As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 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

 

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware  26-0734029
(State or other jurisdiction of  (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)  Identification Number)

 

2500 Woodcrest Place
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
(205) 949-0302


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

 

 

 

Thomas A. Broughton, III
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.
2500 Woodcrest Place
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
(205) 949-0302
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

Copy to:

Clinton Smith
Jones Walker LLP
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70170
(504) 582-8000

 

 

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective as the Registrant may determine.

 

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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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 Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts for Securities

Debt Securities

Units

 

The securities listed above may be offered and sold, from time to time, by ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and/or one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future in amounts, at prices, and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering. We will describe the specific terms and manner of offering of these securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales or securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers on a continued or delayed basis.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “SFBS.” Our principal executive offices are located at 2500 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35209, and our telephone number is (205) 949-0302.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should refer to the section titled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus, the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, and in any of our subsequently filed quarterly and current reports that are incorporated herein by reference. We may also include specific additional risk factors in an applicable prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” You should carefully read this prospectus together with the documents we incorporate by reference and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or regulatory body 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.

 

This prospectus is not an offer to sell any securities other than the securities offered hereby and is not an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

The securities offered by this prospectus are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and will not be insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the deposit insurance fund or any other governmental agency.

 

Prospectus dated August 5, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

RISK FACTORS 1
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 2
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 2
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
ABOUT SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. 4
USE OF PROCEEDS 4
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER 4
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS 6
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 6
EXPERTS 7
LEGAL MATTERS 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. You should read and carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the heading “Risk Factors,” as well as any updated or additional disclosure about risk factors included in any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K or other filings that we have made with the SEC since the date of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We may also include specific risk factors in an applicable prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors.” Additional risks and uncertainties of which we are not aware or that we believe are not material at the time could also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. In any case, the value of the securities offered by means of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is a part of an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration or continuous offering process. Under this shelf registration process, we or one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

 

The following securities may be offered from time to time:

 

·common stock;

 

·preferred stock;

 

·depositary shares;

 

·warrants;

 

·purchase contracts for securities;

 

·debt securities; or

 

·units.

 

Each time we or any selling security holder offers securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to those securities. We may also provide a prospectus supplement to add information to, or update or change information contained in, this prospectus. Where appropriate, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the securities offered. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus (including the information incorporated by reference herein) and information in any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” or incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.” Information incorporated by reference after the date of this prospectus may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information in such subsequent filings that is inconsistent with this prospectus will supersede the information in this prospectus or any earlier prospectus supplement.

 

Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “our,” “us,” “ServisFirst” and the “Company” refer to ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including ServisFirst Bank, which we sometimes refer to as “ServisFirst Bank” our “bank”, or the “bank.” In this prospectus, we sometimes refer to the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants, purchase contracts for securities and unit purchase agreements we may offer, collectively, as “offered securities.”

 

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. No one is authorized to provide you with different information, and, if anyone provides you with different information, you should not rely on it. The Company may only use this prospectus to sell securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that includes the specific terms of that offering. The Company is only offering these securities in jurisdictions where the offer is permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of such documents.

 

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We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with our agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any of those offers.

 

The prospectus supplement will contain the names of the underwriters, dealers, or agents, if any, together with the terms of the offering, the compensation of those underwriters, dealers, or agents, and the net proceeds to us. Any underwriters, dealers, or agents participating in the offering may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information about issuers, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC. You may read any documents we have filed with the SEC on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website www.servisfirstbank.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of and is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information that we file with the SEC. By incorporating by reference, we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document we have filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for information incorporated by reference that is superseded by information contained in this prospectus or any document we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Likewise, any statement in this prospectus or any document which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to have been modified or superseded to the extent that any statement contained in any document that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes that statement.

 

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than those “furnished” pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 in any Current Report on Form 8-K or other information deemed to be “furnished” rather than filed in accordance with the SEC’s rules) after the initial filing of the registration statement related to this prospectus until the termination of the offering of the securities covered by any applicable prospectus supplement:

 

·Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (including information specifically incorporated by reference into the Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement filed on April 8, 2024);

  

·Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, and June 30, 2024;

 

·Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 18, 2024, May 22, 2024, and June 17, 2024; and

 

·The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36452) filed with the Commission on June 15, 2021, pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

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You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by writing or telephoning us using the following contact information:

 

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

2500 Woodcrest Place

Birmingham, Alabama 35209

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (205) 949-0302

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or which may be contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus supplement may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These “forward-looking statements” reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. The words “may,” “plan,” “contemplate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “continue,” “expect,” “project,” “predict,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements not based on historical information may also be considered forward-looking. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements should be considered subject to various risks and uncertainties, and are made based upon management’s belief as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to “safe harbor” provisions described above. Such risks include, without limitation:

 

·the effects of adverse changes in the economy or business conditions, including inflation, recession, interest rate volatility, pandemic or other changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas;

 

·credit risks, including the deterioration of the credit quality of our loan portfolio, increased default rates and loan losses or adverse changes in our portfolio or in specific industry concentrations of our loan portfolio;

 

·the effects of governmental monetary and fiscal policies and legislative, regulatory and accounting changes applicable to banks and other financial service providers, including the impact on us and our customers;

 

·the effects of hazardous weather in our markets;

 

·the effects of competition from other financial institutions and financial service providers;

 

·our ability to keep pace with technology changes, including with respect to cyber-security and preventing breaches of our and third-party security systems involving our customers and other sensitive and confidential data;

 

·our ability to attract new or retain existing deposits, or to initiate new or retain current loans;

 

·the effect of any merger, acquisition or other transaction to which we or any of our subsidiaries may from time to time be a party, including our ability to successfully integrate any business that we acquire;

 

·the effect of changes in interest rates on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest sensitive assets and liabilities;

 

·the effects of terrorism and efforts to combat it;

 

·the effects of force majeure events, including war, natural disasters, pandemics or other widespread disease outbreaks and other national or international crises;

 

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·an increase in the incidence or severity of fraud, illegal payments, security breaches or other illegal acts impacting our customers;

 

·the increased regulatory and compliance burdens associated with our bank exceeding $10 billion in assets;

 

·the results of regulatory examinations;

 

·the effect of inaccuracies in our assumptions underlying the establishment of our loan loss reserves; and

 

·other factors that are discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and documents we file from time to time with the SEC.

 

A more detailed description of these and other risks is contained in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2023. Many of such factors are beyond our ability to control or predict, and you are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We encourage you to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute forecasts of future performance. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at that time. We do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements. Please carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

 

ABOUT SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

We are a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and are headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Through our wholly-owned subsidiary bank, we operate 30 full-service banking offices located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. We also operate loan production offices in Florida and Tennessee. Through our bank, we originate commercial, consumer and other loans and accept deposits, provide electronic banking services, such as online and mobile banking, including remote deposit capture, deliver treasury and cash management services and provide correspondent banking services to other financial institutions.

 

As a bank holding company, we are subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). We are required to file reports with the Federal Reserve and are subject to regular examinations by that agency.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of offered securities for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, and the repayment, redemption or refinancing of all or a portion of any indebtedness or other securities outstanding at a particular time. Except as otherwise stated in an applicable prospectus supplement, pending the application of the net proceeds from the sale of offered securities, we expect to invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities, or we may hold the net proceeds in deposit accounts in our subsidiary bank. The applicable prospectus supplement will provide more details on the use of proceeds of any specific offering.

 

SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

 

We may use this prospectus to offer securities in one or more offerings. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the amounts, prices and detailed terms of the securities and may describe risks associated with an investment in the securities. We will also include in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. Terms used in this prospectus will have the meanings described in this prospectus unless otherwise specified. The securities of each class as described in this prospectus may also be offered and sold, from time to time, by one or more selling security holders to be identified in the future.

 

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We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept or to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

 

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Common Stock

 

We may sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the aggregate number of shares offered and the offering price or prices of the shares.

 

Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares

 

We may sell shares of preferred stock in one or more series. We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. In such event, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a particular series of preferred stock. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares of preferred stock offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation and dissolution, the stated value of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.

 

Warrants

 

We may sell warrants to purchase shares of our preferred stock, shares of our common stock or units. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the warrants, including whether our or your obligations, if any, under any warrants may be satisfied by delivering or purchasing the underlying securities or their cash value.

 

Purchase Contracts

 

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities, for the purchase or sale of our preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock.

 

Debt Securities

 

We may sell debt securities, including senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated in priority of payment. We will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the ranking, whether senior or subordinated, the level of seniority or subordination (as applicable), the specific designation, the aggregate principal amount, the purchase price, the maturity, the redemption terms, the interest rate or manner of calculating the interest rate, the time of payment of interest, if any, the terms for any conversion or exchange, including the terms of relating to the adjustment of any conversion or exchange mechanism, the listing, if any, on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the debt securities.

 

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Units

 

We may sell any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus, together as units. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of securities constituting any units and any other specific terms of the units.

 

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Selling securityholders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, our securities in various private transactions. Such selling securityholders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us, or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities, as well as their transferees, pledges, donees or successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling securityholders,” may from time to time offer and sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the name of each selling securityholder and the number of and type of securities beneficially owned by such selling securityholder that are covered by such prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement also will disclose whether any of the selling securityholders have held any position or offices with, have been employed by or otherwise have had a material relationship with us during the three years prior to the date of the prospectus supplement.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We and any selling securityholder may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

 

·to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

 

·through agents;

 

·on any national exchange on which the securities offered by this prospectus are listed or any automatic quotation system through which the securities may be quoted;

 

·directly to one or more purchasers; or

 

·through a combination of any of these methods.

 

In addition, we, or any selling securityholder, may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short position. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We and any selling securityholder may selling the securities offered by this prospectus at:

 

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

 

·market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

·prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

·negotiated prices.

 

We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers, and their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

 

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EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, have been audited by Forvis Mazars, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included in ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports pertaining to such consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Jones Walker, LLP, New Orleans, Louisiana. If the validity of the securities offered hereby in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by ServisFirst in connection with the registration of the securities being registered under this Registration Statement:

 

Registration Fee $ *
Legal Fees and Expenses $ **
Accounting Fees and Expenses $ **
Stock Exchange Fees $ **
FINRA Filing Fees $ **
Blue Sky Fees $ **
Expenses $ **
Printing Fees $ **
Rating Agency Fees $ **
Miscellaneous $ **
     
Total $ **

 

*In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act, we are deferring payment of the registration fee for the securities offered.

 

**These fees and expenses are not presently known and cannot be estimated at this time, as they will be based upon, among other things, the amount and type of security being offered, as well as the number of offerings.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Under the provisions of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the registrant may indemnify any present or former officer or director against expenses arising out of legal proceedings in which the director or officer becomes involved by reason of being a director or officer if the director or officer is successful in the defense of such proceedings. Section 145 also provides that the registrant may indemnify a director or officer in connection with a proceeding in which he is not successful in defending if it is determined that he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant or, in the case of a criminal action, if it is determined that he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Liabilities for which a director or officer may be indemnified include amounts paid in satisfaction of settlements, judgments, fines and other expenses (including attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with such proceedings).

 

The registrant’s bylaws provide for indemnification of directors and officers of the registrant to the full extent permitted by applicable law. In accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, the registrant’s certificate of incorporation, as amended, contains a provision to limit the personal liability of the directors or officers of the registrant for certain violations of their fiduciary duty. This provision eliminates each director’s liability to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages except (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit. The provision eliminates liability of officers to a similar extent. The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal liability of directors and officers for monetary damages for actions involving a breach of their fiduciary duty.

 

The above is a general summary of certain indemnity provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and is subject, in all cases, to the specific and detailed provisions of the sections referenced herein and our bylaws and certificate of incorporation.

 

 II-1 

 

The registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance against any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect or breach of duty by any director or officer of itself or any direct or indirect subsidiary, excluding certain matters including fraudulent, dishonest or criminal acts or self-dealing.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

The Exhibits furnished as part of this registration statement on Form S-3 are identified in the Exhibit Index below.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

Description
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement *
   
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., as amended, which was filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 3, 2023.
   
3.2 Bylaws of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., as amended (Restated for SEC filing purposes only), which was filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2014.
   
3.3 Certificate of Elimination of the Senior-Non Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, which was filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on June 28, 2016.
   
4.1 Form of Certificate of Designation with respect to any Preferred Stock issued hereunder*
   
4.2 Form of Common Stock Certificate, which was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 filed on March 28, 2008.
   
4.3 Revised Form of Common Stock Certificate, which was filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 15, 2008.
   
4.4 Specimen of Preferred Stock Certificate*
   
4.5 Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities
   
4.6 Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities
   
4.7 Form of Unit Agreement*
   
4.8 Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant Certificate*
   
4.9 Form of Purchase Contract Agreement*
   
4.10 Form of Depositary Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt*
   
5.1 Opinion of Jones Walker LLP
   
8.1 Opinion as to certain tax matters (including the consent of such counsel)*
   
23.1 Consent of Forvis Mazars, LLP
   
23.2 Consent of Jones Walker LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)
   
25.1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, on Form T-1**
   
107 Calculation of Filing Fee Table

 

*To be filed subsequently by an amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering.

 

**To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

 II-2 

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

(i)        To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)        To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§ 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement.

 

(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) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange 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 this 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:

 

(i)        If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B (§ 230.430B of this chapter):

 

(A)        Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (§ 230.424(b)(3) of this chapter) 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) (§ 230.424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) of this chapter) 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) (§ 230.415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) of this chapter) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document 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.

 

 II-3 

 

(5)        That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

 

The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i)        Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§ 230.424 of this chapter);

 

(ii)        Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii)        The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv)        Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 II-4 

 

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 II-5 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Birmingham, Alabama, on August 5, 2024.

 

  SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
   
  By. /s/ Thomas A. Broughton III
  Thomas A. Broughton III
  Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned officers and/or directors whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Thomas A. Broughton III and Kirk Pressley, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with any state securities commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature Title Date
     
/s/ Thomas A. Broughton III Chief Executive Officer,  August 5, 2024
Thomas A. Broughton III President and Chairman of the Board  
  (Principal Executive Officer)  
     
     
/s/ Kirk Pressley Executive Vice President, Chief  August 5, 2024
Kirk Pressley Financial Officer and Secretary  
  (Principal Financial Officer and  
   Principal Accounting Officer)  
     
     
/s/ J. Richard Cashio Director August 5, 2024
J. Richard Cashio    
     
     
/s/ James J. Filler Director August 5, 2024
James J. Filler    
     
     
/s/ Betsy Bugg Holloway, Ph.D. Director August 5, 2024
Betsy Bugg Holloway, Ph.D.    
     
     
/s/ Christopher J. Mettler Director August 5, 2024
Christopher J. Mettler    
     
     
/s/ Hatton C.V. Smith Director August 5, 2024
Hatton C.V. Smith    
     
     
/s/ Irma L. Tuder Director August 5, 2024
Irma L. Tuder    

 

S-1

 

Exhibit 4.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

AND

 

     _______________________________

as Trustee

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of                ,

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
     
SECTION 101.   Definitions 1
SECTION 102.   Compliance Certificates and Opinions 7
SECTION 103.   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 8
SECTION 104.   Acts of Holders 8
SECTION 105.   Notices, etc. 9
SECTION 106.   Notice to Holders; Waiver 9
SECTION 107.   Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts 9
SECTION 108.   Successors and Assigns 10
SECTION 109.   Separability Clause 10
SECTION 110.   Benefits of Indenture 10
SECTION 111.   No Personal Liability 10
SECTION 112.   Governing Law 10
SECTION 113.   Legal Holidays 11
SECTION 114.   Force Majeure 11
SECTION 115.   U.S.A. Patriot Act 11
   
ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS 11
     
SECTION 201.   Forms of Securities 11
SECTION 202.   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 11
SECTION 203.   Securities Issuable in Global Form 11
   
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES  
     
SECTION 301.   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 12
SECTION 302.   Denominations 14
SECTION 303.   Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating 15
SECTION 304.   Temporary Securities 16
SECTION 305.   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange 18
SECTION 306.   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities 20
SECTION 307.   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 20
SECTION 308.   Persons Deemed Owners 22
SECTION 309.   Cancellation 23
SECTION 310.   Computation of Interest 23
SECTION 311.   CUSIPs 23
   
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 23
     
SECTION 401.   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 23
SECTION 402.   Application of Trust Funds 24
   
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES 24
     
SECTION 501.   Events of Default 24
SECTION 502.   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment 25
SECTION 503.   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 25
SECTION 504.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 26
SECTION 505.   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 27
SECTION 506.   Application of Money Collected 27
SECTION 507.   Limitation on Suits 27
SECTION 508.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts 27
SECTION 509.   Restoration of Rights and Remedies 28
SECTION 510.   Rights and Remedies Cumulative 28
SECTION 511.   Delay or Omission Not Waiver 28

 

i

 

SECTION 512.   Control by Holders of Securities 28
SECTION 513.   Waiver of Past Defaults 28
SECTION 514.   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws 28
SECTION 515.   Undertaking for Costs 29
   
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE 29
     
SECTION 601.   Notice of Defaults 29
SECTION 602.   Certain Rights of Trustee 29
SECTION 603.   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 31
SECTION 604.   May Hold Securities 31
SECTION 605.   Money Held in Trust 31
SECTION 606.   Compensation and Reimbursement 31
SECTION 607.   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 32
SECTION 608.   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 33
SECTION 609.   Acceptance of Appointment By Successor 33
SECTION 610.   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 34
SECTION 611.   Appointment of Authenticating Agent 34
SECTION 612.   Certain Duties and Responsibilities 35
SECTION 613.   Conflicting Interests 35
SECTION 614.   Appointment of Co-Trustee 35
   
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 36
     
SECTION 701.   Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders 36
SECTION 702.   Reports by Trustee 36
SECTION 703.   Reports by Company 36
SECTION 704.   Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 37
   
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, OR CONVEYANCE 37
     
SECTION 801.   Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions 37
SECTION 802.   Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation 37
SECTION 803.   Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel 37
   
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 38
     
SECTION 901.   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 38
SECTION 902.   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 39
SECTION 903.   Execution of Supplemental Indentures 40
SECTION 904.   Effect of Supplemental Indentures 40
SECTION 905.   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 40
SECTION 906.   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 40
SECTION 907.   Notice of Supplemental Indentures 40
   
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS 40
     
SECTION 1001.   Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts 40
SECTION 1002.   Maintenance of Office or Agency 41
SECTION 1003.   Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust 42
SECTION 1004.   [Reserved] 42
SECTION 1005.   Existence 42
SECTION 1006.   Maintenance of Properties 43
SECTION 1007.   Payment of Taxes and Other Claims 43
SECTION 1008.   Statement as to Compliance 43
SECTION 1009.   Additional Amounts 43
SECTION 1010.   Waiver of Certain Covenants 44

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

44
     

 

ii

 

SECTION 1101.   Applicability of Article 44
SECTION 1102.   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 44
SECTION 1103.   Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed 44
SECTION 1104.   Notice of Redemption 45
SECTION 1105.   Deposit of Redemption Price 46
SECTION 1106.   Securities Payable on Redemption Date 46
SECTION 1107.   Securities Redeemed in Part 47
   
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS 47
     
SECTION 1201.   Applicability of Article 47
SECTION 1202.   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 47
SECTION 1203.   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 47
   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN [RESERVED] 47
   
ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 48
     
SECTION 1401.   Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 48
SECTION 1402.   Defeasance and Discharge 48
SECTION 1403.   Covenant Defeasance 48
SECTION 1404.   Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 48
SECTION 1405.   Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 50
   
ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 50
     
SECTION 1501.   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called 50
SECTION 1502.   Call, Notice, and Place of Meetings 51
SECTION 1503.   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings 51
SECTION 1504.   Quorum; Action 51
SECTION 1505.   Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct, and Adjournment of Meetings 52
SECTION 1506.   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings 52
SECTION 1507.   Evidence of Action Taken by Holders 52
SECTION 1508.   Proof of Execution of Instruments 53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iii

 

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and Indenture, dated as of                , :

 

     
Trust Indenture Act Section   Indenture Section
Section 310(a)(1)   607
(a)(2)   607
(b)   608, 613
Section 312(a)   704
(c)   701
Section 313(a)   702
Section 314(a)   703
(a)(4)   1008
(c)(1)   102
(c)(2)   102
(e)   102
Section 315(b)   601, 602
Section 316(a)(last sentence)   101 (“Outstanding”)
(a)(1)(A)   502, 512
(a)(1)(B)   513
(b)   508
Section 317(a)(1)   503
(a)(2)   504
Section 318(a)   112
(c)   112

 

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

 

Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the TIA, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 of the TIA are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iv

 

INDENTURE

 

INDENTURE, dated as of                 , , between SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 2500 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 and________________________________, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as Trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes senior debt securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, unlimited as to aggregate principal amount, to bear interest at the rates or formulas, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed therefor as hereinafter provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid 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 thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101. Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or 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 that are defined in the TIA, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the TIA;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; and

 

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

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six, and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles. In addition, the following terms shall have the indicated respective meanings:

 

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by a Security, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

 

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

 

 2 

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC for such global Security, Euroclear, or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Board of Directors” means either (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, the executive committee, or any other committee or director of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof, or (ii) one or more duly authorized officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated the authority to act with respect to the matters contemplated by this Indenture.

 

“Board Resolution” means (i) 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 or a committee thereof, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) a certificate signed by the authorized officer or officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated its authority (as described in the definition of Board of Directors), and in each case, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or required by law, regulation, or executive order to close.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme Luxembourg.

 

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

 

“Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 304(b).

 

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

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency (other than as otherwise provided with respect to a Security pursuant to Section 301) as provided by the government of the country that issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, or (ii) the ECU, both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by the public in situations of or within the European Community, or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) for the purposes for which it was established.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its principal corporate trust business relating to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at __________________________________, Attn: ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. Administrator.

 

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies, and business trusts.

 

 3 

 

“Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Section 501.

 

“Debt” means the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed after such date:

 

(i) any debt (a) for money borrowed, (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property, or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services, or (c) that is a direct or indirect obligation that arises as a result of banker’s acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of the Company, or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company, whether contingent or otherwise;

 

(ii) any debt of others described in the preceding clause (i) that the Company has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

 

(iii) the obligation of the Company, as lessee under any lease of property that is reflected on the Company’s balance sheet as a capitalized lease; and

 

(iv) any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement, or refunding of any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (i), (ii), and (iii); provided, however, that, in computing indebtedness of the Company, there shall be excluded any particular indebtedness if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, there shall have been deposited with a depository in trust money (or evidence of indebtedness if permitted by the instrument creating such indebtedness) in the necessary amount to pay, redeem, or satisfy such indebtedness as it becomes due, and the amount so deposited shall not be included in any computation of the assets of the Company.

 

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

 

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees, and their respective successors.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank or its successor as operator of the Euroclear System.

 

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

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States applied on a consistent basis as in effect from time to time; provided that solely for purposes of any calculation required by the financial covenants contained herein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States on the date hereof, applied on a consistent basis.

 

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

 

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“Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms that relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

 

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

 

“Interest” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security that provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

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

 

“Make-Whole Amount” means the amount, if any, in addition to principal that is required by a Security, under the terms and conditions specified therein or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, to be paid by the Company to the Holder thereof in connection with any optional redemption or accelerated payment of such Security, as determined by the Company.

 

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

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, which certificate meets the requirements of Section 102.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel, which opinion meets the requirements of Section 102. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel for the Company.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that 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 502.

 

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

 

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

 

 5 

 

(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment 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 other provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(iii) Securities, except solely to the extent provided in Sections 1402 or 1403, as applicable, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen;

 

(iv) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to the Trustee that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

(v) Securities converted or exchanged into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company pursuant to or in accordance with this Indenture if the terms of such Securities provide for convertibility or exchange pursuant to Section 301; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined pursuant to Section 301 as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Indexed Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right 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 (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on any Securities, or if no such Person is authorized, the Company.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

 

“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 306 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.

 

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

 

 6 

 

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

 

“Registered Security” means any Security that is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the installment of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.

 

“Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid or purchased, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture and having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

 

“Security” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of or within any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

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

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” (within the meaning of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company.

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, 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 or a partnership or a limited liability company, a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock or partnership or membership interests, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of its other Subsidiaries.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

 

“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; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of or within any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

“United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions, and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

 7 

 

“United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

“Voting Stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, or trustees, as the case may be.

 

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent predetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

 

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

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

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (excluding certificates delivered pursuant to Section 1008) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

 8 

 

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

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate, or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations as 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 104. Acts of Holders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 612) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution 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 or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her 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 reasonable manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register or by a certificate of the Security Registrar.

 

(d) [RESERVED]

 

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement, or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

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

 

SECTION 105. Notices, etc.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the  

 

Security Register (or in the case of global Securities, delivered to DTC (or its designee) electronically, according to the Applicable Procedures of DTC), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail or electronically as prescribed above, neither the failure to mail or send such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or sent, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities. Any notice mailed or sent to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail or electronically as prescribed above, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities by other means as determined by the Company shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

 

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

 

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.

 

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF (e-mail) 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.

 

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

SECTION 109. Separability Clause.

 

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

 

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture.

 

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

 

SECTION 111. No Personal Liability.

 

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

 

 10 

 

SECTION 112. Governing Law.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. The parties to this Indenture each hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture, and all such parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange a Security at a particular conversion or exchange price shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, other than a provision in the Securities of any series that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof), payment of interest or any Additional Amounts or principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, conversion or exchange need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, or on such last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 114. Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications, or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) 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 115. 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 TWO

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities.

 

The Registered Securities, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto or Board Resolutions, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers, or other marks of identification or designation, and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

 

   
 

___________________________, as Trustee

By

 

 

 

_____________________

as Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Dated:

 

   

SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges, maturities, or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon written instruction given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon written instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102.

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium or Make-Whole Amount and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security, in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, as the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, so long as a series of Securities is a global Security, the parties hereto will be bound at all times by the procedures of the applicable depositary with respect to such series.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, or indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2), and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of or within the series when issued from time to time):

 

(1) the title of the Securities of or within the series (that shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of or within the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of or within the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, or 1107);

 

(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, on which the principal of the Securities of or within the series shall be payable and the amount of principal payable thereon;

 

(4) the rate or rates (that may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of or within the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;

 

(5) the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of, Securities of or within the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of or within the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, or conversion, and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of or within the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(6) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (including the premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series may be redeemed in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;

 

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay, or purchase Securities of or within the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series shall be redeemed, repaid, or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Registered Securities of or within the series shall be issuable;

 

(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or, if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that is convertible in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

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(11) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series shall be payable or in which the Securities of or within the series shall be denominated;

 

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of or within the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula, or other method (which index, formula, or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices, or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(13) whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;

 

(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of or within the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

(15) any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of or within the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(16) whether Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and, if Registered Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

 

(17) [RESERVED]

 

(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

 

(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of or within the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to, or in lieu of, any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;

 

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

 

(21) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1009 on the Securities of or within the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment, or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

 

(22) the obligation, if any, of the Company to permit the Securities of such series to be converted into or exchanged for Common Stock of the Company or other securities or property of the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion or exchange price or rate, and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion or exchange);

 

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(23) if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which such Securities are convertible or exchangeable; and

 

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture except as permitted by Section 905).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities issued in global form, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution or in any indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) 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 for authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

SECTION 302. Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President or a Vice President. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

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 all of the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate or formula, maturity date, date of issuance, and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 612 and TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon:

 

(i) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 102 and stating that:

 

(a) the form or forms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture and that any conditions precedent to the authorization and delivery of the Securities have been satisfied;

 

(b) the terms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

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(c) such Securities, when completed pursuant to such procedures as may be specified therein, and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles and to such other matters as may be specified therein; and

 

(ii) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 102 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, complied with and that, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, no Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

If the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, the Opinion of Counsel shall, in addition to opinions (a) through (c) described in paragraph (i) above, also state that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture and the authentication and delivery of the new series of Securities have been complied with and that such supplemental indenture and new series of Securities are the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company, and any Guarantor as applicable, in accordance with their terms.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, unless requested by the Trustee, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion, and certificate, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

 

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, obligations, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Each Registered 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 duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued or sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

 

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and (subject to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Section 303) upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed, or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form other than through the facilities of DTC. If any such temporary Security is issued in global form, then such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London, England office of a depository or common depository (the “Common Depository”), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream.

 

Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depository to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of or within the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in registered form, or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depository, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear or Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301.

 

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities, and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation, and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear or Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear or Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture, and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal or interest owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear or Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.

 

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SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer, and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it or the Security Registrar may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times and to require that a copy of the Security Register in written form be delivered to it from time to time as reasonably requested. Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, and containing identical terms and provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any such Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the depository for any permanent global Security is DTC, then, unless the terms of such global Security expressly permit such global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Securities, a global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to a nominee of DTC, or by a nominee of DTC to DTC, or to a successor to DTC for such global Security selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor to DTC. If at any time DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the applicable global Security or Securities or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act if so required by applicable law or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor depository with respect to such global Security or Securities. If (x) a successor depository for such global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such unwillingness, inability, or ineligibility, (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the beneficial owners representing a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of Securities represented by such global Security or Securities advise DTC to cease acting as depository for such global Security or Securities or (z) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines at any time that all Outstanding Securities (but not less than all) of any series issued or issuable in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities (provided, however, the Company may not make such determination during the 40-day restricted period provided by Regulation S under the Securities Act or during any other similar period during which the Securities must be held in global form as may be required by the Securities Act), then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, definitive Securities of like series, rank, tenor, and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security or Securities. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is otherwise entitled to exchange such an interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered for exchange by DTC or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest or interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company or the Trustee, as applicable, shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on, if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue or to register the transfer or exchange of any Security that has been surrendered for repayment, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions or exemptions from the Securities Act or state securities laws.

 

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

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss, or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, 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 may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

The provisions of this Section 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 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located inside the United States.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to DTC, Euroclear, and/or Clearstream, as the case may be, with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by DTC, Euroclear, or Clearstream, as the case may be, for the purpose of permitting such party to credit the interest received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest and 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 (herein called a “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, electronically delivered), to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written 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.

 

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

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 1402 and except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, in the case of any Security that is converted or exchanged after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security, the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at a Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise, prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, 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 or exchanged, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion or exchange of such Security shall not be payable.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 5.01(1) shall be paid to Holders as of the Regular Record Date for which interest has not been paid.

 

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 309. Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment, registration of transfer or exchange, or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall, upon receipt of a Company Request, be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall, upon receipt of a Company Request, be promptly canceled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

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SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 311. CUSIPs.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (or any other identifying control number, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices, including 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 such notice.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than, (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all Securities of such series

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii), or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities (as determined by the Company) not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

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

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 611 and, if money shall have been deposited with and held by the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003, shall survive.

 

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

 

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds.

 

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

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default.

 

Subject to any modifications, additions, or deletions relating to any series of Securities as contemplated pursuant to Section 301, “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree, or order of any court or any order, rule, or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of or within that series, when such interest or Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or

 

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

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than (i) a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series or (ii) a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A) commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

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

 

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(A) 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 all or substantially all of either of its property, or

 

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

As used in this Section 501, the term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors and the term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each such affected series (voting as a single class) may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of, and the Make-Whole Amount, if any, on, all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter 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 in the currency, currency unit, or composite currency in which the Securities of such series is payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series):

 

(A) all overdue installments of interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of all Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

(B) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities;

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest and any Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities; and

 

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

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

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

 

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

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of any series when such interest or Additional Amount 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 or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity, then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities of such series, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel.

 

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If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such 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 most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

 

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SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest and any Additional Amounts, 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), its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606 and Section 1405 hereunder,

 

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

 

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

 

SECTION 507. 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 security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of security and indemnity 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 such Holders.

 

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

 

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 premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, such Security on the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

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SECTION 510. 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 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security 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 any acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities.

 

The Holders of not less than 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 that is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

(3) the Trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not joining therein (but the Trustee shall have no obligation as to the determination of such undue prejudice).

 

SECTION 513. 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 consent to the waiver of any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of such series, or

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

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

 

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SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 602. Certain Rights and Duties of Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that (1) this sentence does not limit the effect of the preceding sentence; (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgement made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and without negligence in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 512.

 

Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):

 

(1) the Trustee shall perform only such duties as are expressly undertaken by it to perform under this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

 

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

 

(3) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 that shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(4) 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 willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

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(5) the Trustee may consult with counsel and as a condition to the taking, suffering, or omission of any action hereunder may demand an Opinion of Counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered, or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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

 

(7) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as is reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, 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, provided it acts in good faith and with due care, it shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

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

 

(9) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted 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; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence;

 

(10) [Reserved.]

 

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

 

(12) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture and states that it is a notice of default;

 

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

 

(14) 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;

 

(15) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream, the Common Depositary, or any other clearinghouse or depositary;

 

(16) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of any Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, co-Trustee, or Security Registrar (unless the Trustee is acting in such capacities as applicable, subject to the terms hereof);

 

(17) the Trustee may accept as conclusive evidence of any fact or the correctness of any calculation and shall be fully protected in relying upon the Officers’ Certificate provided to it by the Company;

 

(18) the Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder;

 

(19) the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in the Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;

 

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(20) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Securities;

 

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

 

(22) the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire, no duty to determine, and no duty to monitor as to the performance of the Company’s covenants under this Indenture or the financial performance of the Company; the Trustee shall be entitled to assume, until it has received written notice in accordance with this Indenture, that the Company is properly performing its duties hereunder.

 

SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities, and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 613 and TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or such other agent.

 

SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on, or investment of, any money received by it hereunder.

 

SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder, including extraordinary services rendered in connection with or during the continuation of a default hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as agreed in writing among the parties;

 

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

 

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any predecessor Trustee and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, and employees for, and to protect and hold each of them harmless against, any loss, damages, claims, fees, liability, or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by, or determined by the income or gain of the Trustee) and including attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts or the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder brought by the Company or any third party (and including those incurred with respect to enforcement of its right to indemnity hereunder) except to the extent any such loss, liability, or expense may be attributable to its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

 

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As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default described in Section 501(5) and (6), such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Article 6, as applicable, shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or is a subsidiary of a corporation that shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and that unconditionally guarantees the obligations of the Trustee hereunder. If such Trustee or Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial, or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Trustee or Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 613 or TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company by or pursuant to a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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

 

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(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

 

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606. No resigning or removed Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

 

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee, and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto, pursuant to Article Nine hereof, wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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

 

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

 

(e) All monies due and owing to the Trustee shall be paid before the Successor Trustee takes over.

 

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SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business.

 

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

 

SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, or partial redemption or repayment thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $25,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of or within the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers, and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

   
  ____________________________, as Trustee
   
 

  

By: ________________________________

  as Authenticating Agent
 

 

 

By: ________________________________

Authorized Signatory

 

  

 

Dated:

 

SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

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 for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. 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.

 

SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee.

 

(a) [RESERVED].

 

(b) Every such separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:

 

(i) all rights, powers, duties, and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed, the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations (including the holding of title to the trust estate created hereunder or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Trustee;

 

(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and

 

(iii) the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.

 

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(c) Any notice, request, or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article Six.

 

(d) Each such separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection or rights (including the rights to compensation, reimbursement, and indemnification hereunder) to, the Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

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 Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar nor any director, officer, agent, or employee of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee.

 

Within 60 days after_________ of each year commencing with the first _________ after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such _________ if and to the extent required by TIA Section 313(a).

 

SECTION 703. Reports by Company.

 

The Company will:

 

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

 

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

 

(3) transmit by mail (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, deliver electronically) to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents, and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) or (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

The Company’s obligations under Section 703(1) and (2) shall be deemed satisfied, and no further filing with or delivery to the Trustee of copies of such information, documents, or reports shall be required pursuant to such Sections, to the extent the Company has filed such information, documents, or reports with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) or any successor system. Delivery, posting, or filing of such reports, information, and documents is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness, or content of any report required hereunder (other than as required under Section 702 hereof).

 

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SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a) with respect to each series of Securities, quarterly or semi-annually (as applicable), not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided, however, that, so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no such lists shall be required to be furnished.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, OR CONVEYANCE

 

SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions.

 

The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease, or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other Person, provided that in any such case, (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor (if other than the Company) entity shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such successor entity shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and any interest (including all Additional Amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all of the Securities, according to their tenor, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company by supplemental indenture, complying with Article Nine hereof, satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Person and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor entity, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and the predecessor entity, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Securities. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor entity, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions, and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

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Any consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance permitted under Section 801 is also subject to the condition that the Trustee receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, and the assumption by any successor entity, complies with the provisions of this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

 

(4) [RESERVED]

 

(5) to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of any series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change, or elimination shall (i) neither (A) 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 (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision; or (ii) become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding; or

 

(6) to secure the Securities; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property of the Company; or

 

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

 

(9) 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 that shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or to make any other changes, provided that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors; or

 

(10) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities or to qualify, or maintain qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA; or

 

(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided in each case that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

 

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SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may (i) amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding or (ii) supplement this Indenture with regard to a series of Securities, amend or supplement a Supplemental Indenture relating to a series of Securities, or amend the Securities of a series, without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series then outstanding may waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture, or the Securities of that series with regard to the Securities of that series without notice to any Holder of Securities. However, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, no amendment, supplement, or waiver may:

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate or amount of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof, or any premium or Make-Whole Amount payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as contemplated by Section 801(i) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Make-Whole Amount, if any, that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or change any Place of Payment where, or the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which, the principal of any Security or any premium or Make-Whole Amount or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); or

 

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

 

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

 

(4) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security pursuant to Section 301 or decrease the conversion or exchange rate or increase the conversion or exchange price of any such Security.

 

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

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that 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.

 

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 902, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 106, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

 

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment or conversion, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, 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 each 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 (but not service of process) may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

 

The Company may 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 of 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 accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will 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.

 

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Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one exchange rate agent.

 

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

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of, any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts 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, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of, any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium, Make-Whole Amount or interest, or Additional Amounts and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

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

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities or Additional Amounts in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums 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) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts; and

 

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

 

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 sums.

 

Subject to applicable law, except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, or Additional Amounts has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security, without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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SECTION 1004. [Reserved].

 

SECTION 1005. Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence, material rights (charter and statutory), and material franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole or that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities of any series.

 

SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Company will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from selling or otherwise disposing of its properties in any transaction that is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business.

 

SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits, or property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, or charge whose amount, applicability, or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, in the event of any noncompliance, specifying such noncompliance and the nature and status thereof. For purposes of this Section 1008, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

 

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as reasonably possible, and in any event within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of the occurrence of a Default, if such Default is continuing, a certificate describing such Default, its status, and the actions that the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

 

SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts.

 

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context except in the case of Section 502(1), the payment of the principal of or any premium, Make-Whole Amount, or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were, or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

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Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any

 

 premium or Make-Whole Amount or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of or within the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series, and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts, if any, required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including but not limited to legal fees and expenses) reasonably incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officers’ Certificate.

 

SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision, or condition set forth in Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and with any other term, provision, or condition with respect to the Securities of any series specified in accordance with Section 301 (except any such term, provision, or condition that could not be amended without the consent of all Holders of Securities of such series pursuant to Section 902), if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision, or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities (in whole or in part) shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the giving of the notice of redemption in Section 1104 (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 (identified by CUSIP or other control number) to be redeemed and of the Redemption Price of such Securities and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

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If less than all the Securities of any series issued with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by lot, pro rata, or such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that if the Securities are represented by one or more global Securities, interest in such global Securities shall be selected for redemption subject to the rules and procedures of DTC, and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection. In any case where more than one Security is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

 

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

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any;

 

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

 

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

 

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or for conversion or exchange;

 

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

 

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(8) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any, provided that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any such CUSIP number;

 

(9) if applicable, that a Holder of Securities who desires to convert or exchange Securities to be redeemed must satisfy the requirements for conversion or exchange contained in such Securities, the then existing conversion or exchange price or rate and the date and time when the option to convert or exchange shall expire and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; and

 

(10) such other information as the Trustee reasonably deems appropriate.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request in an Officers’ Certificate delivered at least 15 days prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

At or prior to 10:00 a.m. (local time at the Place of Payment) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) (together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided with respect to Securities convertible or exchangeable into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment 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 the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

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SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

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

 

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund

 

 payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities, or which have otherwise been acquired by the Company; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the amount of optional sinking fund payments, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

If, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403 to be applicable to the Securities of any series, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution at any time, with respect to such Securities, elect to defease such Outstanding Securities pursuant to Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

 

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SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute  proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following that shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1009, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, and immunities of the Trustee hereunder including but not limited to Section 606 hereof and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities.

 

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent, or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, or such other covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

 

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in such currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) 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 of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and that shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 1102 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

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(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (and shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest pursuant to Section 310(b) of the TIA with respect to any Security of the Company).

 

(c) No Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner, and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that either (i) as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related exercise of the Company’s option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be) registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the Trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.

 

(g) After the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

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

 

SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such 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 Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a currency or currency unit other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the currency or currency unit in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due and Additional Amounts, if any, out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the currency or currency unit in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable market exchange rate for such currency or currency unit in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such currency or currency unit in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee, or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee, or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 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 a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

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

 

SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

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

 

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SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five (5) days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series represented at such meeting; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given, or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action has been made, given, or taken under this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

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

 

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

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

 

SECTION 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Holders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Holders in person or by 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.

 

Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Article Six) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

 

SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments.

 

Subject to Article Six, the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy may be proved in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

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

 

     
        SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
     
     
  By:
 
    Name:
    Title:
     
   

__________________________________,

as Trustee

     
     

 

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  By:
 
    Name:
    Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND CLEARSTREAM S.A. IN

 

CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY

 

OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE CERTIFICATE

 

[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]

 

This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, (U.S.$) principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise                  or its agent that such financial institution will provide a certificate within a reasonable time stating that it agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by a financial institution for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and that such financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

 

We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:                ,                 

 

[To be dated no earlier than the earlier of the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

 

 

   
By:  
   
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

AND

 

_____________________________, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of                ,

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

       
    Page  
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION   1  
   
SECTION 101. Definitions   1  
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions   8  
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee   8  
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders   8  
SECTION 105. Notices, etc.   10  
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver   10  
SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts   10  
SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns   10  
SECTION 109. Separability Clause   10  
SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture   11  
SECTION 111. No Personal Liability   11  
SECTION 112. Governing Law   11  
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays   11  
SECTION 114. Force Majeure   11  
SECTION 115. U.S.A. Patriot Act   12  
   
ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS   12  
   
SECTION 201. Forms of Securities   12  
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication   12  
SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form   12  
   
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES   13  
   
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series   13  
SECTION 302. Denominations   15  
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating   16  
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities   17  
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange   19  
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities   21  
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved   22  
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners   23  
SECTION 309. Cancellation   24  
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest   24  
SECTION 311. CUSIPs   24  
   
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE   24  
   
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture   24  
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds   25  
   
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES   25  
   
SECTION 501. Events of Default   25  
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment   26  
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee   27  
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim   27  
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities   28  
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected   28  
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits   28  
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts   29  
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies   29  

 

i

 

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative   29  
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver   29  
SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities   29  
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults   30  
SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws   30  
SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs   30  
   
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE   30  
   
SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults   30  
SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee   32  
SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities   32  
SECTION 604. May Hold Securities   32  
SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust   32  
SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement   32  
SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility   33  
SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor   33  
SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor   34  
SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business   35  
SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent   35  
SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities   36  
SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests   36  
SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee   37  
   
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY   37  
   
SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders   37  
SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee   38  
SECTION 703. Reports by Company   38  
SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders   38  
   
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE   39  
   
SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions   39  
SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation   39  
SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel   39  
   
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   39  
   
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders   39  
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders   40  
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures   41  
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures   41  
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act   42  
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures   42  
SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures   42  
   
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS   42  
   
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts   42  
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency   42  
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust   43  
SECTION 1004. [Reserved]   44  
SECTION 1005. Existence   44  
SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties   44  
SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims   45  
SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance   45  
SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts   45  
SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants   46  
   
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES   46  
       

 

ii

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article   49  
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee   49  
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed   49  
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption   49  
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price   48  
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date   48  
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part   48  
   
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS   49  
   
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article   49  
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities   49  
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund   49  
   
ARTICLE THIRTEEN [RESERVED]   50  
   
ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE   50  
   
SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance   50  
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge   50  
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance   50  
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance   52  
SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other     Miscellaneous Provisions   52  
   
ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES   53  
   
SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called   53  
SECTION 1502. Call, Notice, and Place of Meetings   53  
SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings   53  
SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action   54  
SECTION 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct, and Adjournment of Meetings   54  
SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings   54  
SECTION 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders   55  
SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments   55  
   
ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION   55  
   
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate   55  
SECTION 1602. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy   55  
SECTION 1603. Default on Senior Debt   56  
SECTION 1604. Acceleration of Securities   56  
SECTION 1605. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over   56  
SECTION 1606. Notice by Company   56  
SECTION 1607. Subrogation   56  
SECTION 1608. Relative Rights   56  
SECTION 1609. Subordination May Not Be Impaired By Company   57  
SECTION 1610. Distribution or Notice to Representative   57  
SECTION 1611. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent   57  
       

 

 

 

 

iii

 

SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and Indenture, dated as of                , :

 

 

 

     
Trust Indenture Act Section   Indenture Section
Section 310(a)(1)   607
(a)(2)   607
(b)   608, 613
Section 312(a)   704
(c)   701
Section 313(a)   702
Section 314(a)   703
(a)(4)   1008
(c)(1)   102
(c)(2)   102
(e)   102
Section 315(b)   601, 602
Section 316(a)(last sentence)   101 (“Outstanding”)
(a)(1)(A)   502, 512
(a)(1)(B)   513
(b)   508
Section 317(a)(1)   503
(a)(2)   504
Section 318(a)   112
(c)   112

 

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

 

Attention should also be directed to Section 318(c) of the TIA, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 of the TIA are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.

 

 

 

iv

 

INDENTURE

 

INDENTURE, dated as of                 , , between SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office at 2500 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 and ________________________________________, a national banking association organized under the laws of  the United States, as Trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes subordinated debt securities (the “Securities”) evidencing its unsecured and subordinated indebtedness, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, unlimited as to aggregate principal amount, to bear interest at the rates or formulas, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed therefor as hereinafter provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid 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 thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101. Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or 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 that are defined in the TIA, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the TIA;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States; and

 

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

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles. In addition, the following terms shall have the indicated respective meanings:

 

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by a Security, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

 

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

 

 

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC for such global Security, Euroclear, or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Board of Directors” means either (i) the Board of Directors of the Company, the executive committee, or any other committee or director of that board duly authorized to act for it in respect hereof, or (ii) one or more duly authorized officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated the authority to act with respect to the matters contemplated by this Indenture.

 

“Board Resolution” means (i) 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 or a committee thereof, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) a certificate signed by the authorized officer or officers of the Company to whom the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee thereof has delegated its authority (as described in the definition of Board of Directors), and in each case, delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in the Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or required by law, regulation, or executive order to close.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme Luxembourg.

 

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

 

“Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 304(b).

 

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

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency (other than as otherwise provided with respect to a Security pursuant to Section 301) as provided by the government of the country that issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, or (ii) the ECU, both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by the public in situations of or within the European Community, or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) for the purposes for which it was established.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its principal corporate trust business relating to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at _____________________________________, Attn: ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. Administrator.

 

 2 

 

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies, and business trusts.

 

“Custodian” has the meaning set forth in Section 501.

 

“Debt” means the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed after such date:

 

(i) any debt (a) for money borrowed, (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property, or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services, or (c) that is a direct or indirect obligation that arises as a result of banker’s acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of the Company, or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company, whether contingent or otherwise;

 

(ii) any debt of others described in the preceding clause (i) that the Company has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

 

(iii) the obligation of the Company, as lessee under any lease of property that is reflected on the Company’s balance sheet as a capitalized lease; and

 

(iv) any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement, or refunding of any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (i), (ii), and (iii); provided, however, that, in computing indebtedness of the Company, there shall be excluded any particular indebtedness if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, there shall have been deposited with a depository in trust money (or evidence of indebtedness if permitted by the instrument creating such indebtedness) in the necessary amount to pay, redeem, or satisfy such indebtedness as it becomes due, and the amount so deposited shall not be included in any computation of the assets of the Company.

 

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

 

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees, and their respective successors.

 

“Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank or its successor as operator of the Euroclear System.

 

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

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States applied on a consistent basis as in effect from time to time; provided that solely for purposes of any calculation required by the financial covenants contained herein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States on the date hereof, applied on a consistent basis.

 

 3 

 

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

 

“Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms that relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

 

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

 

“Interest” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security that provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

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

 

“Make-Whole Amount” means the amount, if any, in addition to principal that is required by a Security, under the terms and conditions specified therein or as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, to be paid by the Company to the Holder thereof in connection with any optional redemption or accelerated payment of such Security, as determined by the Company.

 

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

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, which meets the requirements of Section 102.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel, which opinion meets the requirements of Section 102. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel for the Company.

 

 4 

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that 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 502.

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment 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 other provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

(iii) Securities, except solely to the extent provided in Sections 1402 or 1403, as applicable, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen;

 

(iv) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to the Trustee that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

(v) Securities converted or exchanged into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company pursuant to or in accordance with this Indenture if the terms of such Securities provide for convertibility or exchange pursuant to Section 301; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined pursuant to Section 301 as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Indexed Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right 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 (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on any Securities, or if no such Person is authorized, the Company.

 

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

 

 5 

 

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

 

“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 306 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.

 

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

 

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

 

“Registered Security” means any Security that is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the installment of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.

 

“Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid or purchased, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Representative” means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for an issue of Senior Debt.

 

“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture and having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.

 

“Security” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of or within any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

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

 

“Senior Debt” means the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Indenture or is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed after such date:

 

(i) any debt (a) for money borrowed by the Company, or (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services, or (c) which is a direct or indirect obligation which arises as a result of banker’s acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of the Company, or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company whether contingent or otherwise;

 

 6 

 

(ii) any debt of others described in the preceding clause (i) which the Company has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

 

(iii) the obligation of the Company as lessee under any lease of property which is reflected on the Company’s balance sheet as a capitalized lease; and

 

(iv) any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement or refunding of any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii);

 

provided, however, that, in determining the indebtedness of the Company, there shall be excluded any particular indebtedness if, upon or prior to the maturity thereof, there shall have been deposited with a depository in trust money (or evidence of indebtedness if permitted by the instrument creating such indebtedness) in the necessary amount to pay, redeem or satisfy such indebtedness as it becomes due, and the amount so deposited shall not be included in any determination of the indebtedness of the Company provided, further, that in determining the indebtedness of the Company hereunder, there shall be excluded (1) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the Securities, or ranks pari passu with the Securities, (2) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability which is subordinated to indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the Securities are subordinated, (3) any indebtedness to a subsidiary of the Company and (4) the Securities. There is no limit on the amount of Senior Debt that the Company may incur.

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, 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 or a partnership or a limited liability company, a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock or partnership or membership interests, as the case may be, of which is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more of its other Subsidiaries.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

 

“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; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of or within any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

“United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions, and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

“United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of Columbia or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

 

“Voting Stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, or trustees, as the case may be.

 

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“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent predetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

 

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

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

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (excluding certificates delivered pursuant to Section 1008) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations as 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 104. Acts of Holders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 612) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

 8 

 

(b) 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 or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her 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 reasonable manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register or by a certificate of the Security Registrar.

 

(d) [RESERVED]

 

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement, or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

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

 

SECTION 105. Notices, etc.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register (or in the case of global Securities, delivered to DTC (or its designee) electronically, according to the Applicable Procedures of DTC), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail or electronically as prescribed above, neither the failure to mail or send such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or sent, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities. Any notice mailed or sent to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

 9 

 

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail or electronically as prescribed above, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities by other means as determined by the Company shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

 

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

 

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.

 

SECTION 107. Effect of Headings; Table of Contents; Counterparts.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF (e-mail) 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.

 

SECTION 108. Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

SECTION 109. Separability Clause.

 

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

 

SECTION 110. Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent, and their successors hereunder (and, with respect to Article Seventeen, the holders of Senior Debt) or the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 111. No Personal Liability.

 

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

 

 10 

 

SECTION 112. Governing Law.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. The parties to this Indenture each hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture, and all such parties hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or federal court and hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent that they may legally do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange a Security at a particular conversion or exchange price shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, other than a provision in the Securities of any series that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof), payment of interest or any Additional Amounts or principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, conversion or exchange need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity, or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 114. Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications, or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee (in any capacity hereunder) 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 115. 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 TWO

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities.

 

The Registered Securities, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto or Board Resolutions, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers, or other marks of identification or designation, and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

 

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

 

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

 

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

             
________________________, as Trustee  

 

 

 

By: _____________________

as Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 
            ,
             
             

 

SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges, maturities, or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon written instruction given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon written instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102.

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium or Make-Whole Amount and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security, in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, as the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, so long as a series of Securities is a global Security, the parties hereto will be bound at all times by the procedures of the applicable depositary with respect to such series.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, or indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2), and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of or within the series when issued from time to time):

 

(1) the title of the Securities of or within the series (that shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of or within the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of or within the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, or 1107);

 

(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined, on which the principal of the Securities of or within the series shall be payable and the amount of principal payable thereon;

 

(4) the rate or rates (that may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of or within the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;

 

(5) the place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of, Securities of or within the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of or within the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, or conversion, and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of or within the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(6) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (including the premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series may be redeemed in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;

 

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay, or purchase Securities of or within the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of or within the series shall be redeemed, repaid, or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Registered Securities of or within the series shall be issuable;

 

(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

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(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or, if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of or within the series that is convertible in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

(11) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series shall be payable or in which the Securities of or within the series shall be denominated;

 

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of or within the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula, or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices, or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(13) whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of or within the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;

 

(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of or within the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

(15) any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of or within the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(16) whether Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of or within the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and, if Registered Securities of or within the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

 

(17)[RESERVED]

 

(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

 

(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of or within the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to, or in lieu of, any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;

 

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

 

(21) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1009 on the Securities of or within the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment, or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

 

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(22) the obligation, if any, of the Company to permit the Securities of such series to be converted into or exchanged for Common Stock of the Company or other securities or property of the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected (including, without limitation, the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion or exchange period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion or exchange price, or rate and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion or exchange);

 

(23) if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the securities or property into which such Securities are convertible or exchangeable; and

 

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture except as permitted by Section 905).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities issued in global form, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution or in any indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) 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 for authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

SECTION 302. Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery, and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its President or a Vice President. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

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 all of the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate or formula, maturity date, date of issuance, and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 612 and TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon:

 

(i) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 102 and stating that:

 

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(a) the form or forms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture and that any conditions precedent to the authorization and delivery of the Securities have been satisfied;

 

(b) the terms of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(c) such Securities, when completed pursuant to such procedures as may be specified therein, and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid, and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles and to such other matters as may be specified therein; and

 

(ii) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 102 and stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of such Securities have been, or will have been upon compliance with such procedures as may be specified therein, complied with and that, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, no Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

If the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, the Opinion of Counsel shall, in addition to opinions (a) through (c) described in paragraph (i) above, also state that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture and the authentication and delivery of the new series of Securities have been complied with and that such supplemental indenture and new series of Securities are the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company, and any Guarantor as applicable, in accordance with their terms.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, unless requested by the Trustee, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion, and certificate, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

 

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, obligations, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Each Registered 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 duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued or sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

 

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and (subject to the fourth and fifth paragraphs of Section 303) upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed, or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

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Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. 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.

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form other than through the facilities of DTC. If any such temporary Security is issued in global form, then such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London, England office of a depository or common depository (the “Common Depository”), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream.

 

Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depository to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of or within the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in registered form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depository, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear or Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security, if any, held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301.

 

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities, and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation, and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear or Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear or Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture, and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal or interest owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear or Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.

 

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SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer, and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it or the Security Registrar may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times and to require that a copy of the Security Register in written form be delivered to it from time to time as reasonably requested. Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, and containing identical terms and provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Section 305, at the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any such Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the depository for any permanent global Security is DTC, then, unless the terms of such global Security expressly permit such global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for definitive Securities, a global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to a nominee of DTC, or by a nominee of DTC to DTC, or to a successor to DTC for such global Security selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor to DTC. If at any time DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the applicable global Security or Securities or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act if so required by applicable law or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor depository with respect to such global Security or Securities. If (x) a successor depository for such global Security or Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such unwillingness, inability, or ineligibility, (y) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the beneficial owners representing a majority in principal amount of the applicable series of Securities represented by such global Security or Securities advise DTC to cease acting as depository for such global Security or Securities or (z) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines at any time that all Outstanding Securities (but not less than all) of any series issued or issuable in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities (provided, however, the Company may not make such determination during the 40-day restricted period provided by Regulation S under the Securities Act or during any other similar period during which the Securities must be held in global form as may be required by the Securities Act), then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver definitive Securities of like series, rank, tenor, and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security or Securities. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is otherwise entitled to exchange such an interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered for exchange by DTC or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest, or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company or the Trustee, as applicable, shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on, if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue or to register the transfer or exchange of any Security that has been surrendered for repayment, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions or exemptions from the Securities Act or state securities laws.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss, or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, appertaining to such destroyed, lost, or stolen Security.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, 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 may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

The provisions of this Section 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 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located inside the United States.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to DTC, Euroclear, and/or Clearstream, as the case may be, with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by DTC, Euroclear, or Clearstream, as the case may be, for the purpose of permitting such party to credit the interest received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

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(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest and 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 (herein called a “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, electronically delivered), to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at such Holder’s 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 mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after written 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 and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 1402 and except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, in the case of any Security that is converted or exchanged after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security, the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at a Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise, prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion or exchange, 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 or exchanged, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion or exchange of such Security shall not be payable.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 5.01(1) shall be paid to Holders as of the Regular Record Date for which interest has not been paid.

 

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 309. Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment, registration of transfer or exchange, or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall, upon receipt of a Company Request, be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall, upon receipt of a Company Request, be promptly canceled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 311. CUSIPs.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (or any other identifying control number, if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices, including 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 such notice.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than, (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all Securities of such series

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

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

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii), or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities (as determined by the Company) not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 611 and, if money shall have been deposited with and held by the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003, shall survive.

 

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

 

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Funds.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and any interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Money deposited pursuant to Section 401 not in violation of this Indenture shall not be subject to claims of holders of Senior Debt under Article Seventeen.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default.

 

Subject to any modifications, additions, or deletions relating to any series of Securities as contemplated pursuant to Section 301, “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree, or order of any court or any order, rule, or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of or within that series, when such interest or Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or

 

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

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than (i) a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series or (ii) a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A) commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

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

 

(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

 

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(C) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

As used in this Section 501, the term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors and the term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default under clause (5) or (6) of Section 501 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each such affected series (voting as a single class) may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of, and the Make-Whole Amount, if any, on, all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter 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 in the currency, currency unit, or composite currency in which the Securities of such series is payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series):

 

(A) all overdue installments of interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of all Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

(B) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities;

 

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(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest and any Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities; and

 

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

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

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

  

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

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of any series when such interest or Additional Amount 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 or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity,

 

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities of such series, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest or Additional Amounts, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such 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 most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

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

 

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(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, their agents, and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee hereunder.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

 

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest and any Additional Amounts, 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), its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606 and Section 1405 hereunder,

 

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

 

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

 

SECTION 507. 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 security and indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

  

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(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request, and offer of security and indemnity 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 such Holders.

 

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

 

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 premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, such Security on the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

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

 

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security 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 any acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities.

 

SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities.

 

The Holders of not less than 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 that is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

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(3) the Trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not joining therein (but the Trustee shall have no obligation as to the determination of such undue prejudice).

 

SECTION 513. 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 consent to the waiver of any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of such series, or

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

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

 

SECTION 515. Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or Additional Amounts payable with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601. Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after it obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or  waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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SECTION 602. Certain Rights and Duties of Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that (1) this sentence does not limit the effect of the preceding sentence; (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgement made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith and without negligence in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 512.

 

Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):

 

(1) the Trustee shall perform only such duties as are expressly undertaken by it to perform under this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;

 

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

 

(3) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 that shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(4) 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 willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(5) the Trustee may consult with counsel and as a condition to the taking, suffering, or omission of any action hereunder may demand an Opinion of Counsel, and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered, or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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

 

(7) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as is reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances, 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, provided it acts in good faith and with due care, it shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

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

 

(9) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted 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; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence;

 

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(10) [Reserved.];

 

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

 

(12) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture and states that it is a notice of default;

 

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

 

(14) 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;

 

(15) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream, the Common Depositary, or any other clearinghouse or depositary;

 

(16) the Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any action or inaction of any Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, co-Trustee, or Security Registrar (unless the Trustee is acting in such capacities as applicable, subject to the terms hereof);

 

(17) the Trustee may accept as conclusive evidence of any fact or the correctness of any calculation and shall be fully protected in relying upon the Officers’ Certificate provided to it by the Company;

 

(18) the Trustee shall have no obligation to undertake any calculation hereunder or have any liability for any calculation performed in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereunder;

 

(19) the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in the Indenture shall not be construed as a duty;

 

(20) under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Securities;

 

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

 

(22) the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire, no duty to determine, and no duty to monitor as to the performance of the Company’s covenants under this Indenture or the financial performance of the Company; the Trustee shall be entitled to assume, until it has received written notice in accordance with this Indenture, that the Company is properly performing its duties hereunder.

 

SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities, and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Section 613 and TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent, or such other agent.

 

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SECTION 605. Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on, or investment of, any money received by it hereunder.

 

SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder, including extraordinary services rendered in connection with or during the continuation of a default hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as agreed in writing among the parties;

 

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

 

(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) and any predecessor Trustee and each of their respective directors, officers, agents, and employees for, and to protect and hold each of them harmless against, any loss, damages, claims, fees, liability, or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by, or determined by the income or gain of the Trustee) and including attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts or the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder brought by the Company or any third party (and including those incurred with respect to enforcement of its right to indemnity hereunder) except to the extent any such loss, liability, or expense may be attributable to its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable order.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on particular Securities.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default described in Section 501(5) and (6), such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The provisions of this Article 6, as applicable, shall survive the termination of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or is a subsidiary of a corporation that shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and that unconditionally guarantees the obligations of the Trustee hereunder. If such Trustee or Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial, or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Trustee or Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

SECTION 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

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(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 613 or TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation, or liquidation, then, in any such case, (i) the Company by or pursuant to a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 609. Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

 

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge, and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606. No resigning or removed Trustee shall have any liability or responsibility for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

 

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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee, and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto, pursuant to Article Nine hereof, wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed, or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts, and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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

 

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

 

(e) All monies due and owing to the Trustee shall be paid before the Successor Trustee takes over.

 

SECTION 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business.

 

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

 

SECTION 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, or partial redemption or repayment thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $25,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of or within the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers, and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

 

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

     
  __________________________, as Trustee
  By  
    as Authenticating Agent
  By  
    Authorized Signatory

 

SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

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 for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. 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.

 

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SECTION 613. Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the TIA and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

SECTION 614. Appointment of Co-Trustee.

 

(a) [RESERVED].

 

(b) Every such separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and conditions:

 

(i) all rights, powers, duties, and obligations conferred or imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining in such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed, the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and obligations (including the holding of title to the trust estate created hereunder or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the direction of the Trustee;

 

(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and

 

(iii) the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.

 

(c) Any notice, request, or other writing given to the Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article Six.

 

(d) Each such separate trustee and co-trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording protection or rights (including the rights to compensation, reimbursement, and indemnification hereunder) to, the Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

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 Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar nor any director, officer, agent, or employee of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

SECTION 702. Reports by Trustee.

 

Within 60 days after __________ of each year commencing with the first________ after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such __________ if and to the extent required by TIA Section 313(a).

 

SECTION 703. Reports by Company.

 

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The Company will:

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents, or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it will

 

file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

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

 

(3) transmit by mail (or to the extent permitted by applicable procedures or regulations, deliver electronically) to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents, and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) or (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

The Company’s obligations under Section 703(1) and (2) shall be deemed satisfied, and no further filing with or delivery to the Trustee of copies of such information, documents, or reports shall be required pursuant to such Sections, to the extent the Company has filed such information, documents, or reports with the Commission via the Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) or any successor system. Delivery, posting, or filing of such reports, information, and documents is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates). The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for the filing, timeliness, or content of any report required hereunder (other than as required under Section 702 hereof).

 

SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a) with respect to each series of Securities, quarterly or semi-annually (as applicable), not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided, however, that, so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no such lists shall be required to be furnished.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, OR CONVEYANCE

 

SECTION 801. Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases, and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions.

 

The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease, or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other Person, provided that in any such case, (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor (if other than the Company) entity shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such successor entity shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and any interest (including all Additional Amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all of the Securities, according to their tenor, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company by supplemental indenture, complying with Article Nine hereof, satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Person and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

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SECTION 802. Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor entity, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and the predecessor entity, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Securities. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor entity, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions, and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

SECTION 803. Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

Any consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance permitted under Section 801 is also subject to the condition that the Trustee receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, or conveyance, and the assumption by any successor entity, complies with the provisions of this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

 

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(4) [RESERVED]

 

(5) to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of any series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change, or elimination shall (i) neither (A) 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 (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision; or (ii) become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding; or

 

(6) to secure the Securities; or

 

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property of the Company; or

 

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

 

(9) 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 that shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or to make any other changes, provided that in each case, such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors; or

 

(10) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities or to qualify, or maintain qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA; or

 

(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided in each case that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

 

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may (i) amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding or (ii) supplement this Indenture with regard to a series of Securities, amend or supplement a Supplemental Indenture relating to a series of Securities, or amend the Securities of a series, without notice to any Holder of Securities but with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Holder of Securities. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series then outstanding may waive compliance with any provision of this Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture, or the Securities of that series with regard to the Securities of that series without notice to any Holder of Securities. However, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, no amendment, supplement, or waiver may:

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, on) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate or amount of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof, or any premium or Make-Whole Amount payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as contemplated by Section 801(i) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Make-Whole Amount, if any, that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or change any Place of Payment where, or the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which, the principal of any Security or any premium or Make-Whole Amount or any Additional Amounts payable in respect thereof or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); or

 

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

 

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

 

(4) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security pursuant to Section 301 or decrease the conversion or exchange rate or increase the conversion or exchange price of any such Security.

 

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

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that 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.

 

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent to the execution of such supplemental indenture have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

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

 

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

SECTION 907. Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 902, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 106, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

 

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SECTION 908. Subordination Unimpaired.

 

No provision in any supplemental indenture that affects the superior position of the holders of Senior Debt shall be effective against holders of Senior Debt.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, Interest, and Additional Amounts.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

 

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment or conversion, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, 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 each 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 (but not service of process) may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.

 

The Company may 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 of 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 accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one exchange rate agent.

 

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

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of, any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts 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.

 

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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of, any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium, Make-Whole Amount or interest, or Additional Amounts and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

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

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities or Additional Amounts in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums 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) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts; and

 

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

 

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 sums.

 

Subject to applicable law, except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), interest, or Additional Amounts has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security, without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 1004. [Reserved].

 

SECTION 1005. Existence.

 

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence, material rights (charter and statutory), and material franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a whole or that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities of any series.

 

SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties.

 

The Company will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair, and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from selling or otherwise disposing of its properties in any transaction that is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business.

 

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SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

 

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits, or property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, or charge whose amount, applicability, or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

 

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, in the event of any noncompliance, specifying such noncompliance and the nature and status thereof. For purposes of this Section 1008, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

 

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of the occurrence of a Default, if such Default is continuing, a certificate describing such Default, its status, and the actions that the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

 

SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts.

 

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context except in the case of Section 502(1), the payment of the principal of or any premium, Make-Whole Amount, or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were, or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or Make-Whole Amount or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of or within the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series, and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts, if any, required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including but not limited to legal fees and expenses) reasonably incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officers’ Certificate.

 

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SECTION 1010. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision, or condition set forth in Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and with any other term, provision, or condition with respect to the Securities of any series specified in accordance with Section 301 (except any such term, provision, or condition that could not be amended without the consent of all Holders of Securities of such series pursuant to Section 902), if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision, or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities (in whole or in part) shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the giving of the notice of redemption in Section 1104 (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 (identified by CUSIP or other control number) to be redeemed and of the Redemption Price of such Securities and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series issued with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by lot, pro rata, or such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; provided that if the Securities are represented by one or more global Securities, interest in such global Securities shall be selected for redemption subject to the rules and procedures of DTC, and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection. In any case where more than one Security is registered in the same name, the Trustee in its discretion may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

 

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

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price, accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any;

 

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

 

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

 

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or for conversion or exchange;

 

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

 

(8) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any, provided that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any such CUSIP number;

 

(9) if applicable, that a Holder of Securities who desires to convert or exchange Securities to be redeemed must satisfy the requirements for conversion or exchange contained in such Securities, the then existing conversion or exchange price or rate and the date and time when the option to convert or exchange shall expire and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; and

 

(10) such other information as the Trustee reasonably deems appropriate.

 

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Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request in an Officers’ Certificate delivered at least 15 days prior to the date such notice is to be given to the Holders (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

At or prior to 10:00 a.m. (local time at the Place of Payment) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) (together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, if any, on the Redemption Date; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided with respect to Securities convertible or exchangeable into other securities or property (including securities of other issuers, provided that such securities are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act and such issuer is then eligible to use Form S-3 (or any successor form) for a primary offering of its securities) of the Company, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment 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 the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

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

 

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SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities, or which have otherwise been acquired by the Company; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the amount of optional sinking fund payments, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

If, pursuant to Section 301, provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403 to be applicable to the Securities of any series, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution at any time, with respect to such Securities, elect to defease such Outstanding Securities pursuant to Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

 

SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.

 

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Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following that shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002, and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional

 

Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1009, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, and immunities of the Trustee hereunder including but not limited to Section 606 hereof and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities.

 

SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent, or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with Sections 1005 to 1007, inclusive, or such other covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition, or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

 

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in such currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the currency, currencies, or currency unit in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) 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 of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and that shall be applied by the Trustee to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 1102 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

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(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (and shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest pursuant to Section 310(b) of the TIA with respect to any Security of the Company).

 

(c) No Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner, and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain, or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that either (i) as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related exercise of the Company’s option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be) registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the Trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.

 

(g) After the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

 

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

 

SECTION 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such 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 Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a currency or currency unit other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the currency or currency unit in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due and Additional Amounts, if any, out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the currency or currency unit in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable market exchange rate for such currency or currency unit in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such currency or currency unit in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee, or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee, or other charge that by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 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 a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

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

 

SECTION 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

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

 

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SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five (5) days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series represented at such meeting; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given, or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action has been made, given, or taken under this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

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

 

SECTION 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

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

 

SECTION 1507. Evidence of Action Taken by Holders.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Holders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Holders in person or by 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.

 

Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Article Six) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

 

SECTION 1508. Proof of Execution of Instruments.

 

Subject to Article Six, the execution of any instrument by a Holder or his agent or proxy may be proved in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

 

SUBORDINATION

 

SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate.

 

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Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 301, the Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Security agrees, that the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article, to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt.

 

SECTION 1602. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

 

Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property:

 

(1) holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest (including interest accruing after the commencement of any such proceeding) to the date of payment on the Senior Debt before Holders shall be entitled to receive any payment of principal of or interest on the Securities;

 

(2) until the Senior Debt is paid in full in cash, any distribution to which Holders would be entitled but for this Article shall be made to holders of Senior Debt as their interests may appear, except that Holders may receive securities that are subordinated to Senior Debt to at least the same extent as the Securities; and

 

(3) the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely upon an order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction or a certificate of a bankruptcy trustee or other similar official for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Debt and other Company debt, the amount thereof or payable thereon and all other pertinent facts relating to the Trustee’s obligations under this Article Seventeen.

 

SECTION 1603. Default on Senior Debt.

 

The Company may not pay principal of or interest on the Securities and may not acquire any Securities for cash or property other than capital stock of the Company if:

 

(1) a default on Senior Debt occurs and is continuing that permits holders of such Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity, and

 

(2) the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company receives a notice of the default from a person who may give it pursuant to Section 1611. If the Company receives any such notice, a similar notice received within nine months thereafter relating to the same default on the same issue of Senior Debt shall not be effective for purposes of this Section.

 

The Company may resume payments on the Securities and may acquire them when:

 

(a) the default is cured or waived, or

 

(b) 120 days pass after the notice is given if the default is not the subject of judicial proceedings if this Article otherwise permits the payment or acquisition at that time.

 

SECTION 1604. Acceleration of Securities.

 

If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration. The Company may pay the Securities when 120 days pass after the acceleration occurs if this Article permits the payment at that time.

 

SECTION 1605. When Distribution Must Be Paid Over.

 

If a distribution is made to Holders that because of this Article should not have been made to them, the Holders who receive the distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior Debt and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

 

SECTION 1606. Notice by Company.

 

The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, and any Paying Agent of any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of principal of or interest on Securities to violate this Article.

 

SECTION 1607. Subrogation.

 

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After all Senior Debt is paid in full and until the Securities are paid in full, Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions applicable to Senior Debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment of Senior Debt. A distribution made under this Article to holders of Senior Debt which otherwise would have been made to Holders is not, as between the Company and Holders, a payment by the Company on Senior Debt.

 

SECTION 1608. Relative Rights.

 

This Article defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of Senior Debt. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

 

(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and interest on the Securities in accordance with their terms;

 

(2) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the Company other than holders of Senior Debt; or

 

(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available remedies upon an Event of Default, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Debt to receive distributions otherwise payable to Holders.

 

If the Company fails because of this Article to pay principal of or interest on a Security on the due date, the failure is still a default.

 

SECTION 1609. Subordination May Not Be Impaired By Company.

 

No right of any holder of Senior Debt to enforce the subordination of the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1610. Distribution or Notice to Representative.

 

Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Debt, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative.

 

SECTION 1611. Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent.

 

The Trustee or any Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Securities until a Responsible Officer receives written notice of facts that would cause a payment of principal of or interest on the Securities to violate this Article. Only the Company, a Representative or a holder of an issue of Senior Debt that has no Representative may give the written notice.

 

The Trustee has no duty to the holders of Senior Debt other than as created under this Indenture. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Debt with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

The Company’s obligation to pay, and the Company’s payment of, the amounts required by Section 606 are excluded from the operation of this Article Seventeen.

 

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

 

 

 

     
          SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.
       
  By:
 
 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
    _________________, as Trustee  
  By:
 
 
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND CLEARSTREAM S.A. IN

 

CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY

 

OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE CERTIFICATE

 

[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities to be delivered]

 

This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, (U.S.$) principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise                  or its agent that such financial institution will provide a certificate within a reasonable time stating that it agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by a financial institution for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and that such financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

 

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

 

We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:                ,                 

 

[To be dated no earlier than the earlier of the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

 

 

   

By:

 

______________________________________________

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

August 5, 2024

 

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

2500 Woodcrest Place

Birmingham, Alabama 35209

 

Re:       Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel for ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on or about the date hereof in connection with the issuance and sale, from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, in one or more offerings, an indeterminate amount of: (1) shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Issuer (the “Common Stock”); (2) shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Issuer (the “Preferred Stock”); (3) depositary shares of the Issuer (the “Depositary Shares”); (4) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Units (the “Warrants”); (5) purchase contracts for Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Depository Shares (the “Purchase Contracts for Securities”); (6) debt securities of the Issuer (the “Debt Securities”); and (7) units consisting of two or more of the foregoing securities (the “Units” and, together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, and Purchase Contracts for Securities, the “Securities”). All capitalized terms that are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement or in the Indentures (as defined below).

 

We have also participated in the preparation of a Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Securities, which is contained in the Registration Statement to which this opinion is an exhibit. The Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements (each a “Prospectus Supplement”) to the Prospectus, if required by the Securities Act.

 

In connection with the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have examined, among other things: (i) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Issuer (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), (ii) the Amended Bylaws of the Issuer (the “Bylaws” and, together with the Certificate of Incorporation, the “Organizational Documents”), (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iv) the form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities included as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement (the “Senior Indenture”), to be entered between the Issuer and a trustee named therein (the “Senior Trustee”), as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, including at the time of and in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities, (v) the form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities included as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, collectively, the “Indentures” and individually, an “Indenture”), to be entered between the Issuer and a trustee named therein (the “Subordinated Trustee” and, together with the Senior Trustee, collectively, the “Trustees” and individually, a “Trustee”), as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, including at the time of and in connection with the issuance of such Debt Securities, (vi) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of the records and minute books of the Issuer, as furnished to us by the Issuer, (vii) originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified, of certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Issuer, and (viii) such other documents and questions of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion. As to matters of fact relevant to the opinions expressed herein, and as to factual matters arising in connection with our examination of corporate documents, records and other documents and writings, we relied upon certificates and other communications of corporate officers of the Issuer, without further investigation as to the facts set forth therein. In conducting our examination, we have assumed that each document submitted to us for review is accurate and complete and the information therein is true and correct, each such document that is an original is authentic, each such document that is a copy conforms to an authentic original, all signatures on each such document are genuine, and the legal capacity of all natural persons.

 

 

 

 

In connection with the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have also assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and will have complied with all applicable laws, and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (ii) one or more Prospectus Supplements, if required, complying with the requirements of applicable law will have been prepared and filed with the Commission; (iii) 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 any applicable Prospectus Supplement to the Prospectus; (iv) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the other parties thereto; (v) the issuance of the Securities will not violate the Organizational Documents of the Issuer then in effect or any law, regulation, government or court-imposed order, restriction, agreement or instrument then binding on the Issuer; (vi) upon the issuance by the Issuer of any Securities that are Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, respectively, will not exceed the total number of shares thereof that the Issuer is then authorized to issue under its Organizational Documents or reserved for issuance; and (vii) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Security being offered will have been duly authorized, created and if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.        With respect to shares of Common Stock, when: (a) the Board of Directors of the Issuer (the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Common Stock and related matters; and (b) certificates representing the Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered (or non-certificated shares of Common Stock have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

 

2.        With respect to shares of any series of Preferred Stock, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of the series of the Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a resolution establishing and designating the series and fixing and determining the preferences, limitations and relative rights thereof and the due filing of certificate of amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to the series of Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and (b) certificates representing the shares of the series of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or non-certificated shares of Preferred Stock have been properly issued) either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, then upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with the terms of the Security or the instrument governing the Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, the shares of the series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3.        With respect to the Depositary Shares, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Depositary Shares, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including, if applicable, the adoption of Certificate of Amendment relating to Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares and the filing of the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (b) the depositary agreement or agreements relating to the Depositary Shares and the related depositary receipts have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the depositary appointed by the Issuer; (c) the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock underlying the Depositary Shares have been deposited with the depositary under the applicable depositary agreement; and (d) the depositary receipts representing the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate depositary agreement approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, the Depositary Shares will be legally issued.

 

 2 

 

 

4.        With respect to the Warrants, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters; (b) the agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the warrant agent appointed by the Issuer; and (c) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, and delivered in accordance with the appropriate agreements relating to the Warrants and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Board of the Issuer, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be legally issued and such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms.

 

5.        With respect to the Purchase Contracts for Securities, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Purchase Contracts for Securities, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters; (b) one or more agreements relating to the Purchase Contracts for Securities have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Issuer and the other parties thereto; and (c) the Purchase Contracts for Securities have been validly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Purchase Contract for Securities and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of the Issuer, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Purchase Contracts for Securities will be legally issued and such Purchase Contracts for Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms.

 

6.        With respect to the Debt Securities, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture relating either to senior Debt Securities or subordinated Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (b) the Issuer, as issuer, and the applicable Trustee have validly executed and delivered the applicable Indenture and the applicable supplement, if any, to such Indenture, in each case, in accordance with the terms of such Indenture, as theretofore amended or supplemented; (c) the applicable Indenture, as theretofore amended or supplemented, has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”); (d) the terms of the Debt Securities and their issuance and sale has been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Issuer and so as to comply with any requirements or restrictions imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Issuer; and (e) the Debt Securities have been executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture as theretofore amended and supplemented (including by any such supplemental indenture), and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of the Issuer, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in such purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, such Debt Securities will be legally issued and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms.

 

7.        With respect to the Units, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (b) one or more unit agreements (a “Unit Agreement”), as may be entered into among the Issuer, a bank or trust company, as unit agent (the “Unit Agent”), and the holders from time to time of the Units, is entered into in connection with the issuance of such Units and has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Unit Agent and the Issuer; and (c) such Units have been validly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable Unit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board of the Issuer, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Units will be legally issued and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms.

 

 3 

 

 

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than any published constitutions, treaties, laws, rules or regulations or judicial or administrative decisions (“Laws”) of the federal Laws of the United States or the applicable Laws of the State of New York and the State of Delaware. Opinions 4, 5, 6 and 7 above are subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law). The opinions set forth herein are made as of the date hereof and are subject to, and may be limited by, future changes in the factual matters set forth herein, and we undertake no duty to advise you of the same.

 

With respect to our opinions expressed above, as they relate to Debt Securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, we note that a New York statute provides that with respect to a foreign currency obligation, a court of the State of New York shall render a judgment or decree in such foreign currency and such judgment or decree shall be converted into currency of the United States at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of such judgment or decree, and with respect to a foreign currency obligation, a United States federal court in New York may award judgment in United States dollars, provided that we express no opinion as to the rate of exchange such court would apply.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

  Sincerely,
   
  /s/ Jones Walker LLP
   
  Jones Walker LLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  4  

 

 

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 ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. for the registration of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Purchase Contracts for Securities, Debt Securities, and Units, of our reports dated February 29, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Forvis Mazars, LLP

 

Tampa, Florida

August 5, 2024

 

 

 

S-3 S-3ASR EX-FILING FEES 0001430723 ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 0001430723 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 1 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 2 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 3 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 4 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 5 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 6 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 0001430723 7 2024-08-05 2024-08-05 iso4217:USD xbrli:pure xbrli:shares

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

S-3

ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.

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 1 Equity Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 2 Equity Preferred Stock $0.001 par value per share 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 3 Equity Depository Shares 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 4 Debt Debt Securities 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 5 Other Warrants 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 6 Other Units 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees to be Paid 7 Other Purchase Contracts 457(r) 0.0001476
Fees Previously Paid
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities

Total Offering Amounts:

$ 0.00

$ 0.00

Total Fees Previously Paid:

$ 0.00

Total Fee Offsets:

$ 0.00

Net Fee Due:

$ 0.00

Offering Note

1

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.

2

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.

3

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) Such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement.

4

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.

5

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) The warrants covered by this registration statement may be warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Units of the Registrant.

6

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold as units with other securities registered hereunder, each unit will be issued under a unit agreement and will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.

7

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.

v3.24.2.u1
Submission
Aug. 05, 2024
Submission [Line Items]  
Central Index Key 0001430723
Registrant Name ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.
Form Type S-3
Submission Type S-3ASR
Fee Exhibit Type EX-FILING FEES
v3.24.2.u1
Offerings
Aug. 05, 2024
Offering: 1  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Equity
Security Class Title Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.
Offering: 2  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Equity
Security Class Title Preferred Stock $0.001 par value per share
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.
Offering: 3  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Equity
Security Class Title Depository Shares
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) Such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares to be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement.
Offering: 4  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Debt
Security Class Title Debt Securities
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.
Offering: 5  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Other
Security Class Title Warrants
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) The warrants covered by this registration statement may be warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Units of the Registrant.
Offering: 6  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Other
Security Class Title Units
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules. (4) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold as units with other securities registered hereunder, each unit will be issued under a unit agreement and will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.
Offering: 7  
Offering:  
Fee Previously Paid false
Rule 457(r) true
Security Type Other
Security Class Title Purchase Contracts
Fee Rate 0.01476%
Offering Note (1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering or number of securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder. (2) The proposed maximum per security and aggregate offering prices per class of securities will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security. 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. (3) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee subject to the conditions set forth in such rules.
v3.24.2.u1
Fees Summary
Aug. 05, 2024
USD ($)
Fees Summary [Line Items]  
Total Offering $ 0.00
Previously Paid Amount 0.00
Total Fee Amount 0.00
Total Offset Amount 0.00
Net Fee $ 0.00

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