHD)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2024 a Jun 2024 Haga Click aquí para más Gráficas Church and Dwight.
Church and Dwight (NYSE:CHD)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Jun 2023 a Jun 2024 Haga Click aquí para más Gráficas Church and Dwight.