SOUHY South32 Ltd (PK)

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 9, 2015

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		02-0430695
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

9 Main Street, P.O. Box 9

Newport, New Hampshire 03773

(603) 863-0886

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

 

 

Stephen R. Theroux

Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

9 Main Street, P.O. Box 9

Newport, New Hampshire 03773

(603) 863-0886

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

 

 

with copies to:

Richard A. Schaberg

Hogan Lovells US LLP

555 Thirteenth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 637-5600

 

 

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

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

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

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 or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		¨		Accelerated filer		x
Non-accelerated filer		¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered(1)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Amount of Registration Fee(2)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share		—		—
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share		—		—
Subordinated Debt Securities		—		—
Total		$50,000,000.00		$5,810.00

(1)

There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of stock of the registrant as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices by the registrant. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2)	Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment, which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated January 9, 2015.

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

$50,000,000

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

From time to time, we may offer and sell (i) shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (ii) shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (iii) our subordinated debt securities, with total gross proceeds of up to $50.0 million. Each time we offer the securities identified in this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with an offering.

We may offer and sell the securities separately, together or as units, in separate classes or series, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale and set forth in a supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and other offering materials carefully before you invest.

We may offer the securities directly to investors, to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, or through a combination of these methods. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them, and any applicable over-allotment options, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. For more detailed information, see “Plan of Distribution” on page 31. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “NHTB.” On January 5, 2015, the closing sale price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was $15.49 per share.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Please see “Risk Factors” on page 4 and as updated in our future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

The securities to which this prospectus relates are not deposits or obligations of a bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                     .

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
SUMMARY			2
RISK FACTORS			4
CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			5
USE OF PROCEEDS			7
DIVIDEND POLICY			7
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS			8
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK			9
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK			13
DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES			18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			31
LEGAL MATTERS			35
EXPERTS			35
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			35
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE			35

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration, or continuous offering, process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for total gross proceeds of up to $50.0 million.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time that we offer our securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of that offering and may also provide a free writing prospectus. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus or any other offering materials is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus that may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We take no responsibility for any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus.

Neither this prospectus nor any accompanying prospectus supplement nor any free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “the Company” mean, collectively, New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiaries and their predecessors.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before you decide to invest. In particular, you should carefully consider and evaluate the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, and in any subsequent filings with the SEC that we file after the date of this prospectus, as well as any risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Any of the risks and uncertainties set forth therein, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, which in turn could materially and adversely affect the trading price or value of our securities. As a result, you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements regarding our expected financial position and operating results, our business strategy, forecasted demographic and economic trends relating to our industry and similar matters are forward-looking statements. These statements can sometimes be identified by our use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

•

local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on us and our customers and our assessment of that impact;

 

•

continued volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets;

 

•

changes in the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs;

 

•

changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements;

 

•

adverse conditions in the securities markets that lead to impairment in the value of securities in our investment portfolio;

 

•

inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations;

 

•

the timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users;

 

•

changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits;

 

•

technological changes;

 

•

the ability to increase market share and control expenses;

 

•

changes in the competitive environment among banks, financial holding companies and other financial service providers;

 

•

the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which we must comply;

 

•

the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters;

 

•

the costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments including the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews;

 

•

difficulties related to the integration of any businesses we may acquire or have acquired, including The Randolph National Bank and Charter Trust Company; and

 

•

other factors detailed from time to time in our SEC filings.

In addition, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” section in the applicable prospectus supplement, or in any free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, for a discussion of other important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those

 

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expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these other important factors, risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date such forward-looking statements are made. You should carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described in the section titled “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the exhibits that we have filed with the registration statement, and the applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. You should understand that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in the foregoing documents by these cautionary statements.

Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or future events or developments. You should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Before deciding to invest, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and, if required, any post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements, including:

 

•

expansion of the business;

 

•

investments in our subsidiary bank as regulatory capital to fund growth;

 

•

financing of possible acquisitions;

 

•

refinancing, reduction or repayment of debt; and

 

•

investments at the holding company level.

As a result, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of the offerings. Pending their ultimate use, we intend to temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term obligations.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have historically paid regular quarterly cash dividends on our common stock, and the board of directors presently intends to continue the payment of regular quarterly cash dividends, subject to the need for those funds for debt service and other purposes. However, because substantially all of the funds available for the payment of dividends are derived from the Bank, future dividends will depend upon the earnings of the Bank, its financial condition and its need for funds. Furthermore, there are a number of federal banking policies and regulations that restrict our ability to pay dividends. In particular, because the Bank is a depository institution whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, it may not pay dividends or distribute capital assets if it is in default on any assessment due to the FDIC. Also, the Bank, as a federal savings bank, is subject to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulations which impose certain minimum capital requirements that would affect the amount of cash available for distribution to us. In addition, under a policy of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, we are required to maintain adequate regulatory capital, are expected to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank and to commit resources to support the Bank. These policies and regulations may have the effect of reducing the amount of dividends that we can declare to our stockholders.

As long as the Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $0.01 per preferred share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”) issued in connection with our participation in the U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund program remains outstanding, we may declare and pay dividends on our common stock, any other shares of “junior stock” or “parity stock,” only if after giving effect to the dividend, our tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the “tier 1 dividend threshold,” as such terms are defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations, and full dividends on all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid.

If a dividend is not declared and paid in full on the Series B Preferred Stock for any dividend period, then from the last day of that dividend period until the last day of the third dividend period immediately following it, no dividend or distribution may be declared or paid on our common stock or any other shares of junior stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of our common stock) or parity stock, except that in any such dividend period in which a dividend is declared and paid on the Series B Preferred Stock, dividends may be paid on parity stock to the extent necessary to avoid any material covenant breach.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following tables set forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends for the periods presented. You should read these ratios in connection with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes to those statements, incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

As of December 31, 2013 and the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we had 23,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock outstanding. We pay quarterly dividends on our Series B Preferred Stock. For additional information regarding dividends payable on our Series B Preferred Stock, see the section titled “Dividend Policy” elsewhere in this prospectus. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is computed by dividing (1) income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges by (2) total fixed charges and, as applicable, pre-tax earnings required for preferred stock dividends. For purposes of computing these ratios:

 

•

earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, including goodwill impairment charges, securities mark-to-market gains and losses and securities impairment charges;

 

•

fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, include interest expense (other than on deposits) and the estimated portion of rental expense attributable to interest, net of income from subleases;

 

•

fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all interest expense and the estimated portion of rental expense attributable to interest, net of income from subleases; and

 

•

pre-tax earnings required for preferred stock dividends were computed using tax rates for the applicable year.

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Including interest on deposits			3.12				2.69				2.73				2.49				2.14				2.16				1.80
Excluding interest on deposits			9.66				7.09				7.27				6.10				6.37				6.77				6.54

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Including interest on deposits			3.01				2.56				2.60				2.28				1.98				2.05				1.74
Excluding interest on deposits			8.71				6.23				6.43				4.99				5.11				5.83				5.81

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following description of our common stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock that we may offer under this prospectus. The description below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”), and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”). The description below does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For the complete terms of our common stock, please refer to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” The Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) may also affect the terms of our common stock.

General

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of January 5, 2015, we had 913 holders of record of our common stock and there were:

 

•

8,258,031 shares of common stock outstanding; and

 

•

113,500 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options.

Each share of our common stock has the same relative rights and is identical in all respects to each other share of our common stock. Our common stock is non-withdrawable capital, is not of an insurable type and is not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental entity.

Voting Rights

Each holder of shares of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder, including the election of directors. There are no cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. The Certificate of Incorporation, however, provides that any person who acquires more than 10% of our stock without approval of the board of directors and the applicable regulatory agency is not entitled to vote any of the shares held in excess of the 10% limit.

Liquidation Rights

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of our common stock (and the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to participate with the common stock in the distribution of assets) shall be entitled to receive, in cash or in kind, the assets of the Company available for distribution remaining after: (i) payment or provision for payment of our debts and liabilities; and (ii) distributions or provision for distributions to holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the common stock in the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Dividends

The holders of our common stock and any class or series of stock entitled to participate with the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of any assets legally available for distribution. The board may not declare, and we may not pay, dividends or other distributions, unless we have paid or the board has declared or set aside all accumulated dividends and any sinking fund, retirement fund or other retirement payments on any class of stock having preference as to payments of dividends over our common stock. As a holding company, our ability to pay distributions is affected by the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends. The ability of our bank subsidiary, and our ability, to pay dividends in the future is, and could in the future be further, influenced by bank regulatory requirements and capital guidelines.

 

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Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is also subject to certain limitations based on the terms of our Series B Preferred Stock. Under the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, we may not pay any dividends or make any other cash distributions on our common stock or repurchase or redeem any of our shares of capital stock, including any equity securities or trust preferred securities issued by us or any of our affiliates, unless after giving effect to such repurchase or redemption, our tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the “tier 1 dividend threshold,” as such term is defined in the in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations, and all dividends have been paid on the Series B Preferred Stock for the most recently completed quarterly dividend period (or sufficient funds have been reserved).

No Preemptive Right; Fully Paid and Non-Assessable

The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights for any shares that may be issued. Our common stock is not subject to additional calls or assessments, and all shares of our common stock currently outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable. All shares of common stock offered pursuant to a prospectus supplement, or issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of preferred stock or other convertible securities, will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable, which means that the full purchase price of the shares will have been paid and the holders of the shares will not be assessed any additional monies for the shares.

Classified Board

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for the division of our board of directors into three classes of directors, each class as nearly as equal as possible, with each serving staggered, three-year terms.

Amendments

Except as otherwise required by law, no amendment, addition, alteration, change or repeal of our Certificate of Incorporation may be made, unless such is first proposed by our board of directors, and thereafter approved by the stockholders by a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting; provided, however, that the provisions regarding business combinations may be amended only by the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. The board of directors or the stockholders may from time to time amend the Bylaws with the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the board of directors called for such purpose. The Bylaws may also be amended by stockholders with the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called for such purpose.

Acquisitions and Offers for Control

Our Certificate of Incorporation requires that if any individual, firm, corporation or other entity seeks to acquire the sole or shared power to vote or to direct the voting of, or to dispose of or to direct the disposition of, 10% or more of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, such acquisition must be approved by holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided, however that such approval is not required if such acquisition has been approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then in office. In addition, prior to such acquisition, such individual, firm, corporation or other entity must obtain all required federal regulatory approvals for such acquisition.

Our Certificate of Incorporation also provides that no individual, firm, corporation or other entity may, alone or based on shared power, make any offer to buy or acquire, any solicitation of an offer to sell, any tender offer for, or any request or invitation for tender of, 10% or more of our outstanding shares of capital stock generally entitled to vote for directors without either:

 

(1)

receiving the approval of at least two-thirds of our directors then in office; or

 

(2)

obtaining approval from the appropriate federal regulatory authorities pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

 

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Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders

Our Certificate of Incorporation requires that business combinations between the Company or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company and (i) a 10% or more stockholder (including affiliates of the Company that held shares representing 10% or greater voting power within the two-year period immediately prior to the date of determination), (ii) an assignee or a successor that held shares representing 10% or greater voting power within the two-year period immediately prior to the date of determination, which shares were acquired other than through a public offering, such stockholder described in subsection (i) and (ii) referred to collectively as the “interested stockholder,” or (iii) an affiliate of an interested stockholder, be approved either by:

 

(1)

at least (i) 75% of the total voting power and (ii) a majority, excluding all shares of capital stock held by the interested stockholder, of the total voting power, of outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

(2)

at least a majority of our continuing directors, which means those directors unaffiliated with the interested stockholder and serving before the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder; or

 

(3)

meet specified price and procedure requirements that provide for consideration per share generally equal to or greater than that paid by the interested stockholder when it acquired its block of stock.

The types of business combinations with an interested stockholder covered by this provision include:

 

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any merger, consolidation or share exchange;

 

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any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more;

 

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any issuance or transfer of equity securities having an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more;

 

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the adoption of any plan or proposal of liquidation proposed by or on behalf of an interested stockholder; or

 

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any reclassification of securities, recapitalization of the Company or any merger or consolidation of the Company with any of its subsidiaries or any other transaction which has the effect of increasing the proportionate ownership of the interested stockholder.

These provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of the Company.

Anti-Greenmail

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by us of any of our voting stock from a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock who has been the beneficial owner of such common stock for less than two years shall require the vote of at least a majority of the total number of the outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by such beneficial owner, except with respect to a purchase or other acquisition of voting stock made as part of a tender or exchange offer on the same terms from all holders of the same class of voting stock and complying with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or with respect to any purchase of voting stock determined by the board of directors to not exceed the fair market value of the voting stock.

Business Combination Statutes and Provisions

Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits business combinations, including mergers, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities and similar transactions by a corporation or a subsidiary, with an interested stockholder,

 

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which is someone who beneficially owns 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, within three years after the person or entity becomes an interested stockholder, unless:

 

•

the transaction that caused the person to become an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors of the target prior to the transaction;

 

•

after the completion of the transaction in which the person becomes an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder holds at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation not including (a) shares held by persons who are both officers and directors of the issuing corporation and (b) shares held by specified employee benefit plans;

 

•

the business combination is approved by the board of directors and holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock, excluding shares held by the interested stockholder; or

 

•

the transaction is one of certain business combinations that are proposed after the corporation had received other acquisition proposals and that are approved or not opposed by a majority of certain continuing members of the board of directors, as specified in the DGCL.

Neither our Certificate of Incorporation nor our Bylaws contains an election, as permitted by Delaware law, to exempt us from the requirements of Section 203.

NASDAQ Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “NHTB.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

The following description of our preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of our preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus. The description below does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Certificate of Incorporation, the applicable certificate of designation to our Certificate of Incorporation determining the terms of the related series of preferred stock, and our Bylaws. The description below does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For the complete terms of our preferred stock, please refer to our Certificate of Incorporation, the applicable certificate of designation and our Bylaws, copies of which have been filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” The DGCL may also affect the terms of our preferred stock.

General

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of January 5, 2015, 8,000 shares of the Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue one or more series of preferred stock and to fix the number, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, and sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control or other corporate action.

Terms of the Preferred Stock That We May Offer and Sell to You

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock being offered by us under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

 

•

the distinctive serial designation and the number of shares constituting such series;

 

•

the dividend rate or the amount of dividends to be paid on the shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, the payment date or dates for dividends, and the participating or other special rights, if any, with respect to dividends;

 

•

the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of shares of such series;

 

•

whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, such shares may be redeemed;

 

•

the amount or amounts payable upon the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company;

 

•

whether the shares of such series shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares, and if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application, including the price or prices at which such shares may be redeemed or purchased through the application of such fund;

 

•

whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock of the Company and, if so, the conversion price or prices, or the rate or rates of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

 

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•

the price or other consideration for which the shares of such series shall be issued; and

 

•

whether the shares of such series which are redeemed or converted shall have the status of authorized but unissued shares of serial preferred stock and whether such shares may be reissued as shares of the same or any other series of serial preferred stock.

Ranking

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, rank:

 

•

senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all equity securities, the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities rank junior to the preferred stock being offered;

 

•

equally with all equity securities issued by us other than those referred to in the first and last bullet points of this subheading; and

 

•

junior to all equity securities issued by us, the terms of which specifically provide that the equity securities rank senior to the preferred stock being offered.

For purposes of this subheading, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.

Dividends

Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of our assets legally available for payment to stockholders, cash distributions, or distributions in kind or in other property if expressly permitted and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, at the rates and on the dates as we will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will pay each distribution to holders of record as they appear on our stock transfer books on the record dates determined by our board of directors.

Distributions on any class or series of preferred stock, if cumulative, will be cumulative from and after the date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors fails to declare a distribution payable on a distribution payment date on any class or series of preferred stock for which distributions are non-cumulative, then the holders of that class or series of preferred stock will have no right to receive a distribution in respect of the distribution period ending on that distribution payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the distribution accumulated for that period, whether or not distributions on that series are declared payable on any future distribution payment date.

If any shares of preferred stock of any class or series are outstanding, no full dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on our preferred stock of any other class or series ranking, as to dividends, equally with or junior to the preferred stock of such class or series for any period unless all required dividends are paid. The phrase “all required dividends are paid” when used in this prospectus with respect to a class or series of preferred stock means that:

 

•

if the class or series of preferred stock has a cumulative dividend, full cumulative dividends on the preferred stock of the class or series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment is set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period; or

 

•

if the class or series of preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, full dividends on the preferred stock of the class or series have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment is set apart for the payment for the then current dividend period.

When dividends are not paid in full, or a sum sufficient for the full payment is not so set apart, upon the shares of preferred stock of any class or series and the shares of any other class or series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends with the preferred stock of the class or series, all dividends declared upon shares

 

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of preferred stock of the class or series and any other class or series of preferred stock ranking equally as to dividends with the preferred stock will be declared equally so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the preferred stock of the class or series and the other class or series of preferred stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of preferred stock of the class or series, which will not include any accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if the preferred stock does not have cumulative dividend, and the other class or series of preferred stock bear to each other. No interest, sum of money in lieu of interest, will be payable in respect of any dividend payment or payments on preferred stock of the class or series which may be in arrears.

Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, unless all required dividends are paid, no dividends, other than in common stock or other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of the class or series as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, will be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other distribution will be declared or made upon the common stock or any of our other stock ranking junior or equally with the preferred stock of the class or series as to dividends or upon liquidation, nor will any common stock or any of our other capital stock ranking junior to or equally with preferred stock of the class or series as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration, or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any stock, by us except by conversion into or exchange for our other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock of the class or series as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Any dividend payment made on shares of a class or series of preferred stock will first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to shares of the class or series which remains payable.

Redemption

If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the preferred stock will be subject to mandatory redemption or redemption at our option, in whole or in part, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption prices set forth in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to a class or series of preferred stock that is subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of the preferred stock that will be redeemed by us in each year commencing after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified, together with an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends thereon, which will not, if the preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend, include an accumulation in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividends periods, to the date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash or other property, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the redemption price for preferred stock of any series is payable only from the net proceeds of the issuance of our stock, the terms of the preferred stock may provide that, if no stock will have been issued or to the extent the net proceeds from any issuance are insufficient to pay in full the aggregate redemption price then due, the preferred stock will automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of our applicable stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless provided otherwise for any class or series of preferred stock, unless all required dividends are paid:

 

•

no shares of the applicable class or series of preferred stock will be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of preferred stock of the class or series are simultaneously redeemed; and

 

•

we will not purchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any shares of the applicable class or series of preferred stock, except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to the class or series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company;

 

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provided, however, that the above restrictions will not prevent the purchase or acquisition of shares of preferred stock of the class or series pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of preferred stock of the class or series.

Liquidation Preference

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, before any distribution or payment will be made to the holders of any common stock or any other class or series of shares of our capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock in the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of each series or class of preferred stock will be entitled to receive out of our assets legally available for distribution to stockholders liquidating distributions in the amount of the liquidation preference set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to all accumulated and unpaid distributions. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are entitled, the holders of shares of preferred stock will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. If, upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, our available assets are insufficient to pay the amount of the liquidating distributions on all outstanding shares of preferred stock and the corresponding amounts payable on all shares of other classes or series of our capital stock ranking equally with the preferred stock in the distribution of assets, then the holders of preferred stock and all other such classes or series of capital stock will share ratably in any distribution of assets in proportion to the full liquidating distributions to which they would otherwise be respectively entitled.

If liquidating distributions have been made in full to all holders of preferred stock, our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of any other classes or series of capital stock ranking junior to the preferred stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, according to their respective rights and preferences and in each case according to their respective number of shares.

For these purposes, the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation, trust or entity, or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Company, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Voting Rights

Holders of preferred stock will not have any voting rights, except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law, or as otherwise provided in the certificate of designation or the resolutions establishing such series of preferred stock and as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Under the DGCL, holders of outstanding shares of a series of preferred stock may be entitled to vote as a separate class on a proposed amendment to the terms of that series of preferred stock or to our Certificate of Incorporation, if the amendment would:

 

(1)

increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of that series of preferred stock;

 

(2)

increase or decrease the par value of the shares of that series of preferred stock; or

 

(3)

alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of such series so as to affect them adversely, in which case the approval of the proposed amendment would require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of that series of preferred stock.

Conversion Rights

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any class or series of preferred stock is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or rights of the Company or other issuers, including, without limitation, common stock, debt securities, trust preferred securities or another series of preferred stock, or any combination of the foregoing, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock. The

 

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terms will include the name of the issuer of the other securities or rights and the number or principal amount of the securities or rights into which the shares of preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable, the conversion or exchange price or rate or the manner of calculating the price, the conversion or exchange date(s) or period(s), provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be at the option of the holders of the preferred stock or at the Company’s or other issuer’s option, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price or rate, and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the series of preferred stock.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our preferred stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

General

The following description of our subordinated debt securities summarizes the material terms and provisions of our subordinated debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of subordinated debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of subordinated debt securities.

The subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time (the “indenture”), dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and a trustee (the “trustee”). The indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We have filed a form of the indenture and a form of the subordinated debt security as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” below. The following description summarizes the material provisions of the indenture, but may not contain all of the information that is important to you. If you would like additional information, or if you do not fully understand a term or the way we use it in this prospectus, you should read the form of indenture and the form of subordinated debt securities. The summaries are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual indenture and subordinated debt securities and the further descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement. As used under this caption, the term “subordinated debt securities” includes the subordinated debt securities being offered by this prospectus and all other subordinated debt securities we issue under the indenture. Whenever we refer in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture, those sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, as applicable.

Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the subordinated debt securities offered in this prospectus, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary during its liquidation or reorganization, will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors, unless we are ourselves a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary. Any capital loans that we make to any of our bank subsidiaries would be subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to other indebtedness of the subsidiary. Claims from creditors (other than us), on the subsidiaries, may include long-term and medium-term debt and substantial obligations related to deposit liabilities, federal funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements and other short-term borrowings.

Except as set forth in the indenture or in a supplemental indenture and described in an applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities we may issue under the indenture. We are not required to issue all of the subordinated debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in the indenture or supplemental indenture and described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may, from time to time, reopen any series and issue additional subordinated debt securities under that series without the consent of the holders of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series. Additional subordinated debt securities issued in this manner will have the same terms and conditions as the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series, except for their original issue date and issue price, and will be consolidated with, and form a single series with, the previously outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series. Subordinated debt securities may be secured or unsecured.

Unless we give you different information in the prospectus supplement, payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, as described under “—Subordination” and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The indenture provides that we may, but need not, designate more than one trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to the series of subordinated debt securities administered by the resigning or removed trustee. If two or

 

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more persons are acting as trustees with respect to different series of subordinated debt securities, each trustee shall be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus, any action described in this prospectus to be taken by each trustee may be taken by each trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the one or more series of subordinated debt securities for which it is trustee under the indenture.

Terms

The prospectus supplement for each offering will provide the following terms, where applicable:

 

•

the title of the subordinated debt securities;

 

•

the aggregate principal amount of the subordinated debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount of the subordinated debt securities outstanding as of the most recent practicable date and any limit on their aggregate principal amount, including the aggregate principal amount of subordinated debt securities authorized;

 

•

the price at which the subordinated debt securities will be issued, expressed as a percentage of the principal;

 

•

the portion of the principal payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity, if other than the principal amount;

 

•

the maturity date or dates, or the method for determining the maturity date or dates, on which the principal of the subordinated debt securities will be payable;

 

•

the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method of determining the rate or rates at which the subordinated debt securities will bear interest, if any;

 

•

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable, the regular related record dates and whether we may elect to extend or defer such interest payment dates;

 

•

the place or places where payments will be payable, where the subordinated debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon us may be served;

 

•

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which the subordinated debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option, if we are to have such an option;

 

•

any obligation we have to redeem, repay or purchase the subordinated debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of holders of the subordinated debt securities, and the times and prices at which we must redeem, repay or purchase the subordinated debt securities as a result of such an obligation;

 

•

the currency or currencies in which the subordinated debt securities may be purchased, are denominated and are payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the related terms and conditions, including whether we or the holders of any such subordinated debt securities may elect to receive payments in respect of such subordinated debt securities in a currency or currency unit other than that in which such subordinated debt securities are stated to be payable;

 

•

if other than denominations of $1,000 or an even multiple of $1,000, the denominations in which the subordinated debt securities will be issued;

 

•

whether the amount of payments of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the subordinated debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method,

 

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which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies or with reference to changes in prices of particular securities or commodities, and the manner in which the amounts are to be determined;

 

•

if less than the principal amount of the subordinated debt securities, the portion of the principal amount of the subordinated debt securities payable upon a declaration of the acceleration of the maturity of such subordinated debt securities;

 

•

whether the subordinated debt securities will be in registered form, bearer form or both and (1) if in registered form, the person to whom any interest shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, or (2) if in bearer form, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on the security shall be payable if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender upon maturity;

 

•

any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of securities in bearer form and the terms upon which securities in bearer form of the series may be exchanged for securities in registered form of the series and vice versa if permitted by applicable laws and regulations;

 

•

whether any subordinated debt securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any subordinated debt securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global security may or shall be required to exchange their interests for other subordinated debt securities of the series, and the manner in which interest shall be paid;

 

•

the identity of the depository for securities in registered form, if such series are to be issuable as a global security;

 

•

the date as of which any subordinated debt securities in bearer form or in temporary global form shall be dated if other than the original issuance date of the first security of the series to be issued;

 

•

whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts on the subordinated debt securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the subordinated debt securities in lieu of making such a payment;

 

•

the circumstances, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement, under which beneficial owners of interests in the global security may obtain definitive subordinated debt securities and the manner in which payments on a permanent global debt security will be made if any subordinated debt securities are issuable in temporary or permanent global form;

 

•

any provisions granting special rights to holders of securities upon the occurrence of such events as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;

 

•

the applicability, if any, of the defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture;

 

•

the name of the applicable trustee and the nature of any material relationship with us or any of our affiliates, and the percentage of subordinated debt securities necessary to require the trustee to take action;

 

•

any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to our events of default or covenants and any change in the right of any trustee or any of the holders to declare the principal amount of any of such subordinated debt securities due and payable; and

 

•

any other terms of such subordinated debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordinated debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

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We may issue subordinated debt securities at a discount below their principal amount and provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the subordinated debt securities. We will refer to any such subordinated debt securities throughout this prospectus as “original issue discount securities.” The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and other relevant considerations applicable to original issue discount securities.

We may issue subordinated debt securities with a fixed interest rate or a floating interest rate. Any material federal income tax considerations applicable to any discounted subordinated debt securities or to subordinated debt securities issued at par that are treated as having been issued at a discount for federal income tax purposes will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Except as described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” or as may be set forth in any prospectus supplement, the subordinated debt securities will not contain any provisions that (1) would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or (2) would afford holders of subordinated debt securities protection in the event of (a) a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or any of our affiliates or (b) a change of control or reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the subordinated debt securities. In the future, we may enter into transactions, such as the sale of all or substantially all of our assets or a merger or consolidation, that may have an adverse effect on our ability to service our indebtedness, including the subordinated debt securities, by, among other things, substantially reducing or eliminating our assets.

Neither governing law, nor our governing instruments, define the term “substantially all” as it relates to the sale of assets. Consequently, to determine whether a sale of “substantially all” of our assets has occurred, a holder of subordinated debt securities must review the financial and other information that we have disclosed to the public.

Global Securities

We may issue the subordinated debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities to be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or its nominee, or any successor thereto. We may issue global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of subordinated debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.

Our obligations with respect to the subordinated debt securities, as well as the obligations of the applicable trustee, run only to persons who are registered holders of subordinated debt securities. For example, once we make payment to the registered holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment even if the recipient is legally required to pass the payment along to an individual investor but fails to do so. As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depository, as well as general laws relating to transfers of subordinated debt securities.

An investor should be aware that when subordinated debt securities are issued in the form of global securities, (i) the investor cannot have subordinated debt securities registered in his or her own name, (ii) the investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her subordinated debt securities, (iii) the investor must look to his or her bank or brokerage firm for payments on the subordinated debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the subordinated debt securities, (iv) the investor may not be able to sell interests in the subordinated debt securities to some insurance or other institutions that are required by law to hold the physical certificates of debt that they own, (v) the depository’s policies will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to the investor’s interest in the global security, and (vi) the depository will usually require that interests in a global security be purchased or sold within its system using same-day funds.

The prospectus supplement for a series of subordinated debt securities will list the special situations, if any, in which a global security will terminate and interests in the global security will be exchanged for physical certificates representing subordinated debt securities. After that exchange, the investor may choose whether to

 

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hold subordinated debt securities directly or indirectly through an account at the investor’s bank or brokerage firm. In that event, investors must consult their banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in subordinated debt securities transferred to their own names so that they may become direct holders. When a global security terminates, the depository, and not us or one of the trustees, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

Payment

Unless we give you different information in the applicable prospectus supplement, the principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest on, any series of the subordinated debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the trustee. We will provide you with the address of the trustee in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also pay interest by mailing a check to the address of the person entitled to it as it appears in the applicable register for the subordinated debt securities or by wire transfer of funds to that person at an account maintained within the United States.

All monies that we pay to a paying agent or a trustee for the payment of the principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) or interest on, any subordinated debt security will be repaid to us if unclaimed at the end of two years after the obligation underlying payment becomes due and payable. After funds have been returned to us, the holder of the subordinated debt security may look only to us for payment, without payment of interest for the period we hold the funds.

Registration and Transfer

Subject to the limitations imposed upon subordinated debt securities that are evidenced by a computerized entry in the records of a depository company rather than by physical delivery of a note, a holder of subordinated debt securities of any series may:

 

•

exchange them for any authorized denomination of other subordinated debt securities of the same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and kind upon surrender of such subordinated debt securities at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee or at the office of any transfer agent that we designate for such purpose; and

 

•

surrender them for registration of transfer or exchange at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee or at the office of any transfer agent that we designate for such purpose.

Every subordinated debt security surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, and the person requesting such action must provide evidence of title and identity satisfactory to the applicable trustee or transfer agent. Payment of a service charge will not be required for any registration of transfer or exchange of any subordinated debt securities, but either the trustee or we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. If in addition to the applicable trustee, the applicable prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agent initially designated by us for any series of subordinated debt securities, we may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for such series. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of subordinated debt securities.

Neither we nor any trustee shall be required to:

 

•

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange subordinated debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day that the notice of redemption of any subordinated debt securities selected for redemption is mailed and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing;

 

•

register the transfer of or exchange any subordinated debt security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any subordinated debt security being redeemed in part; or

 

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•

issue, register the transfer of or exchange any subordinated debt security that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of such subordinated debt security not to be so repaid.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indenture provides that we may, without the consent of the holders of any outstanding subordinated debt securities, (1) consolidate with, (2) sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or (3) merge with or into, any other entity provided that:

 

•

either we are the continuing entity, or the successor entity, if other than us, assumes the obligations (A) to pay the principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest on, all of the subordinated debt securities and (B) to duly perform and observe all of the covenants and conditions contained in the indenture;

 

•

after giving effect to the transaction, there is no event of default under the indenture and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become such an event of default, occurs and continues; and

 

•

an officers’ certificate and legal opinion covering such conditions are delivered to each applicable trustee.

Covenants

Below is a summary of certain covenants we are required to observe under the indenture.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The indenture requires us, with respect to each series of subordinated debt securities, to duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium or make-whole amounts, if any) and interest on the subordinated debt securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the subordinated debt securities and the indenture.

Existence. Except as permitted under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets,” the indenture requires us to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our existence, rights and franchises. However, the indenture does not require us to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that any right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business.

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The indenture requires us to pay, discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before they become delinquent (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed on us, our subsidiaries or our subsidiaries’ income, profits or property, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon our property or the property of our subsidiaries. However, we will not be required to pay, discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

Provision of Financial Information. The indenture requires us to file with the trustee, within 15 days of each of the respective dates by which we file with the SEC, copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports, documents and other reports which we may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Additional Covenants. The indenture includes certain other covenants, including covenants requiring us to maintain our property in good condition and hold money for payment on the subordinated debt securities in trust for holders under certain circumstances. Additionally, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any other covenants applicable to us under any series of subordinated debt securities.

 

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Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, when we refer to “events of default” as defined in the indenture with respect to any series of subordinated debt securities, we mean:

 

•

default in the payment of any installment of interest on any subordinated debt security of such series continuing for 30 days;

 

•

default in the payment of principal of (or any premium or make-whole amount, if any, on) any subordinated debt security of such series at its maturity;

 

•

default in deposit of any sinking fund payment as required for any subordinated debt security of such series;

 

•

default in the performance or breach of any of our covenants or warranties contained in the indenture continuing for 60 days after written notice to us as provided in the indenture;

 

•

a default under the indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, secured or evidenced any existing or later created indebtedness for money we or any of our subsidiaries borrowed in an aggregate principal amount outstanding of at least $30.0 million, if the default results in the indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date it otherwise would have, without such indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within 30 days after notice to us specifying such default;

 

•

bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us or our significant subsidiary; and

 

•

any other event of default provided with respect to a particular series of subordinated debt securities.

When we use the term “significant subsidiary,” we refer to the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to subordinated debt securities of any series outstanding, then the applicable trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the principal amount of all the subordinated debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If the subordinated debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, then the applicable trustee or the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of that series will have the right to declare the portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof to be due and payable. However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the applicable trustee, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of outstanding subordinated debt securities of such series or of all subordinated debt securities then outstanding under the indenture may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

•

we have paid or deposited with the applicable trustee all required payments of the principal, any premium (or make-whole amount), and interest, plus applicable fees, expenses, disbursements and advances of the applicable trustee; and

 

•

all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or a specified portion thereof, and any premium (or make-whole amount), have been cured or waived.

The indenture also provided that the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of any series or of all subordinated debt securities then outstanding under the indenture may on behalf of all holders waive any past default with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default:

 

•

in the payment of the principal, any premium (or make-whole amount) or interest;

 

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•

in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of the outstanding subordinated debt security that is affected by the default; or

 

•

in respect of a covenant or provision for the benefit or protection of the trustee, without its express written consent.

The indenture requires each trustee to give notice to the holders of subordinated debt securities within 90 days of a default unless such default has been cured or waived. However, the trustee may withhold notice if specified responsible officers of such trustee consider such withholding to be in the interest of the holders of subordinated debt securities. The trustee may not withhold notice of a default in the payment of principal, any premium or interest on any subordinated debt security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any subordinated debt security of such series.

The indenture provides that holders of subordinated debt securities of any series may not institute any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after the trustee has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of such series, as well as an offer of indemnity, security or both satisfactory to the trustee. However, this provision will not prevent any holder of subordinated debt securities from instituting suit for the enforcement of payment of the principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest on, such subordinated debt securities at the respective due dates thereof.

The indenture provides that, subject to provisions in the indenture relating to its duties in the case of a default, a trustee has no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any holders of any series of subordinated debt securities then outstanding under the indenture, unless the holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee. The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of any series or of all subordinated debt securities then outstanding under the indenture shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon such trustee. However, a trustee may refuse to follow any direction which:

 

•

is in conflict with any law or the indenture;

 

•

may involve the trustee in personal liability; or

 

•

may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of subordinated debt securities of the series not joining the proceeding.

Within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, we will be required to deliver to each trustee a certificate, signed by one of our several specified officers stating whether or not that officer has knowledge of any default under the indenture. If the officer has knowledge of any default, the notice must specify the nature and status of the default.

Modification of the Indenture

We may modify and amend the indenture only with the consent of the affected holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all outstanding subordinated debt securities issued under the indenture. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holders of the subordinated debt securities affected by the modification or amendment:

 

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium (or make-whole amount) on, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any such subordinated debt security;

 

•

reduce the principal amount of, the rate or amount of interest on or any premium (or make-whole amount) payable on redemption of any such subordinated debt security;

 

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•

reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or would be provable in bankruptcy, or adversely affect any right of repayment of the holder of any such subordinated debt security;

 

•

change the place of payment or the coin or currency for payment of principal of, or any premium (or make-whole amount) or interest on, any such subordinated debt security;

 

•

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any such subordinated debt security;

 

•

reduce the percentage in principal amount of any outstanding subordinated debt securities necessary to modify or amend the indenture with respect to such subordinated debt securities, to waive compliance with particular provisions thereof or defaults and consequences thereunder or to reduce the quorum or voting requirements set forth in the indenture; or

 

•

modify any of the foregoing provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of particular past defaults or covenants, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that some of the other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of such subordinated debt security.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of each series may, on behalf of all holders of subordinated debt securities of that series, waive, insofar as that series is concerned, our compliance with material restrictive covenants of the indenture.

We and the trustee may make modifications and amendments to the indenture without the consent of any holder of subordinated debt securities for any of the following purposes:

 

•

to evidence the succession of another person to us as obligor under the indenture;

 

•

to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of subordinated debt securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture;

 

•

to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of subordinated debt securities;

 

•

to change or eliminate any provisions of the indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there are no subordinated debt securities outstanding of any series created prior thereto which are entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

•

to secure the subordinated debt securities;

 

•

to establish the form or terms of subordinated debt securities of any series;

 

•

to provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

 

•

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of holders of subordinated debt securities of any series issued under the indenture;

 

•

to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate defeasance and discharge of any series of such subordinated debt securities; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the outstanding subordinated debt securities of any series; and

 

•

to make provisions with respect to holders’ rights of conversion with respect to any series of subordinated debt securities.

 

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Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture allows us to discharge our obligations to holders of any series of subordinated debt securities issued under the indenture when:

 

•

either (1) all securities of such series have already been delivered to the applicable trustee for cancellation; or (2) all securities of such series have not already been delivered to the applicable trustee for cancellation but (a) have become due and payable, (b) will become due and payable within one year, or (c) if redeemable at our option, are to be redeemed within one year, and we have irrevocably deposited with the applicable trustee, in trust, funds in such currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such subordinated debt securities are payable, an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such subordinated debt securities in respect of principal and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest to the date of such deposit if such subordinated debt securities have become due and payable or, if they have not, to the stated maturity or redemption date;

 

•

we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable; and

 

•

we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that the conditions to discharging the subordinated debt securities have been satisfied.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture provides that, upon our irrevocable deposit with the applicable trustee, in trust, of an amount, in such currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such subordinated debt securities are payable at stated maturity, or government obligations, or both, applicable to such subordinated debt securities, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest on, such subordinated debt securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor, we may elect either:

 

•

to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to such subordinated debt securities; or

 

•

to be released from our obligations with respect to such subordinated debt securities under the indenture or, if provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, our obligations with respect to any other covenant, and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute an event of default with respect to such subordinated debt securities.

Notwithstanding the above, we may not elect to defease and be discharged from the obligation to pay any additional amounts upon the occurrence of particular events of tax, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on such subordinated debt securities and the obligations to register the transfer or exchange of such subordinated debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen subordinated debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of such subordinated debt securities, or to hold monies for payment in trust.

The indenture only permits us to establish the trust described in the paragraph above if, among other things, we have delivered to the applicable trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such subordinated debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or 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 defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, will be required to refer to and be based upon a ruling received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture. In the event of such defeasance, the holders of such subordinated debt securities would be able to look only to such trust fund for payment of principal, any premium (or make-whole amount), and interest.

 

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When we use the term “government obligations,” we mean securities that are:

 

•

direct obligations of the United States or the government that issued the foreign currency in which the subordinated debt securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

•

obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or other government that issued the foreign currency in which the subordinated debt securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government, which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such 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 depositary receipt. However, except as required by law, such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the government obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the government obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if after we have deposited funds and/or government obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to subordinated debt securities of any series, (a) the holder of a subordinated debt security of such series is entitled to, and does, elect under the terms of the indenture or the terms of such subordinated debt security to receive payment in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than that in which such deposit has been made in respect of such subordinated debt security, or (b) a conversion event occurs in respect of the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such deposit has been made, the indebtedness represented by such subordinated debt security will 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) and interest on, such subordinated debt security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount so deposited in respect of such subordinated debt security into the currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such subordinated debt security becomes payable as a result of such election or such cessation of usage based on the applicable market exchange rate.

When we use the term “conversion event,” we mean no longer using:

 

•

a currency, currency unit or composite currency both 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;

 

•

the European Currency Unit both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities; or

 

•

any currency unit or composite currency other than the European Currency Unit for the purposes for which it was established.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all payments of principal of, and any premium (or make-whole amount) and interest on, any subordinated debt security that is payable in a foreign currency that ceases to be used by its government of issuance shall be made in U.S. dollars.

In the event that (a) we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any subordinated debt securities and (b) such subordinated debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount in such currency, currency unit or composite currency in which such subordinated debt securities are payable, and government obligations on deposit with the applicable trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on such subordinated debt securities at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on such subordinated debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from such event of default. However, we would remain liable to make payments of such amounts due at the time of acceleration.

 

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The applicable prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, permitting such defeasance or covenant defeasance, including any modifications to the provisions described above, with respect to the subordinated debt securities of or within a particular series.

Conversion Rights

The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the subordinated debt securities are convertible into common stock or preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include our obligation, if any, to permit the conversion of the subordinated debt securities of such series into our common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion shall be effected (including, the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period, any adjustment of the applicable conversion price, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of common stock or preferred stock receivable on conversion, and any requirements relative to the reservation of such shares for purposes of conversion).

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of subordinated debt securities convertible into our common stock will have the right, exercisable at any time during the time period specified in the prospectus supplement, unless previously redeemed, to convert convertible subordinated debt securities into shares of common stock as specified in the prospectus supplement, at the conversion rate per principal amount set forth in the prospectus supplement. In the case of convertible subordinated debt securities called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the redemption date, unless we default in making the payment due upon redemption, in which case such conversion right shall terminate on the date we cure such default.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, for each series of convertible subordinated debt securities, the conversion price will be subject to adjustments as a result of:

 

•

the payment or making of a dividend or distribution on our common stock exclusively in common stock or on any other class of capital stock, which dividend or distribution includes common stock of our company;

 

•

the issuance to all holders of common stock of rights or warrants entitling holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of common stock at a price per share less than the current market price per share;

 

•

subdivisions and combinations of common stock; and

 

•

the distribution to all holders of common stock of:

 

•

evidences of our indebtedness;

 

•

shares of our capital stock other than common stock or assets other than cash dividends paid from current or retained earnings; or

 

•

certain other subscription rights or warrants other than those referred to above.

In any event, no adjustment of the conversion price will be required unless an adjustment would require a cumulative increase or decrease of at least 1% in such price. We will not issue any fractional shares of common stock upon conversion, but instead, we will pay a cash adjustment.

Subordination

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subject to the following subordination provisions.

Upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on any subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior debt. However, our obligation to make

 

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payments of the principal of and interest on such subordinated debt securities otherwise will not be affected. No payment of principal or interest will be permitted to be made on subordinated debt securities at any time if a default on senior debt exists that permits the holders of such senior debt to accelerate its maturity and the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or we receive notice of the default. After all senior debt is paid in full and until the subordinated debt securities are paid in full, holders of subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of holders of senior debt to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to holders of subordinated debt securities have been applied to the payment of senior debt. The indenture will not restrict the amount of senior debt or other indebtedness of us and our subsidiaries. As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of a distribution of assets upon insolvency, holders of subordinated debt securities may recover less, ratably, than our general creditors.

The term “senior debt” will be defined in the indenture as the principal of and interest on, or substantially similar payments to be made by us in respect of, other outstanding indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the indenture or subsequently incurred, created or assumed. The prospectus supplement may include a description of additional terms implementing the subordination feature.

No restrictions will be included in the indenture relating to subordinated debt securities upon the creation of additional senior debt.

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will set forth the approximate amount of senior debt outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

General

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

 

•

directly to one or more purchasers;

 

•

through agents;

 

•

to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers; or

 

•

through a combination of any of these methods.

A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, subscriptions, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.

In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus include, without limitation, through:

 

•

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

 

•

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

•

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or

 

•

privately negotiated transactions.

We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:

 

•

enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of the common stock pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use shares of common stock received from us to close out its short positions;

 

•

sell securities short and redeliver such shares to close out our short positions;

 

•

enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer the common stock under this prospectus; or

 

•

loan or pledge the common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

In addition, we 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 or free writing prospectus, as the case may be. 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 positions. 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 or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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A prospectus supplement with respect to each offering of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

•

the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

 

•

the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;

 

•

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

•

any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

 

•

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

•

any securities exchange or markets on which the securities may be listed.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

 

•

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

 

•

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

•

at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

 

•

at negotiated prices.

Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

Underwriters and Agents

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of

 

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their appointment. We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be, will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

Dealers

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in resales.

Direct Sales

We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be, will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market-Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than the common stock which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. If the securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading

 

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market will develop for the securities. We have no current plans for listing of the preferred stock and subordinated debt securities on any securities exchange or quotation system; any such listing with respect to the preferred stock or subordinated debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

In connection with any offering of common stock, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short position involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

Fees and Commissions

In compliance with the guidelines of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

In connection with particular offerings of securities in the future, the legal validity of any securities offered by this prospectus from time to time will be passed upon for us by Hogan Lovells US LLP, Washington, District of Columbia. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement related to such offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2013 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance on the reports of Shatswell, MacLeod & Company, P.C., an independent registered public accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are currently subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy (at prescribed rates) any such reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to you on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additionally, we maintain a website at www.lakesunbank.com. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. For further information with respect to our company and the securities that may be offered by this prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete and, where that contract or other document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each statement in this prospectus is qualified in all respects by the exhibit to which the reference relates. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or replaces that statement.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2014;

 

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•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2014, June 30, 2014 and September 30, 2014, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2014, August 11, 2014 and November 10, 2014, respectively;

 

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2014, March 19, 2014, May 13, 2014, October 29, 2014, December 16, 2014 and December 29, 2014; and

 

•

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on August 3, 1999, under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All filings filed by us pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus, and such future filings will become a part of this prospectus from the date that they are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may obtain copies of any of these filings by contacting us at the address and telephone number indicated below or by contacting the SEC as described above under the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus, by requesting them in writing or by telephone at:

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

Attention: Laura Jacobi, Corporate Secretary

9 Main Street, P.O. Box 9

Newport, New Hampshire 03773

(603) 863-0886

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

Set forth below is an estimate (except in the case of the SEC registration fee) of the amount of fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the offered securities, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All costs and expenses set forth below shall be borne by us.

 

SEC registration fee		$	5,810
FINRA fee			8,000
Legal fees and expenses			*
Accounting fees and expenses			*
Transfer agent and registrar fees			*
Printing fees			*
Miscellaneous			*
Total		$	*

 

*	These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of securities issued and cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), a corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or a person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In the case of an action brought by or in the right of a corporation, the corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation (or a person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders or disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.

To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

Section 145 of the DGCL further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person, and incurred by the person in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145 of the DGCL.

 

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Article IX of the registrant’s amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”) requires the registrant, among other things, to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the registrant) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of the registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therein, if he acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similarly, the registrant will indemnify such persons for expenses reasonably incurred and settlements reasonably paid in actions, suits, or proceedings brought by or in the right of the registrant, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant; provided, however, that no indemnification will be made against expenses in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duties to the registrant or against amounts paid in settlement unless and only to the extent that there is a determination made by the appropriate party set forth in the Bylaws that the person to be indemnified is, in view of all the circumstances of the case, fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses or amounts paid in settlement.

The Bylaws also provide that the registrant has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, trustee, employee or agent of the registrant, or is or was serving at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the registrant would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of the Bylaws. The registrant currently maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance consistent with the provisions of Article IX of the Bylaws.

The registrant has entered into an employment agreement with Stephen R. Theroux as President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which it has undertaken contractually to provide indemnification and insurance coverage in the manner described above. The registrant has also entered into change of control agreements with certain executive officers and employees of the registrant, pursuant to which it has undertaken contractually to provide indemnification coverage in the manner described above.

The foregoing summaries are necessarily subject to the complete text of the statute, the registrant’s certificate of incorporation and Bylaws, as amended to date, and the arrangements referred to above and are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits.

The exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index of this registration statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,

 

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represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table 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 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 the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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

 

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

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

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

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 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.

(h) 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.

(j) 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 of 1939 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 Newport, State of New Hampshire, on this 9^th day of January 2015.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints Stephen R. Theroux and Laura Jacobi and each of them, with full power of substitution and resubstitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this registration statement, including any and all post-effective amendments and amendments thereto, and any subsequent registration statement relating to the same offering as this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange 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, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Stephen W. Ensign Stephen W. Ensign		Executive Chairman of the Board		January 9, 2015
/s/ Stephen R. Theroux Stephen R. Theroux		Vice Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)		January 9, 2015
/s/ Laura Jacobi Laura Jacobi		First Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		January 9, 2015
/s/ Leonard R. Cashman Leonard R. Cashman		Director		January 9, 2015
/s/ Stephen P. Dimick Stephen P. Dimick		Director		January 9, 2015
Catherine A. Feeney		Director		January 9, 2015

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Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Stephen J. Frasca Stephen J. Frasca		Director		January 9, 2015
William C. Horn		Director		January 9, 2015
/s/ Peter R. Lovely Peter R. Lovely		Director		January 9, 2015
/s/ Jack H. Nelson Jack H. Nelson		Director		January 9, 2015
John P. Stabile II		Director		January 9, 2015
Joseph B. Willey		Director		January 9, 2015

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number		Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
4.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
4.2		Amended and Restated Certificate of Designations establishing the rights of the registrant’s Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-17859), filed with the Commission on March 25, 2013).
4.3*		Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock.
4.4		Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 000-17859), filed with the Commission on December 16, 2014).
4.5		Form of common stock certificate (incorporated herein by reference to an exhibit to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed with the Commission on March 1, 1989).
4.6*		Form of preferred stock certificate.
4.7		Form of Indenture.
4.8		Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.7).
5.1		Opinion of Hogan Lovells US LLP.
12.1		Statement Regarding the Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.
23.1		Consent of Shatswell, MacLeod & Company, P.C.
23.2		Consent of Hogan Lovells US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement).
25.1*		Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of [TRUSTEE], as trustee under the form of Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.7 above.

 

*	To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with the offering of specific securities.

Exhibit 4.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of the Corporation is New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was originally filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 8, 1989.

2. The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is incorporated herein by reference, and restates and integrates, but does not further amend, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation as previously amended or supplemented. There is no discrepancy between such provisions and the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

3. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors in accordance with Section 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its duly authorized officer and the foregoing facts stated herein are true and correct.

 

Dated: December 16, 2014				New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.
				By:		/s/ Stephen R. Theroux
				Name:		Stephen R. Theroux
				Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

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EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

ARTICLE 1. CORPORATE TITLE. The name of the corporation is New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

ARTICLE 2. REGISTERED OFFICE. The address of the Corporation’s initial registered office in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of the initial registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE 3. DURATION. The duration of the Corporation is perpetual.

ARTICLE 4. PURPOSE AND POWERS. The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

ARTICLE 5. CAPITAL STOCK. The total number of shares of all classes of the capital stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue is 12,500,000, of which 10,000,000 shall be common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and of which 2,500,000 shall be preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

No shares of capital stock (including shares issuable upon conversion, exchange, or exercise of other securities) shall be issued, directly or indirectly, to officers, directors, or controlling persons of the Corporation other than as part of a general public offering or as qualifying shares to a director, unless their issuance or the plan under which they would be issued has been approved by a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting.

Nothing contained in this Article 5 (or in any supplementary sections hereto) shall entitle the holders of any class of a series of capital stock to vote as a separate class or series or to more than one vote per share: Provided, that this restriction on voting separately by class or series shall not apply:

 

(i)

to any provision which would authorize the holders of preferred stock, voting as a class or series, to elect some members of the board of directors, less than a majority thereof, in the event of default in the payment of dividends on any class or series of preferred stock;

 

(ii)

to any provision which would require the holders of preferred stock, voting as a class or series, to approve the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with another corporation or the sale, lease, or conveyance (other than by mortgage or pledge) of properties or business in exchange for securities of a corporation other than the Corporation if the preferred stock is exchanged for securities of such other corporation; and

 

(iii)

to any amendment which would adversely change the specific terms of any class or series of capital stock as set forth in this Article 5 (or in any supplementary sections hereto), including any amendment which would create or enlarge any class or series ranking prior thereto in rights and preferences. An amendment which increases the number of authorized shares of any class or series of capital stock, or substitutes the surviving corporation in a merger or consolidation for the Corporation, shall not be considered to be such an adverse change.

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A description of the different classes and series (if any) of the Corporation’s capital stock and a statement of the designations, and the relative rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of each class of and series (if any) of capital stock are as follows:

A. COMMON STOCK. Except as provided in this Article 5 (or in any supplementary sections hereto) the holders of the common stock shall exclusively possess all voting power. Each holder of shares of common stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder, including the election of directors. There shall be no cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Each share of common stock shall have the same relative rights as and be identical in all respects with all the other shares of common stock.

Whenever there shall have been paid, or declared and set aside for payment, to the holders of the outstanding shares of any class of stock having preference over the common stock as to the payment of dividends, the full amount of dividends and of sinking fund, or retirement fund, or other retirement payments, if any, to which such holders are respectively entitled in preference to the common stock, then dividends may be paid on the common stock and on any class or series of stock entitled to participate therewith as to dividends, out of any assets legally available for the payment of dividends; but only when and as declared by the board of directors.

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the common stock (and the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to participate with the common stock in the distribution of assets) shall be entitled to receive, in cash or in kind, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution remaining after: (i) payment or provision for payment of the Corporation’s debts and liabilities; and (ii) distributions or provision for distributions to holders of any class or series of stock having preference over the common stock in the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation.

B. PREFERRED STOCK. The board of directors of the Corporation is authorized, by resolution or resolutions from time to time adopted and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to provide for the issuance of one or more classes of preferred stock, which shall be separately identified. The shares of any class may be divided into and issued in series, with each series separately designated so as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. All shares of the same class shall be identical except as to the following relative rights and preferences, as to which there may be variations between different series:

 

1.

the distinctive serial designation and the number of shares constituting such series;

 

2.

the dividend rate or the amount of dividends to be paid on the shares of such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, from which date or dates, the payment date or dates for dividends, and the participating or other special rights, if any, with respect to dividends;

 

3.

the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of shares of such series;

 

4.

whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if so, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, such shares may be redeemed;

 

5.

the amount or amounts payable upon the shares of such series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation;

 

6.

whether the shares of such series shall be entitled to the benefit of a sinking or retirement fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares, and if so entitled, the amount of such fund and the manner of its application, including the price or prices at which such shares may be redeemed or purchased through the application of such fund;

 

7.

whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation and, if so, the conversion price or

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prices, or the rate or rates of exchange, and the adjustments thereof, if any, at which such conversion or exchange may be made, and any other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;

 

8.

the price or other consideration for which the shares of such series shall be issued; and

 

9.

whether the shares of such series which are redeemed or converted shall have the status of authorized but unissued shares of serial preferred stock and whether such shares may be reissued as shares of the same or any other series of serial preferred stock.

Each share of each series of serial preferred stock shall have the same relative rights as and be identical in all respects with all the other shares of the same series.

ARTICLE 6. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Holders of the capital stock of the Corporation shall not be entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Corporation which may be issued.

ARTICLE 7. APPROVAL FOR ACQUISITIONS OF CONTROL AND OFFERS TO ACQUIRE CONTROL. The provisions of this Article 7 shall become effective upon Lake Sunapee Savings Bank (the “Bank”) becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation. In the event that thereafter the Bank (or any successor institution) ceases to be a majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation, this Article 7 shall thereupon cease to be effective.

SUBSECTION 1. FIVE-YEAR RESTRICTIONS ON ACQUISITIONS OF CONTROL AND OFFERS TO ACQUIRE CONTROL.

For a period of five years after the date of incorporation no Person shall acquire control of the Corporation, or make any Offer to acquire Control of the Corporation, unless such acquisition or Offer has received the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the board of directors of the Corporation called for such purpose. The terms “Person”, “Control” and “Offer” as used in this Article 7 are defined in subsection 5 hereof.

SUBSECTION 2. STOCKHOLDER VOTE AND REGULATORY APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR ACQUISITION OF CONTROL AT ANY TIME.

No Person shall acquire Control of the Corporation at any time, unless such acquisition has been approved prior to its consummation by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock (as defined in subsection 5 hereof) at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called for such purpose; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply if such acquisition of Control has been approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the board of directors called for such purpose. In addition, no Person shall acquire Control of the Corporation at any time without obtaining prior thereto all federal regulatory approvals required under the Change in Savings and Loan Control Act (the “Control Act”) and the Savings and Loan Holding Company Act (the “Holding Company Act”), or any successor provisions of law, and in the manner provided by all applicable regulations of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (the “FSLIC”). In the event that Control is acquired without obtaining all such regulatory approvals, such acquisition shall constitute a violation of this Article 7 and the Corporation shall be entitled to institute a private right of action to enforce such statutory and regulatory provisions.

SUBSECTION 3. EXCESS SHARES.

In the event that Control of the Corporation is acquired in violation of this Article 7, all shares of Voting Stock owned by the Person so acquiring Control in excess of the number of shares the beneficial ownership of which is deemed under subsection 5 hereof to confer Control of the Corporation shall be considered from and after the date of their acquisition by such Person to be “excess shares” for purposes of this Article 7. Such excess shares shall thereafter no longer (i) be entitled to vote on any matter, (ii) be

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entitled to take other stockholder action, (iii) be entitled to be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares for purposes of any matter involving stockholder action, or (iv) be transferable, except with the approval of the board of directors or by an independent trustee appointed by the board of directors for the purpose of having such excess shares sold on the open market or otherwise. The proceeds from the sale by the trustee of such excess shares shall be paid (i) first, to the trustee in an amount equal to the trustee’s reasonable fees and expenses, (ii) second, to the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Article 8, section C, subsection 3, hereof) of such excess shares in an amount up to such owner’s federal income tax basis in such excess shares, and (iii) third, to the Corporation as to any remaining balance.

SUBSECTION 4. APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR OFFERS TO ACQUIRE CONTROL AFTER FIVE YEARS.

After five years from the date of incorporation no Person shall make any Offer to acquire Control of the Corporation, if the common stock is then traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System, unless such Person has received prior approval to make such Offer by complying with either of the following procedures:

 

1.

The Offer shall have been approved by at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the board of directors of the Corporation called for such purpose, or

 

2.

The Person proposing to make such Offer shall have obtained approval from the FSLIC, pursuant to the Control Act, the Holding Company Act, or any successor provisions of law, to acquire control of the Corporation.

SUBSECTION 5. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article 7:

 

A.

“Control” means the sole or shared power to vote or to direct the voting of, or to dispose or to direct the disposition of, 10 percent or more of the Voting Stock; provided, that the solicitation, holding and voting of proxies obtained by the board of directors of the Corporation pursuant to a solicitation under Regulation 14A of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) shall not constitute “Control.”

 

B.

“Group Acting in Concert” includes Persons seeking to combine or pool their voting or other interests in the Voting Stock for a common purpose, pursuant to any contract, understanding, relationship, agreement or other arrangement, whether written or otherwise; provided, that a “Group Acting in Concert” shall not include the board of directors of the Corporation in its solicitation, holding and voting of proxies obtained by it pursuant to a solicitation under Regulation 14A of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

C.

“Offer” means every offer to buy or acquire, solicitation of an offer to sell, tender offer for, or request invitation for tender of, Voting Stock.

 

D.

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation or other entity including a Group Acting in Concert.

 

E.

“Voting Stock” means the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

SUBSECTION 6. INAPPLICABILITY OF PUBLIC OFFERING.

This Article 7 shall not apply to the purchase of securities of the Corporation by underwriters in connection with a public offering of such securities.

SUBSECTION 7. REFERENCES TO FSLIC.

In the event that the accounts of the Bank (or any successor institution) become insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) in lieu of the FSLIC, all references in this Article 7 to

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the FSLIC shall be deemed to refer to the FDIC, and related references to the Control Act and the Holding Company Act shall be deemed to be references to applicable statutes relating to banks, the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC.

ARTICLE 8. CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS.

A. VOTE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS.

 

1.

HIGHER VOTE FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and except as otherwise expressly provided in section B of this Article 8:

 

(a)

any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with (i) any Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder) which is, or after such merger or consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Stockholder; or

 

(b)

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) to or with any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) of $1,000,000 or more; or

 

(c)

the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more; or

 

(d)

the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder; or

 

(e)

any reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary which is directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of any Interested Stockholder;

shall require the affirmative vote of (A) the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Voting Stock”), voting together as a single class and (B) the holders of at least a majority of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, excluding for purposes of calculating both the affirmative vote and the number of outstanding shares of Voting Stock all shares of Voting Stock of which the beneficial owner is an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate of an Interested Stockholder referred to in clauses (a) through (e) in this paragraph 1. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law.

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2.

DEFINITION OF “BUSINESS COMBINATION.” The “Business Combination” as used in this Article 8 shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) of subsection 1 of this section A.

B. WHEN HIGHER VOTE IS NOT REQUIRED. The provisions of section A of this Article 8 shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, if all of the conditions specified in either of the following subsections 1 and 2 are met:

 

1.

APPROVAL BY CONTINUING DIRECTORS. The Business Combination shall have been approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter defined).

 

2.

PRICE AND PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS. All of the following conditions shall have been met:

 

(a)

The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of common stock in such Business Combination shall be at least equal to the highest of the following:

 

(i)

(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Stockholder for any shares of common stock acquired by it (a) within the two-year period immediately prior to the first public announcement of the proposal of the Business Combination (the “Announcement Date”) or (b) the date on which the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder (the “Determination Date”), whichever is higher; or

 

(ii)

the Fair Market Value per share of common stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher.

 

(b)

The aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the date of the consummation of the Business Combination of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of shares of any other class of outstanding Voting Stock shall be at least equal to the highest of the following (it being intended that the requirements of this subsection 2(b) shall be required to be met with respect to every class of outstanding Voting Stock, whether or not the Interested Stockholder has previously acquired any shares of a particular class of Voting Stock):

 

(i)

(if applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Stockholder for any shares of such class of Voting Stock acquired by it (a) within the two-year period immediately prior to the Announcement Date or (b) the Determination Date, whichever is higher;

 

(ii)

(if applicable) the highest preferential amount per share to which the holders of shares of such class of Voting Stock are entitled in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; and

 

(iii)

The Fair Market Value per share of such class of Voting Stock on the Announcement Date or on the Determination Date, whichever is higher.

 

(c)

The consideration to be received by holders of a particular class of Voting Stock (including common stock) in the Business Combination shall be in cash or in the same form as the Interested Stockholder has previously paid for shares of such Voting Stock. If the Interested Stockholder has paid for shares of any class of Voting Stock with varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration for such Voting Stock shall be either cash or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such Voting Stock previously acquired by it.

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(d)

After the Determination Date and prior to the consummation of such Business Combination:

 

(i)

there shall have been (A) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on the capital stock (except as necessary to reflect any subdivision of the capital stock), except as approved by a majority of the board of directors, and (B) an increase in such annual rate of dividends necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which has the effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of common stock, unless the failure so to increase such rate is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors; and

 

(ii)

such Interested Stockholder shall have not become the beneficial owner of any additional share of Voting Stock except as part of the transaction which results in such Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder.

 

(e)

After such Interested Stockholder has become an Interested Stockholder, such Interested Stockholder shall not have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial assistance or any tax credits or tax advantages provided by the Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business Combination or otherwise.

 

(f)

A proxy or information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules or regulations) shall be mailed to public stockholders of the Corporation at least 20 days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or subsequent provisions).

C. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Article 8:

 

1.

A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.

 

2.

“Interested Stockholder” shall mean any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which:

 

(a)

is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock; or

 

(b)

is an Affiliate of the Corporation and at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding Voting Stock; or

 

(c)

is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of Voting Stock which were at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction or series of transactions not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

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3.

A person shall be a “beneficial owner” of any Voting Stock:

 

(a)

which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates (as hereinafter defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly; or

 

(b)

which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; or

 

(c)

which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with whom such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of Voting Stock.

 

4.

For the purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Stockholder pursuant to subsection 2 of this section C, the number of shares of Voting Stock deemed to be outstanding shall include shares deemed owned through application of subsection 3 of this section C but shall not include any other shares of Voting Stock which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

5.

“Affiliate” or “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

6.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Stockholder set forth in subsection 2 of this section C, the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.

 

7.

“Continuing Director” means any member of the board of directors of the Corporation who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and was a member of the board of directors of the Corporation prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, and any successor of a Continuing Director who is unaffiliated with the Interested Stockholder and is recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of Continuing Directors then on the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

8.

“Fair Market Value” means:

 

(a)

in the case of stock, the highest closing sale price during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which such stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the 30-day period preceding the date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined by the board of directors of the Corporation in good faith; and

 

(b)

in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market value of such property on the date in question as determined by the board of directors of the Corporation in good faith.

D. POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. A majority of the directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article 8, on the basis of information known to them after reasonable inquiry, (1) whether a person is an Interested Stockholder, (2) the number

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of shares of Voting Stock beneficially owned by any person, (3) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, and (4) whether the assets which are the subject of any Business Combination have, or the consideration to be received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination has, an aggregate Fair Market Value of $1,000,000 or more.

E. NO EFFECT ON FIDUCIARY OBLIGATIONS OF INTERESTED STOCKHOLDERS. Nothing contained in this Article 8 shall be construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligations imposed by law.

F. AMENDMENT. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, no amendment, addition, alteration, change or repeal of this Article 8 shall be made unless such is first proposed by the board of directors and thereafter approved by the stockholders by no less than 75% of the total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting.

ARTICLE 9. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING CERTAIN OFFERS. The board of directors of the Corporation, when evaluating any offer to (i) make a tender or exchange offer for the common stock of the Corporation, (ii) merge or consolidate the Corporation with another institution, or (iii) purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Corporation, shall, in connection with the exercise of its judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including without limitation the economic effects of acceptance of such offer on (a) depositors, borrowers and employees of the insured institution, subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation, and on the communities in which such subsidiary or subsidiaries operate or are located and (b) the ability of such subsidiary or subsidiaries to fulfill the objectives of an insured institution under applicable federal statutes and regulations.

ARTICLE 10. ANTI-GREENMAIL. Any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by the Corporation of any Voting Stock (as defined in Article 8 hereof) from any Significant Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) who has been the beneficial owner (as defined in Article 8 hereof) of such Voting Stock for less than two years prior to the date of such purchase or other acquisition shall, except as hereinafter expressly provided, require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of Voting Stock, excluding in calculating such affirmative vote and the total number of outstanding shares all Voting Stock beneficially owned by such Significant Stockholder. Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser percentage may be specified, by law, but no such affirmative vote shall be required (i) with respect to any purchase or other acquisition of Voting Stock made as part of a tender or exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase Voting Stock on the same terms from all holders of the same class of Voting Stock and complying with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder or (ii) with respect to any purchase of Voting Stock, where the board of directors has determined that the purchase price per share of the Voting Stock does not exceed the fair market value of the Voting Stock. Such fair market value shall be calculated on the basis of the average closing price or the mean of the bid and ask prices of a share of Voting Stock for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the execution of a definitive agreement to purchase the Voting Stock from a Significant Stockholder.

For the purposes of this Article 10, “Significant Stockholder” shall mean any person (other than the Corporation or any corporation of which a majority of any class of Voting Stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation) who or which is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of five percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock.

ARTICLE 11. DIRECTORS. The Corporation shall be under the direction of a board of directors. The board of directors shall consist of not less than seven directors nor more than 15 directors. The number of directors within this range shall be as stated in the Corporation’s bylaws, as may be amended

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from time to time, and shall initially consist of 10 directors. The board of directors shall divide the directors into three classes and, when the number of directors is changed, shall determine the class or classes to which the increased or decreased number of directors shall be apportioned; provided, that the directors in each class shall be as nearly equal in number as possible; provided, further, that no decrease in the number of directors shall affect the term of any director then in office.

The classification shall be such that the term of one class shall expire each succeeding year. The Corporation’s board of directors shall initially be divided into three classes named Class I, Class II and Class III, with Class I initially consisting of four directors, Class II initially consisting of three directors and Class III initially consisting of three directors. The terms, classifications, qualifications and election of the board of directors and the filling of vacancies thereon shall be as provided herein and in the bylaws.

Subject to the foregoing, at each annual meeting of stockholders the successors to the class of directors whose term shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.

ARTICLE 12. CALL OF SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by the chairman of the board or the president of the Corporation, or a majority of the board of directors of the Corporation.

ARTICLE 13. BYLAWS. The board of directors or the stockholders may from time to time amend the bylaws of the Corporation. Such action by the board of directors shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office at a duly constituted meeting of the board of directors called for such purpose. Such action by the stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders called for such purpose.

ARTICLE 14. AMENDMENT OF CHARTER. Except as otherwise provided in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by law, no amendment, addition, alteration, change or repeal of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be made, unless such is first proposed by the board of directors of the Corporation, and thereafter approved by the stockholders by a majority of the total votes eligible to be cast at a legal meeting.

Exhibit 4.7

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

TO

 

 

Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of                     , 20    

Subordinated Debt Securities

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

				Page
ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION					1
SECTION 101.		Definitions			1
SECTION 102.		Compliance Certificates and Opinions			10
SECTION 103.		Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee			11
SECTION 104.		Acts of Holders			11
SECTION 105.		Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company			13
SECTION 106.		Notice to Holders; Waiver			13
SECTION 107.		Counterparts; Effect of Headings and Table of Contents			14
SECTION 108.		Successors and Assigns			14
SECTION 109.		Severability Clause			14
SECTION 110.		Benefits of Indenture			14
SECTION 111.		Governing Law			14
SECTION 112.		Legal Holidays			14
SECTION 113.		Limited Liability; Immunity of Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company			15
SECTION 114.		Conflict with Trust Indenture Act			15
ARTICLE TWO - SECURITIES FORMS					15
SECTION 201.		Forms of Securities			15
SECTION 202.		Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication			15
SECTION 203.		Securities Issuable in Global Form			16
ARTICLE THREE - THE SECURITIES					17
SECTION 301.		Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series			17
SECTION 302.		Denominations			20
SECTION 303.		Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating			20
SECTION 304.		Temporary Securities			22
SECTION 305.		Registration, Registration of Transfer, Conversion and Exchange			24
SECTION 306.		Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities			27
SECTION 307.		Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved			28
SECTION 308.		Persons Deemed Owners			30
SECTION 309.		Cancellation			31
SECTION 310.		Computation of Interest			31
SECTION 311.		CUSIP Numbers			31
ARTICLE FOUR - SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE					31
SECTION 401.		Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture			31
SECTION 402.		Application of Trust Funds			32
ARTICLE FIVE - REMEDIES					32
SECTION 501.		Events of Default			32
SECTION 502.		Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment			34
SECTION 503.		Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee			35
SECTION 504.		Trustee May File Proofs of Claim			36
SECTION 505.		Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons			36
SECTION 506.		Application of Money Collected			37
SECTION 507.		Limitation on Suits			37

 

i

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SECTION 508.		Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and Interest			37
SECTION 509.		Restoration of Rights and Remedies			38
SECTION 510.		Rights and Remedies Cumulative			38
SECTION 511.		Delay or Omission Not Waiver			38
SECTION 512.		Control by Holders of Securities			38
SECTION 513.		Waiver of Past Defaults			38
SECTION 514.		Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws			39
SECTION 515.		Undertaking for Costs			39
ARTICLE SIX - THE TRUSTEE					39
SECTION 601.		Notice of Defaults			39
SECTION 602.		Certain Rights of Trustee			40
SECTION 603.		Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities			41
SECTION 604.		May Hold Securities			42
SECTION 605.		Money Held in Trust			42
SECTION 606.		Compensation and Reimbursement			42
SECTION 607.		Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests			43
SECTION 608.		Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor			43
SECTION 609.		Acceptance of Appointment by Successor			44
SECTION 610.		Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business			45
SECTION 611.		Appointment of Authenticating Agent			46
SECTION 612.		Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee			47
SECTION 613.		Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company			48
ARTICLE SEVEN - HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY					49
SECTION 701.		Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders			49
SECTION 702.		Reports by Trustee			49
SECTION 703.		Reports by Company			49
SECTION 704.		Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders			50
SECTION 705.		Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders			50
ARTICLE EIGHT - CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE					50
SECTION 801.		Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions			50
SECTION 802.		Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation			51
SECTION 803.		Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel			51
ARTICLE NINE - SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES					51
SECTION 901.		Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders			51
SECTION 902.		Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders			52
SECTION 903.		Execution of Supplemental Indentures			53
SECTION 904.		Effect of Supplemental Indentures			53
SECTION 905.		Conformity with Trust Indenture Act			54
SECTION 906.		Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures			54
ARTICLE TEN - COVENANTS					54
SECTION 1001.		Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any; and Interest			54
SECTION 1002.		Maintenance of Office or Agency			54
SECTION 1003.		Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust			55

 

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SECTION 1004.		Existence			57
SECTION 1005.		Maintenance of Properties			57
SECTION 1006.		Insurance			57
SECTION 1007.		Payment of Taxes and Other Claims			57
SECTION 1008.		Statement as to Compliance			57
SECTION 1009.		Waiver of Certain Covenants			57
ARTICLE ELEVEN - REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES					58
SECTION 1101.		Applicability of Article			58
SECTION 1102.		Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee			58
SECTION 1103.		Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed			58
SECTION 1104.		Notice of Redemption			59
SECTION 1105.		Deposit of Redemption Price			60
SECTION 1106.		Securities Payable on Redemption Date			60
SECTION 1107.		Securities Redeemed in Part			61
ARTICLE TWELVE - SINKING FUNDS					61
SECTION 1201.		Applicability of Article			61
SECTION 1202.		Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities			61
SECTION 1203.		Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund			62
ARTICLE THIRTEEN - REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS					62
SECTION 1301.		Applicability of Article			62
SECTION 1302.		Repayment of Securities			62
SECTION 1303.		Exercise of Option			62
SECTION 1304.		When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable			63
SECTION 1305.		Securities Repaid in Part			64
ARTICLE FOURTEEN - DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE					64
SECTION 1401.		Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance			64
SECTION 1402.		Defeasance and Discharge			64
SECTION 1403.		Covenant Defeasance			65
SECTION 1404.		Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance			65
SECTION 1405.		Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions			66
ARTICLE FIFTEEN - MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES					67
SECTION 1501.		Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called			67
SECTION 1502.		Call, Notice and Place of Meetings			67
SECTION 1503.		Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings			68
SECTION 1504.		Quorum; Action			68
SECTION 1505.		Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings			69
SECTION 1506.		Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings			69
ARTICLE SIXTEEN - SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES					70
SECTION 1601.		Agreement to Subordinate			70
SECTION 1602.		Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.			70
SECTION 1603.		No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default			71
SECTION 1604.		Reliance by Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions			72
SECTION 1605.		Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness			72

 

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SECTION 1606.		Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights			72
SECTION 1607.		Trustee to Effectuate Subordination			72
SECTION 1608.		No Waiver of Subordination Provisions			73
SECTION 1609.		Notice to Trustee			73
SECTION 1610.		Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent			74
SECTION 1611.		Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness			74
SECTION 1612.		Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights			74
SECTION 1613.		Article Applicable to Paying Agents			75
ARTICLE SEVENTEEN - CONVERSION OF SECURITIES					75
SECTION 1701.		Applicability of Article; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price			75
SECTION 1702.		Exercise of Conversion Privilege			76
SECTION 1703.		Fractions of Shares			76
SECTION 1704.		Adjustment of Conversion Price			77
SECTION 1705.		Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price			79
SECTION 1706.		Notice of Certain Corporate Action			80
SECTION 1707.		Company to Reserve Common Stock			80
SECTION 1708.		Taxes on Conversion			81
SECTION 1709.		Covenants as to Common Stock			81
SECTION 1710.		Cancellation of Converted Securities			81
SECTION 1711.		Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets; Special Distributions			81
SECTION 1712.		Trustee Adjustment Disclaimer; Company Determination Final			82
SECTION 1713.		When No Adjustment Required			83
SECTION 1714.		Equivalent Adjustments			83

 

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NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA”) and the Indenture, dated as of                     , 20    .

 

Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Section
§ 310(a)(1)		607
(a)(2)		607
(a)(5)		607
(b)		607, 608
§ 311(a)		613
(b)		613
§ 312(a)		704, 705(a)
(b)		705(b)
(c)		701
§ 313(a)		702
(c)		702
§ 314(a)		703
(a)(4)		1008
(c)(1)		102
(c)(2)		102
(e)		102
§ 315(a)		612
(b)		601
(c)		612
(d)		612
(e)		515
§ 316(a) (last sentence)		101(“Outstanding”)
(a)(1)(A)		512
(a)(1)(B)		513
(b)		508
(c)		104€
§ 317(a)(1)		503
(a)(2)		504
(b)		1003
§ 318(a)		111
(c)		111

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 Trust Indenture Act, which provides that the provisions of Sections 310 to and including 317 of the Trust Indenture Act are a part of and govern every qualified indenture, whether or not physically contained therein.

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INDENTURE, dated as of                     , 20    , between New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal office at 9 Main Street, PO Box 9, Newport, New Hampshire 03773, and                     , as Trustee hereunder (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having a Corporate Trust Office at                     .

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes subordinated debt securities (hereinafter called the “Securities”) evidencing its 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, to be issued in one or more Series as provided in this Indenture.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA”), that are deemed to be incorporated into this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of a Series thereof, 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 unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(b) all other terms used herein which are defined in the TIA, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transactions” 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;

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

(d) any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

(e) 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.

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

 

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“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.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611 hereof to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more Series.

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

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

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

“Board of Directors” when used with reference to the Company, means the board of directors of the Company, or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder, or any director or directors and/or officer or officers of the Company, to whom the board or committee shall have duly delegated its authority.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of (1) 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 duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, or (2) a certificate signed by the director or directors and/or officer or officers to whom the Board of Directors shall have duly delegated its authority, together with a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification authorizing such delegation, 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 issued 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 that Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for corporate stock), warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking Luxembourg, société anonyme, or its successor.

 

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“Closing Price” means the closing price of a share of Common Stock of the Company as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.

“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 Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

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

“Common Stock” means, with respect to any Person, all shares of capital stock issued by such Person other than Preferred Stock.

“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 its Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Constituent Person” has the meaning specified in Section 1711.

“Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (1) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (2) the ECU both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities or (3) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the ECU for the purposes for which it was established.

“Conversion Price” has the meaning specified in Section 1701.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at                     , or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

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

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

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1403.

“Custodian” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

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

 

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“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1402.

“Distribution Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1711.

“Dividend Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

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

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company and any successor to DTC in its capacity as depository for any Securities.

“ECU” means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised from time to time by the Council of the European Communities.

“Euroclear” means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, or its successor, as operator of the Euroclear System.

“European Communities” means the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

“European Monetary System” means the European Monetary System established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European Communities.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article Five.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Exchange Act is amended after such date, “Exchange Act” means to the extent required by any such amendment, the Exchange Act as so amended.

“Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the ECU 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, except as otherwise provided herein, generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect from time to time, as used in the United States applied on a consistent basis.

“Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or a part of a series of Securities issued to and registered in the name of the depository for such series, or its nominee, in accordance with Section 305, and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 203.

“Government Obligations” means (1) securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government which 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

 

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of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such government which 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 (2) 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.

“Guaranty” by any Person means any Obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, every Obligation of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness, (2) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the holder of such Indebtedness of the payment of such Indebtedness or (3) to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness; provided, however, that a Guaranty by any Person shall not include endorsements by such Person for collection or deposit, in either case in the ordinary course of business. The terms “Guaranteed,” “Guaranteeing” and “Guarantor” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (1) any Obligation of such Person relating to any indebtedness of such Person (i) for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets, of such person or only to a portion thereof), (ii) evidenced by notes, debentures or similar instruments (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any property or assets (other than trade accounts payable for inventory or similar property acquired in the ordinary course of business), including securities, for the payment of which such Person is liable, directly or indirectly, or the payment of which is secured by a lien, charge or encumbrance on property or assets of such Person, (iii) for goods, materials or services purchased in the ordinary course of business (other than trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (iv) with respect to letters of credit or bankers acceptances issued for the account of such Person or performance, surety or similar bonds, (v) for the payment of money relating to a capitalized lease Obligation or (vi) under interest rate swaps, caps or similar agreements and foreign exchange contracts, currency swaps or similar agreements; (2) any liability of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (1), which such Person has Guaranteed or which is otherwise its legal liability; and (3) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refunding of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (1) or (2).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time 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 be supplemented or

 

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amended from time to time 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 which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is 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 which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, shall mean interest payable after Maturity.

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

“Make-Whole Amount,” when used with respect to any Security, means the amount, if any, in addition to principal (and accrued interest thereon, if any) which 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.

“mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 1201.

“Market Value of the Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal (or, if the context so requires, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, or lesser amount or, in the case of an Indexed Security, an amount determined in accordance with the specified terms of that Security) 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 or otherwise.

“Obligation” of any Person with respect to any specified Indebtedness means any obligation of such Person to pay principal, premium, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to such Person, whether or not a claim for such post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, reimbursement or indemnification amounts, fees, expenses or other amounts relating to such Indebtedness.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or a Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or who may be an employee of or other counsel for the Company and who shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.

“optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 1201.

 

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“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount (excluding any amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest thereon) 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:

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

(2) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption (including repayment at the option of the Holder) 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto; provided, however, that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected Defeasance and/or Covenant Defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and

(4) Securities which 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 it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company.

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder 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 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 which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities owned as provided in clause (iv) above which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor

 

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upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice.

“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 coupons on behalf of the Company.

“Payment Blockage Notice” and “Payment Blockage Period” have the respective meanings specified in Section 1603.

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

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, means 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 or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

“Preferred Stock” means, with respect to any Person, all capital stock issued by such Person that is entitled to a preference or priority over any other capital stock issued by such Person with respect to any distribution of such Person’s assets, whether by dividend or upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

“Proceeding” has the meaning specified in Section 1602.

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

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price specified in the related Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture contemplated by and pursuant to Section 301, at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Reference Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“Registered Security” shall mean any Security which is registered in the Security Register.

“Regular Record Date” for the 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 at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any Vice President (whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), Assistant Vice President, Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer working in its Corporate Trust Department, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and working in its Corporate Trust Department, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“Rights Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“Securities Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 1602.

“Security” and “Securities” 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 any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

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

“Senior Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company, other than the following: (1) any Indebtedness as to which, in the instrument evidencing such Indebtedness or pursuant to which such Indebtedness was issued, it is expressly provided that such Indebtedness is subordinate in right of payment to all Indebtedness of the Company not expressly subordinated to such Indebtedness; (2) any Indebtedness which by its terms refers explicitly to the Securities and states that such Indebtedness shall not be senior, shall be pari passu or shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Securities; and (3) with respect to any series of Securities, any Indebtedness of the Company evidenced by Securities of the same or of another series. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness shall not include: (i) Indebtedness of or amounts owed by the Company for compensation to employees, or for goods, materials or services purchased in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Subsidiary of the Company.

A “Series” of Securities means all securities denoted as part of the same series authorized by or pursuant to a particular Board Resolution.

“Short Term Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Article I, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the Company.

 

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“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 Company pursuant to Section 307.

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

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which a majority of (1) the voting power of the voting equity securities or (2) the outstanding equity interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person. For the purposes of this definition, “voting equity securities” means equity securities having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of security has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trading Day” means any day on which the NASDAQ Global Select Market is open for business.

“Trigger Events” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“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 any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“Unadjusted Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section 1704.

“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 an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination 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 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.

 

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

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

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

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

(d) 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 with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon 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, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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

SECTION 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. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or

 

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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 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 the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register. As to any matter relating to beneficial ownership interests in any Global Security, the appropriate depository’s records shall be dispositive for purposes of this Indenture.

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

(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.

 

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

(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished, filed or mailed, first class postage prepaid in writing to or with the Trustee at                      or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Company by the Trustee, Attention:                     ; or

(b) 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, Attention:                     .

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, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice mailed 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, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day, such publication to be not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication or, if published more than once, on the date of the first such publication.

If by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be

 

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given with prior notice to the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to any particular Holder of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.

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

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. Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon shall be held 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 or coupons, if any, 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 the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 111. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities and coupons 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.

SECTION 112. 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 shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security or coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof), payment of interest or principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or conversion or exchange of such Security need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but (except as otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture with respect to such Security) 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, as the case may be.

 

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SECTION 113. Limited Liability; Immunity of Stockholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series to the contrary, no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or for the payment of any sums due on account of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, including without limitation principal, premium or interest, if any, or for any claim based on this Indenture or any Security or otherwise in respect of this Indenture or any Security, shall be had, whether by levy or execution or otherwise, against the Company, the Company’s assets or against any past, present or future stockholder, employee, officer, director or agent, as such, of the Company or any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute, constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty, or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, nor shall any such parties be personally liable for any such amounts, obligations or claims, or liable for any deficiency judgment based thereon or with respect thereto, it being expressly understood that the sole remedies hereunder or under any other document with respect to the Securities against such parties with respect to such amounts, obligations or claims shall be against the Company and that all such liability of and recourse against such parties is expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 114. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

ARTICLE TWO - SECURITIES FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms of Securities. The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto or in such other form as shall be established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution in accordance with Section 301, 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 over-the-counter market or securities exchange, on which the Securities may be quoted or listed, or to conform to usage.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.

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

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:

 

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

 

				,
				as Trustee
Dated:				By:
						Authorized Signatory

SECTION 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form. If Securities of or within a series are issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Global Security or Securities may provide that it or they shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders thereof, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made (or caused to be made) by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner or 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 or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon 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 Global Security shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Global Security 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, if any, and interest on any Global Security in permanent global form shall be made to the registered Holder thereof.

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 (a) in the case of a permanent Global Security in registered form, the Holder of such permanent Global Security in registered form, or (b) in the case of a permanent Global Security in bearer form, Euroclear or Clearstream.

Any Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning set forth in the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a depository or a nominee of a depository. This Security is

 

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exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the depository to a nominee of the depository or by a nominee of the depository to the depository or another nominee of the depository or by the depository or its nominee to a successor depository or its nominee.”

ARTICLE THREE - THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series whether the Securities of such series will be secured or unsecured, and if secured, a description of the collateral and the terms related thereto; each of which shall be authorized pursuant to Board Resolutions of the Company. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(1) The title of the Securities of the series, including “CUSIP” numbers (which 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 the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305) and the minimum authorized denominations with respect to the Securities of such series;

(3) The price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or (if applicable) the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that is convertible into Common Stock or the method by which any such portion shall be determined.

(4) If convertible, the terms on which such Securities are convertible, including the initial conversion price or rate and the conversion period and any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of Common Stock or Preferred Stock receivable on conversion;

(5) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on which the principal of such Securities will be payable;

(6) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, at which such Securities will bear interest, if any;

(7) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, from which any such interest will accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest will be payable, the Regular Record Dates for such Interest Payment Dates, or the method by which such dates shall be determined, the Persons to whom such interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

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(8) The Make-Whole Amount, if any, or method for determining the Make-Whole Amount, if any, payable with respect to such Securities, and the terms upon which such amount, if any, will be payable;

(9) The place or places where the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities will be payable, where such Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or conversion or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;

(10) The period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(11) The obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(12) If other than Dollars, the currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated and payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in Dollars for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101, and the terms and conditions relating thereto;

(13) Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, including any amount due upon redemption, if any) or interest on such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on the yield on or trading price of other securities, including United States Treasury securities or on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(14) Whether the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on the Securities of 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;

(15) Provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

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

(17) Whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional amounts on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities in lieu of making such payment;

 

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(18) Whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may, or shall be required to, 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, or shall be required to, occur, if other than in the manner provided in the Indenture, and, if Registered Securities of the series are to be issuable as a Global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

(19) The date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary Global Security representing outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

(20) 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 the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, 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 herein; provided, however, in each case, that the manner of determining such Person or making such payment shall be acceptable to the Trustee (as not imposing on it any undue administrative burden or risk of liability);

(21) The applicability, if any, of the Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance provisions of Article Fourteen hereof to the Securities of the series;

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

(23) 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;

(24) Designation of the Trustee, if different from the Trustee under the Indenture, with respect to such series and the terms applicable to such Trustee (which shall be accepted by such Trustee by its execution and delivery of a supplemental indenture as provided therein); and

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

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 303) and

 

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set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such 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 Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

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 Securities of such series, other than Global Securities (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof or the equivalent amounts thereof in the case of Securities denominated in the Foreign Currency or currency unit.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon, and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities and coupons 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 and coupons 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 or coupons.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, together with any coupon appertaining thereto, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order (accompanied by a copy of the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture contemplated by Section 301) and an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel in accordance with Section 102 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities), and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; and provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, in the form set forth in Exhibit B-1 to this Indenture or such other certificate as may be specified by the Company with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent Global Security, then, for purposes of this Section and Section 304, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent Global Security. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and canceled.

 

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If all 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 acceptable to the Trustee 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 be entitled to receive, and (subject to TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

(a) an Opinion of Counsel stating that

(1) the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

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

(3) such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions 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 legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable principles; and

(b) an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the issuance of the Securities have been complied with and that, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities (or to enter into the related supplemental indenture, if applicable) 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 which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a foreign currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.

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, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or a Company Order, or 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 certificates, 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.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

No Security or coupon shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security or Security to which such coupon

 

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appertains a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee (subject to Section 611) by manual signature of an authorized signatory, 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 (including a Global 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 and 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 upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Global Securities (which shall be exchanged as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301), 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 (accompanied by any non-matured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute (in accordance with a Company Order delivered at or prior to the authentication of the first definitive security to such series) and the Trustee upon Company Order shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 303. 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 in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301, the following provisions of this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities other than through the facilities of the 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 office of a depository or common depository upon and pursuant to written direction of the Company (the “Common Depository”), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

 

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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 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 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 bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof (as directed by or pursuant to information provided by the Common Depository); provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary Global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depository, such temporary Global Security shall be 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 held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary Global Security held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit B-2 to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301; and provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary Global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.

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 B-1 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 and 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. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary Global Security shall be delivered only to an address located outside the United States.

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 and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Trustee of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit B-2 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 B-1 to this Indenture (or in

 

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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 and 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.

With respect to Exhibit B-1 or B-2 to this Indenture, the Company may, in its discretion and if required or desirable under applicable law, substitute one or more other forms of such exhibits for such exhibits, eliminate the requirement that any or all certificate be provided, or change the time that any certificate may be required; provided that such substitute form or forms or notice of elimination or change of such certification requirement have theretofore been delivered to the Trustee with a Company Request and such form or forms, elimination or change is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer, Conversion and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee 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 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, and for facilitating exchanges of temporary global Securities for permanent global Securities or definitive Securities, or both, or of permanent global Securities for definitive Securities, or both, as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine, and be provided a copy of, the Security Register at all reasonable times. In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Security Registrar shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

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 upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.

 

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If (but only if) permitted by the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 303) set forth in the applicable Officers’ Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 301, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company (or to the Trustee for the Security in case of matured coupons in default) in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (a) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (b) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and 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 the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which 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 (1) 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, (2) the Company delivers to the Trustee for Securities of such series in registered form a Company Order stating that the Securities of such series shall be exchangeable, (3) 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 (4) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines at any time that all Outstanding Securities (but not less than

 

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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, then the Company shall execute, and upon a Company Order 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 interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated 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 upon a Company Order 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; and provided further that no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent Global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. 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 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.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or conversion 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 conversion or exchange.

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for conversion, 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 Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of transfer or conversion or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee 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 conversion or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.

The Company or the Trustee, as applicable, shall not be required (A) 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 (x) if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (y) if such Securities are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if

 

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such Securities are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (B) 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 (C) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor; provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (D) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

Furthermore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 305, the Company will not be required to exchange any Securities if, as a result of the exchange, the Company would suffer adverse consequences under any United States law or regulation.

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a global Security, a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any global Security shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, 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 upon a Company Order 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, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, 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 or coupon, 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 notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a

 

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new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee for such Security such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and in the case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and Trustee and any agent of any of them of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and the ownership thereof; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and interest, if any, on, Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar 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, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, 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 or coupons.

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 payment 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 (a) 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 (b) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located inside the United States.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.

 

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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 Cede & Co. or the Common Depository, 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.

In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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 or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, upon written direction from the Company and in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, but such publications shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the 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). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special

 

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Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

(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 over-the-counter market or securities exchange on which such Securities may be quoted or listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such market or exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or upon conversion 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.

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. All such payments so made to any such Person, or upon such Person’s order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for money payable upon any such Security.

Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Holder of any Bearer Security and the Holder of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupon 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.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, 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.

 

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SECTION 309. Cancellation. All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or conversion 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 coupons and Securities and coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, upon direction by the Company, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. 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 cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary practices (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act).

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

ARTICLE FOUR - SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or conversion or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

(a) either

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

 

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be 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 and such coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

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

(c) 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 (2) of clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

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, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and any interest 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. In acting under this Indenture and in connection with the Securities, the Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

ARTICLE FIVE - REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “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):

 

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(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that series or of any coupon appertaining thereto, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(b) 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

(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, to the extent applicable to such series of Securities, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series; or

(d) 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 a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of 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

(e) default under any bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company (or by any Subsidiary, the repayment of which the Company has guaranteed or for which the Company is directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor), having an aggregate principal amount outstanding of at least $30,000,000, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, within a period of 30 days after there shall have 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 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 601 and 602, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such default unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have knowledge of such default or (2) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company, from any Holder, from the holder of any such indebtedness or from the trustee under any such mortgage, indenture or other instrument; or

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

(1) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

 

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

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

(1) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case,

(2) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of either of its property, or

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

(h) 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if Securities of that Series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of 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.

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the requisite amount of Holders (as determined pursuant to this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions from the requisite amount of Holders (as determined pursuant to this Indenture) in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

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 of acceleration and its consequences if:

(a) 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 are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series):

(1) all overdue installments of interest on all Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons,

 

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(2) 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,

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

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

(b) all Events of Default with respect to 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 which 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:

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

(b) 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 and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, 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 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, the Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and their respective 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 and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

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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:

(a) 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 owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents, and take such other actions, including serving on a committee of creditors, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series and coupons to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, 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 under Section 606.

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

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Securities, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Securities parties to any such proceedings.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery 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 and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

The Trustee shall be entitled to participate, in its capacity as Trustee, on behalf of (and at the request of) the Holders, as a member of any official committee of creditors in the matters it deems advisable.

 

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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, upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606 and any other agent hereunder;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and coupons for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, 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 or any related coupon shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or any of the Securities or any related coupon unless:

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

(b) 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;

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

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

(e) 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 (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the

 

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principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective due dates expressed in such Security or coupon (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 or coupon has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities and coupons 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 had 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 or coupons 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 or coupons 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 or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders of Securities. Subject to Section 602, 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:

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

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

(c) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not joining therein, and

(d) prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee may demand security or indemnity satisfactory to it in accordance with Section 602.

Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction by Holders.

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 and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

 

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(a) in the payment of the principal of (or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or any related coupons, or

(b) 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; or

(c) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof for the benefit or protection of the Trustee, without its express written consent.

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

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 and expenses, 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 of any series, 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 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 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 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 any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase 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 board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the

 

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interests of the Holders of the Securities and coupons of such series; and provided further that in the case of any default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(d) with respect to the Securities and coupons 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 which 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 of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):

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

(b) 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, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the written 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;

(e) 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 or any related coupons 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 (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f) 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 it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, relevant to the facts or matters that are the subject of its inquiry, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

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

 

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(h) 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;

(i) any permissive right or power available to the Trustee under this Indenture or any supplement hereto shall not be construed to be a mandatory duty or obligation and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct with respect to such permissive rights;

(j) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any matter (including any default, other than as described in Section 501(a), (b) or (c)) unless and except to the extent actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or to the extent written notice thereof is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(k) the Trustee shall have no liability for any inaccuracy in the books and records of, or for any actions or omissions of, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or any depository acting on behalf of any of them;

(l) 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 each agent, custodian and other Person retained by the Trustee to act hereunder; and

(m) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds, give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder, 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 adequate indemnity or security against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

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, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall have no responsibility with respect to any information, statement or recital in any offering prospectus or other disclosure materials prepared or distributed with respect to the Securities.

 

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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 coupons and, subject to 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 any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee as agreed upon in writing from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements, and advances incurred by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents, counsel, accountants and experts), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct (as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction); and

(c) to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its part (as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction), arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any third-party claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder unless, and solely to the extent that, such failure materially prejudices the Company’s defense of such claim. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense; provided that if the defendants in any such claim include both the Company and the Trustee and the Trustee shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, or the Trustee has reasonably concluded that there may be any other actual or potential conflicting interests between the Company and the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the right to select separate counsel and the Company shall be required to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel. Any settlement with respect to a third-party claim for which the Trustee has reasonably sought indemnity from the Company may not be entered into to the extent it is in respect of a claim against the Trustee without the written consent of the Trustee, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. Any settlement by the Trustee which affects the Company may not be entered into without the written consent of the Company, unless such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company.

 

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When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(g) or Section 501(h), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien for payment of the Trustee’s fees and expenses 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 or any coupons.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501 occurs, the expenses and compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal, State or analogous foreign law for the relief of debtors. The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction, termination or discharge of this Indenture.

SECTION 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (or which shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 and whose ultimate parent holding company shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If the Trustee 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 the Trustee 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. Neither the Company nor any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company shall serve as Trustee.

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, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time 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. 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, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

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(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder 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 so appointed 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

 

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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.

(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 which (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 609, 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.

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 that 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 or coupons 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 or coupons so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities or coupons. In case any Securities or coupons shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities or coupons, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

 

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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 which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon conversion or exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or repayment thereof, 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 acceptable to the Company and 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 $50,000,000 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 that 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 which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of 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, subject to Section 606.

 

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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 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

						,
						as Trustee
Dated:						By:
								as Authenticating Agent
Dated:						By:
								as Authenticating Agent

SECTION 612. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee.

(a) With respect to the Securities of any series, except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series:

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

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

(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall, with respect to Securities of such series, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1) this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the

 

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Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(4) 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 adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it; and, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

(d) 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 612.

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

(f) Anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

(g) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

(h) The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act) all financial institutions are required to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide to the Trustee such information as it may request, from time to time, in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including but not limited to the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN - HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders. Every Holder of Securities or coupons, 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 agent 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. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders (at the expense of the Company) such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required by TIA Section 313 at the times and in the manner provided by the TIA, which shall initially be not less than every twelve months commencing on                     , 20    . A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each over-the-counter market or securities exchange, if any, upon which any Securities are quoted or listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are quoted or listed on any over-the-counter market or securities exchange or delisted therefrom.

SECTION 703. Reports by Company. The Company will:

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company 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 which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security quoted or listed and registered on an over-the-counter market or national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(b) 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;

(c) transmit by mail 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) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission; and

(d) delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

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SECTION 704. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semiannually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for interest for each 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, semiannually, 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 list shall be required to be furnished.

SECTION 705. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

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

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

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 corporation; provided that in any such case, (a) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a State thereof and such successor corporation shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and any interest on all of the Securities, according to their tenor, 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 corporation, (b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result thereof as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing and (c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required pursuant to Section 803 below.

 

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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 corporation, such successor corporation 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 corporation, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and the Securities. Such successor corporation 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 which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, 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 which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation 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 corporation, 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 or coupons, 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:

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

(b) 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

(c) 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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(d) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

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

(f) to secure the Securities; or

(g) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any related coupons as permitted or contemplated by Sections 201 and 301; or

(h) 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

(i) 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 which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

(j) 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 that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

(k) to make provisions with respect to Holders’ rights of conversion with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Article Seventeen.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities and any related coupons under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

 

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(a) 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 premium or Make-Whole Amount payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which, any Security or any premium or Make-Whole Amount 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 (if Securities of such series are convertible) adversely affect the right of the Holder to convert any Security as provided in Article Seventeen, or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner materially adverse to the Holders; or

(b) 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 reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, 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, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1009, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 609(b) and 901(k).

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 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 which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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 (subject to Section 612) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 102 of this Indenture, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties 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

 

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supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any coupon appertaining thereto 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 Trust Indenture Act 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.

ARTICLE TEN - COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any; and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company (upon written notice to the Trustee), 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 conversion 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. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain: (a) in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment or conversion, where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served and where Bearer Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented or surrendered for payment or conversion in the circumstances described in the following paragraph (and not otherwise); (b) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series which is located outside the United States, an office or agency where Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided, however, that if the Securities of that series are listed on any stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in any required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such exchange; and (c) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series located outside the United States an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series

 

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may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for conversion 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 may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment or conversion at the offices specified in the Security, in London, England, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands with respect to such Securities, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands with respect to all other Securities.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, no payment of principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, that, if the Securities of a series are payable in Dollars, payment of principal of and any premium or Make-Whole Amount and interest on any Bearer Security shall be made at the office of the Company’s Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount, or interest, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies outside the United States maintained for the purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture, is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

The Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies (in or outside the Place of Payment) 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 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities, each of (1) the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and (2) the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (as Paying Agent); and the Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city; and the Company hereby initially appoints as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

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 (of which it shall give written notice to the Trustee).

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 and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum 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

 

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Section 301 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), or interest on 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 so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or interest 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 for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will

(a) hold all sums of money held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on Securities 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;

(b) give the Trustee 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 on the Securities of that series; and

(c) 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 of money 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.

Except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, and subject to applicable laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) or interest 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 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. 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 its corporate existence, all material rights (by certificate of incorporation, by-laws and statute) and material franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

SECTION 1005. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all of its material properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order, normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted, and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof (and the Company may take out of service for a period of time, any of its properties that have been condemned or suffered any loss due to casualty in order to make such repairs, betterments and improvements), 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 the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be prevented from (a) removing permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered a loss due to casualty based on the Company’s reasonable judgment that such removal is in the best interest of the Company, or (b) selling or otherwise disposing of their properties for value in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 1006. Insurance. The Company will cause each of its and its Subsidiaries’ insurable properties to be insured against loss or damage in an amount deemed reasonable by the Board of Directors with insurers of recognized responsibility.

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, (a) all 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, and (b) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the 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, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 1008. Statement as to Compliance.

(a) The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the date hereof (which fiscal year ends                     , 20    ), a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company 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.

(b) The Company will, so long as any series of Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 calendar days of any officer listed in (a) above becoming aware of any Default, Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default, Event of Default, default or event of default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and the status thereof.

SECTION 1009. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1004 to 1008, inclusive, if

 

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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 which 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 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 and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed, and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed, and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 1103. 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 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 on the same day 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 in compliance with the requirements of DTC, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed (if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange), or if the Securities are not held through DTC or listed on any national securities exchange, or DTC prescribed no method of selection, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and subject to and otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable depository; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed, and 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; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.

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 which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

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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 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:

(a) the Redemption Date,

(b) the Redemption Price, accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106, if any,

(c) 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,

(d) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state 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,

(e) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued interest to 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,

(f) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, or for conversion,

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

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

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

(j) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any, and

 

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

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to                      [a.m./p.m.], New York City time, 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 interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent from the Company after                      [a.m./p.m.], New York City time, on the due date, such funds will be deemed deposited within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

If any Securities called for redemption are converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

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 interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest; and provided further that except as otherwise provided with respect to Securities convertible into the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock, 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.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of

 

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such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security.

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Registered Security which 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 upon a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security at the expense of the Company and without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute and upon a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the depository at the expense of the Company and without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global 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.

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, (a) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto and (b) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such 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.

 

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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 optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so 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 cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN - REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article. Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities, if any, and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities. Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before                      [a.m./p.m.], New York City time, on the Repayment Date it will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 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 the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of, and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent from the Company after                      [a.m./p.m.], New York City time, on the due date, such funds will be distributed to the Holders within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option. Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. In order for any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the Trustee must receive at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 60 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date (a) the Security so providing for such repayment together with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse thereof duly completed by the Holder

 

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(or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing) or (b) a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or a letter from a member of a national securities exchange, or the FINRA, or a commercial bank or trust company in the United States setting forth the name of the Holder of the Security, the principal amount of the Security, the principal amount of the Security to be repaid, the CUSIP number, if any, or a description of the tenor and terms of the Security, a statement that the option to elect repayment is being exercised thereby and a guarantee that the Security to be repaid, together with the duly completed form entitled “Option to Elect Repayment” on the reverse of the Security, will be received by the Trustee not later than the fifth Business Day after the date of such telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter; provided, however, that such telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter shall only be effective if such Security and form duly completed are received by the Trustee by such fifth Business Day. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable. If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the principal amount of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; and provided further that, in the case of Registered Securities, installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) 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.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefor as provided in Section 1302 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

 

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If the principal amount of any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, such principal amount (together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to such Repayment Date) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part. Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and upon a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

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, 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 any coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

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 and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto, 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 any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, and the Company’s obligations under Section 606 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto.

 

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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 1004 to 1009, inclusive, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with Sections 1004 to 1009, 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or 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(d) or 501(h) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto:

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount in such currency, currencies or currency unit in which such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the currency, currencies or currency unit in which such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.

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

 

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(c) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(f) and 501(g) 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 (1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto 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 (1) 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 (2) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.

(g) 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 which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

(h) The payment of amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture shall be paid or provided for to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee.

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 and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any) and interest, 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 and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any), and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the currency 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 which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, subject to Section 606, 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 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this 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 20 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 20 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the

 

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

SECTION 1504. Quorum; Action. The Persons entitled to vote a majority in 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 the reconvening of any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days; at the reconvening of any meeting adjourned or further adjourned for lack of a quorum, the Persons entitled to vote 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities shall constitute a quorum for the taking of any action set forth in the notice of the original 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 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.

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 Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities 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 and the related coupons, 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:

 

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

(b) 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 or by having the signature of the Person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(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 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

 

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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.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN - SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary (other than Article Four of this Indenture), the Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, the Indebtedness represented by the Securities and the payment of any Obligations with respect to each and all of the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 1602. Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc. In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or Proceeding, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar case or Proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its creditors, as such, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company, then and in any such event specified in (a), (b) or (c) above (each such event, if any, herein sometimes referred to as a “Proceeding”)

(1) the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due or to become due on or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness, or provision shall be made for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment or distribution on account of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or other Obligations in respect of the Securities or on account of any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Securities by the Company or any Subsidiary (individually and collectively, a “Securities Payment”), and

(2) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than Capital Stock or securities of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article Sixteen with respect to the Securities, to the payment in full, without diminution or modification by such plan, of all Senior Indebtedness), to which the Holders would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such a payment or distribution, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness) (or their representative(s) or trustee(s) acting on their behalf), ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of or interest on and other amounts due on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1602, the Trustee or the Holder of any Security shall have received any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (other than Capital Stock or securities of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in this Article with respect to the Securities, to the payment in full, without diminution or

 

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modification by such plan, of Senior Indebtedness), before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full or payment thereof provided for in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and be paid over to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid (or their representative(s) or trustee(s) acting on their behalf), ratably as aforesaid, for application to the payment of such Senior Indebtedness until such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its properties and assets as an entirety to another Person upon the terms and conditions set forth in Article Eight shall not be deemed a Proceeding for the purposes of this Section 1602 if the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer such properties and assets as an entirety, as the case may be, shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions set forth in Article Eight.

SECTION 1603. No Payment When Senior Indebtedness in Default. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, no payment on account of principal of or redemption of, interest on or other amounts due on the Securities, and no redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of the Securities, shall be made by or on behalf of the Company (a) unless full payment of amounts then due for principal and interest and of all other obligations then due on all Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for pursuant to the terms of the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness, (b) if, at the time of such payment, redemption, purchase or other acquisition, or immediately after giving effect thereto, there shall exist under any Senior Indebtedness, or any agreement pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness is issued, any default, which default shall not have been cured or waived and which default shall have resulted in the full amount of such Senior Indebtedness being declared due and payable or (c) if, at the time of such payment, redemption, purchase or other acquisition, the Trustee shall have received written notice from the holder or holders of any Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) that there exists under such Senior Indebtedness, or any agreement pursuant to which such Senior Indebtedness is issued, any default, which default shall not have been cured or waived, permitting the holders thereof to declare the full amount of such Senior Indebtedness due and payable, but only for the period (the “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing on the date of receipt of the Payment Blockage Notice and ending (unless earlier terminated by notice given to the Trustee by the Holders of such Senior Indebtedness) on the earlier of (1) the date on which such event of default shall have been cured or waived or (2) 180 days from the receipt of the Payment Blockage Notice. Upon termination of a Payment Blockage Period, payments on account of principal of or interest on the Securities and redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions may be made by or on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) only one Payment Blockage Notice may be given during any period of 360 consecutive days with respect to the same event of default and any other events of default on the same issue of Senior Indebtedness existing and known to the person giving such notice at the time of such notice and (ii) no new Payment Blockage Period may be commenced by the holder or holders of the same issue of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives during any period of 360 consecutive days unless all events of default which were the object of the immediately preceding Payment Blockage Notice, and any other event of default on the same issue of Senior Indebtedness existing and known to the person giving such notice at the time of such notice, have been cured or waived.

In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 1603, payments are made by or on behalf of the Company in contravention of the provisions of this Section 1603, such payments shall be held by the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Holders, as applicable, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over to and delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or the trustee

 

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under the indenture or other agreement (if any), pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in accordance with the terms of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with respect to which Section 1602 would be applicable.

SECTION 1604. Reliance by Senior Indebtedness on Subordination Provisions. Each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration for each holder of any Senior Indebtedness, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness, and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold or in continuing to hold such Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 1605. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Obligations due or to become due on or in respect of Senior Indebtedness, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen, and no payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 1606. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights. The provisions of this Article Sixteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand and the holders of Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this Article Sixteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, is intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

SECTION 1607. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Holder of a Security by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, as between the Holders of the Securities and the holders of Senior

 

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Indebtedness, the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding up or liquidation or reorganization under any applicable bankruptcy law of the Company (whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership Proceedings or otherwise), the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance of such Holder’s Securities in the form required in such Proceedings and the causing of such claim to be approved. If the Trustee does not file a claim or proof of debt in the form required in such Proceedings prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claims or proofs, then the holders of Senior Indebtedness, jointly, or their representatives shall have the right to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders and to demand, sue for, collect, receive and receipt for the payments and distributions in respect of the Securities which are required to be paid or delivered to the holders of Senior Indebtedness as provided in this Article Sixteen and to take all such other action in the name of the Holders or otherwise, as such holder of Senior Indebtedness or representative thereof may determine to be necessary or appropriate for the enforcement of the provisions of this Article Sixteen.

SECTION 1608. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions. No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder or any representative or trustee therefor, or by any non-compliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article Sixteen or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of Senior Indebtedness and settle or compromise Senior Indebtedness (which, to the extent so settled and compromised, shall be deemed to have been paid in full for all purposes hereof); (d) apply any amounts received to any liability of the Company owing to holders of Senior Indebtedness; and (e) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

SECTION 1609. Notice to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article Sixteen. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article Sixteen or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof at its Corporate Trust Office from the Company or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or from any representative or trustee acting on their behalf, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of such authority of such trustee; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 612, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security), then, anything herein contained to the

 

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contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which such money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or any other Article of this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time except during the pendency of any Proceeding, or under the conditions described in Section 1603, from making payments at any time in respect of the Securities, or (b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the Securities, or the retention thereof by any Holder, if the Trustee did not have notice, as provided in this Section 1609, that such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article Sixteen.

Subject to the provisions of Section 612, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a representative or trustee therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Sixteen, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

SECTION 1610. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 612, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which any Proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

SECTION 1611. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness. With respect to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the Securities, shall prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys which were deposited with it hereunder, prior to its receipt of written notice of facts which would prohibit such application, for the purpose of the payment of or on account of the principal of or interest on, the Securities unless, prior to the date on which such application is made by the Trustee, the Trustee shall be charged with notice under Section 1609 hereof of the facts which would prohibit the making of such application.

SECTION 1612. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights. The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606.

 

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SECTION 1613. Article Applicable to Paying Agents. In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article Sixteen shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that Section 1612 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

ARTICLE SEVENTEEN - CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1701. Applicability of Article; Conversion Privilege and Conversion Price. Securities of any series which are convertible shall be convertible 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 Seventeen. Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article Seventeen, at any time during the period specified in the Securities, at the option of the Holder thereof, any Security or any portion of the principal amount thereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 may be converted at the principal amount thereof, or of such portion thereof, into fully paid and nonassessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100 of a share) of Common Stock of the Company, at the Conversion Price, determined as hereinafter provided, in effect at the time of conversion. In case a Security or portion thereof is called for redemption, such conversion right in respect of the Security or portion so called shall expire at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon redemption, in which case such conversion right shall terminate on the date such default is cured.

The price at which shares of Common Stock shall be delivered upon conversion (herein called the “Conversion Price”) of Securities of any series shall be specified in such Securities. The Conversion Price shall be adjusted in certain instances as provided in Section 1704.

In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, declare or make a distribution on its Common Stock referred to in paragraph (d) of Section 1704, the Holder of each Security, upon the conversion thereof pursuant to this Article Seventeen subsequent to the close of business on the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution and prior to the effectiveness of the Conversion Price adjustment in respect of such distribution pursuant to paragraph (d) of Section 1704, shall be entitled to receive for each share of Common Stock into which such Security is converted, the portion of the evidence of indebtedness, shares of Capital Stock or assets so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock; provided, however, that, at the election of the Company (whose election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee) with respect to all Holders so converting, the Company may, in lieu of distributing to such Holder any portion of such distribution not consisting of cash or securities of the Company, pay such Holder an amount in cash equal to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee). If any conversion of a Security entitled to the benefits described in the immediately preceding sentence occurs prior to the payment date for a distribution to holders of Common Stock which the Holder of the Security so converted is entitled to receive in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, the Company may elect (such election to be evidenced by a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee) to distribute to such Holder a due bill for the evidences of indebtedness, shares of Capital Stock or assets to which such Holder is so entitled; provided that such due bill (a) meets any applicable requirements of the principal over-the-counter market or

 

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national securities exchange or other market on which the Common Stock is then traded, and (b) requires payment or delivery of such evidences of indebtedness or assets no later than the date of payment or delivery thereof to holders of Common Stock receiving such distribution.

SECTION 1702. Exercise of Conversion Privilege. In order to exercise the conversion privilege, the Holder of any Security to be converted shall surrender such Security, duly endorsed or assigned to the Company or in blank, at any office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 1002, accompanied by written notice to the Company at such office or agency that the Holder elects to convert such Security or, if less than the entire principal amount thereof is to be converted, the portion thereof to be converted and shall comply with any additional requirements set forth in such Security. Securities surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date next preceding any Interest Payment Date to the opening of business on such Interest Payment Date shall (except for Securities the Maturity of which is prior to such Interest Payment Date) be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of Securities being surrendered for conversion and such interest shall be paid on such Interest Payment Date as provided in Section 307. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock issued upon conversion.

The Company’s delivery to the Holder of the fixed number of shares of the Common Stock of the Company (and any cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock) into which the Security is convertible shall be deemed to satisfy the Company’s obligation to pay the principal amount of the Security and all accrued interest and original issue discount that has not previously been paid. The shares of Common Stock of the Company so delivered shall be treated as issued first in payment of accrued interest and original issue discount and then in payment of principal. Thus, accrued interest and original issue discount shall be treated as paid, rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited.

Securities shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the day of surrender of such Securities for conversion in accordance with the foregoing provisions, and at such time the rights of the Holders of such Securities as Holders shall cease, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Stock at such time. As promptly as practicable on or after the conversion date, the Company shall issue and shall deliver at such office or agency a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, together with payment in lieu of any fraction of a share, as provided in Section 1703.

In the case of any Security which is converted in part only, as promptly as practicable on or after the conversion date the Company shall execute and upon a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder thereof (or the depository in the case of a Global Security), at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities, of authorized denominations in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the principal amount of such Security.

SECTION 1703. Fractions of Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Securities. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof) so surrendered. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable upon conversion of any Security or Securities (or specified portions thereof), the Company shall pay a cash adjustment (rounded to the nearest cent) in respect of such fraction in an amount equal to the same fraction of the Closing Price per share of the Common Stock on the day of conversion (or, if such day is not a Trading Day, on the Trading Day immediately preceding such day).

 

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SECTION 1704. Adjustment of Conversion Price. The Conversion Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as follows:

(a) If the Company pays or makes a dividend or other distribution (1) on its Common Stock exclusively in Common Stock or (2) on any other class of Capital Stock of the Company, which dividend or distribution includes Common Stock of the Company, the Conversion Price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution (the “Dividend Record Date”) shall be reduced by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding at the close of business on the Dividend Record Date and the denominator shall be the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other distribution. Such reduction shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. For the purposes of this paragraph (a), the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company shall not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

(b) Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, if the Company pays or makes a dividend or other distribution on its Common Stock consisting exclusively of Short Term Rights (as defined below), or otherwise issues Short Term Rights to all holders of its Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such Short Term Rights (the “Rights Record Date”) shall be reduced by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding at the close of business on the Rights Record Date plus the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which the aggregate of the offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase would purchase at such current market price and the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding at the close of business on the Rights Record Date plus the number of shares of Common Stock so offered for subscription or purchase. Such reduction shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the Rights Record Date. For the purposes of this paragraph (b), the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock of the Company. The Company shall not issue any rights, options or warrants in respect of shares of its Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company. When used in this Section 1704, the term “Short Term Rights” shall mean rights, warrants or options entitling the holders thereof (for a period commencing no earlier than the Rights Record Date and expiring not more than 45 days after the Rights Record Date) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price per share less than the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (g) of this Section 1704) of the Common Stock of the Company on the Rights Record Date.

(c) In case outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced, and, conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination becomes effective shall

 

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be proportionately increased, such reduction or increase, as the case may be, to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective.

(d) Subject to the last sentence of this paragraph (d) of this Section, if the Company, by dividend or otherwise, (1) distributes to all holders of its Common Stock evidences of its indebtedness, shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or other assets (other than cash dividends out of current or retained earnings), or (2) distributes to substantially all holders of Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for securities (other than Short Term Rights to which paragraph (b) of this Section 1704 applies), the Conversion Price shall be reduced by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the current market price per share (determined as provided in paragraph (g) of this Section 1704) of the Common Stock of the Company on the Reference Date (as defined below) less the fair market value (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee), on the Reference Date, of the portion of the evidences of indebtedness and other assets so distributed or of such subscription rights or warrants applicable to one share of Common Stock (collectively, the “Market Value of the Distribution”) and the denominator shall be such current market price per share of the Common Stock of the Company. Such reduction shall become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day (the “Reference Date”) following the later of (i) the date fixed for the payment of such distribution and (ii) the date 20 days after notice relating to such distribution is required to be given pursuant to Section 1706(a). If the Board of Directors determines the fair market value of any distribution for purposes of this paragraph (d) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market for any securities comprising such distribution, it must in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing the current market price per share pursuant to paragraph (g) of this Section 1704. In the event that, with respect to any distribution to which this paragraph (d) of Section 1704 would otherwise apply, the Market Value of the Distribution is greater than the current market price per share of the Common Stock (such distribution being referred to herein as an “Unadjusted Distribution”), then the adjustment provided by this paragraph (d) shall not be made and in lieu thereof the provisions of Section 1711 shall apply with respect to such Unadjusted Distribution.

(e) The Company may, but shall not be required to, make such reductions in the Conversion Price, in addition to those required by paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section 1704, as it considers to be advisable in order that any event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock rights shall not be taxable to the recipients. In addition, the Company, from time to time, may decrease the Conversion Price by any amount and for any reason, temporarily or otherwise, including situations where the Board of Directors determines such decrease to be fair and appropriate with respect to transactions in which holders of Common Stock have the right to participate.

(f) Rights or warrants issued or distributed by the Company to all holders of its Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, which rights or warrants (1) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock, (2) are not exercisable and (3) are also issued or distributed in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, in each case in clauses (1) through (3) until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Events”), shall for purposes of this Section 1704 not be deemed issued or distributed until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event. Each share of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Securities pursuant to this Article Seventeen shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of Common Stock purchase rights (the “Rights”), if any, and the certificates representing the Common Stock issued upon conversion shall bear such legends, if any. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article Seventeen, there shall not be any adjustment to the Conversion Price as a result of (i) the distribution of separate certificates representing the Rights; (ii) the occurrence of certain events entitling holders of Rights to receive, upon exercise thereof, Common Stock or other securities of the Company or

 

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other securities of another corporation; or (iii) the exercise of such Rights. No adjustment in the Conversion Price need be made for rights to purchase or the sale of Common Stock pursuant to a Company plan providing for reinvestment of dividends or interest.

(g) For the purpose of any computation under paragraph (b), (d) or (e) of this Section 1704, the “current market price” per share of Common Stock of the Company on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily Closing Prices for the 15 consecutive Trading Days selected by the Company commencing not more than 30 Trading Days before, and ending not later than, the date in question.

(h) No adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the Conversion Price; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this paragraph (h) are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Article Seventeen shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-hundredth of a share of Common Stock, as the case may be.

(i) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event the Company shall declare any dividend or distribution requiring an adjustment in the Conversion Price hereunder and shall, thereafter and before the payment of such dividend or distribution to stockholders, legally abandon its plan to pay such dividend or distribution, the Conversion Price then in effect hereunder, if changed to reflect such dividend or distribution, shall upon the legal abandonment of such plan be changed to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at the time of such abandonment (after giving effect to all other adjustments not so legally abandoned pursuant to the provisions of this Article Seventeen) had such dividend or distribution never been declared.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1704, no adjustment to the Conversion Price shall reduce the Conversion Price below the then par value per share of the Common Stock of the Company, and any such purported adjustment shall instead reduce the Conversion Price to such par value. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Company hereby covenants that it will from time to time take all such action as may be required to assure that the par value per share of the Common Stock is at all times equal to or less than the Conversion Price.

(k) In the event that this Article Seventeen requires adjustments to the Conversion Price under more than one of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 1704, and the record or effective dates for the transaction giving rise to such adjustments shall occur on the same date, then such adjustments shall be made by applying (to the extent they are applicable), first, the provisions of paragraph (c) of this Section 1704, second, the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 1704, third, the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section 1704 and, fourth, the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 1704. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no single event shall require or result in duplicative adjustments in the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 1704. After an adjustment to the Conversion Price under this Article Seventeen, any subsequent event requiring an adjustment under this Article Seventeen shall cause an adjustment to the Conversion Price as so adjusted. If, after an adjustment, a Holder of a Security upon conversion of such Security receives shares of two or more classes of Capital Stock of the Company, the Conversion Price shall thereafter be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of an action taken with respect to any such class of Capital Stock as is contemplated by this Article Seventeen with respect to the Common Stock in this Article Seventeen.

SECTION 1705. Notice of Adjustments of Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted as herein provided:

 

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(a) the Company shall compute the adjusted Conversion Price in accordance with Section 1704 or Section 1711 and shall prepare an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Price and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith be filed (with a copy to the Trustee) at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of any Securities pursuant to Section 1002;

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

(c) the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. The Trustee may conclusively rely on the accuracy of the Conversion Price adjustment provided by the Company. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Price and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Price of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Price setting forth the adjusted Conversion Price and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and provide notice to Holders of such adjustment.

SECTION 1706. Notice of Certain Corporate Action. In case:

(a) the Company shall take any action that would require a Conversion Price adjustment pursuant to Section 1704 or Section 1711; or

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

(c) there shall occur the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, then the Company shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 1002, and shall cause to be mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register, at least 10 days prior to the applicable record, effective or expiration date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (1) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of any dividend, distribution or granting of rights, warrants or options, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be determined, or (2) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and, if applicable, the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

SECTION 1707. Company to Reserve Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, a number of shares of Common Stock for the conversion of all outstanding Securities of any series which is convertible into Common Stock.

 

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SECTION 1708. Taxes on Conversion. The Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

SECTION 1709. Covenants as to Common Stock. The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free of preemptive or any similar rights, and, except as provided in Section 1708, the Company will pay all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

The Company will endeavor promptly to comply with all Federal and state securities laws regulating the offer and delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Securities, if any, and will list or cause to have quoted such shares of Common Stock on each national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market or such other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.

SECTION 1710. Cancellation of Converted Securities. All Securities delivered for conversion shall be delivered to the Trustee to be cancelled by or at the direction of the Trustee, which shall dispose of the same as provided in Section 309.

SECTION 1711. Provisions in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets; Special Distributions. If any of the following shall occur, namely: (a) any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Securities (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination), (b) any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party other than a merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and which does not result in any reclassification of, or change (other than a change in name, or par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value or as a result of a subdivision or combination) in, outstanding shares of Common Stock or (c) any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property or business of the Company as an entirety, then the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such properties or assets, as the case may be, shall as a condition precedent to such transaction execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Security then outstanding shall have the right thereafter, during the period such Security shall be convertible as specified in Section 1701, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable, if any, upon such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease; provided that the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property so receivable shall be determined on the basis of the following assumptions. The holder of Common Stock referred to in the foregoing sentence:

(1) is not (i) a Person with which the Company consolidated, (ii) a Person into which the Company merged or which merged into the Company, or (iii) a Person to which such sale, transfer or lease was made (any Person described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), or (iii), hereinafter referred to as a “Constituent Person”), or (iv) an Affiliate of a Constituent Person; and

(2) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease; provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale transfer or lease is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company in respect of which

 

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such rights of election shall not have been exercised, then for the purpose of this Section 1711 the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of such shares of Common Stock.

Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article Seventeen. If, in the case of any such consolidation, merger, sale transfer or lease the stock or other securities and property (including cash) receivable thereupon by a holder of Common Stock includes shares of stock or other securities and property of a corporation other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Securities as the Board of Directors of the Company shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing. The above provisions of this Section 1711 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales, transfers or leases.

In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 1711, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders of the Securities upon the conversion of their Securities after any such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or lease and any adjustment to be made with respect thereto.

If the Company makes a distribution to all holders of its Common Stock that constitutes an Unadjusted Distribution pursuant to the last sentence of paragraph (d) of Section 1704, then, from and after the record date for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such distribution (the “Distribution Record Date”), a Holder of a Security who converts such Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon conversion, be entitled to receive, in addition to the shares of Common Stock into which the Security is convertible, the kind and amount of evidences of indebtedness, shares of Capital Stock, or other assets or subscription rights or warrants, as the case may be, comprising the distribution that such Holder would have received if such Holder had converted the Security immediately prior to the Distribution Record Date.

SECTION 1712. Trustee Adjustment Disclaimer; Company Determination Final. The Trustee has no duty to determine when an adjustment under this Article Seventeen should be made, how it should be made or what it should be. The Trustee has no duty to determine whether a supplemental indenture under Section 1711 need be entered into or whether any provisions of any supplemental indenture are correct. The Trustee shall not be accountable for and makes no representation as to the validity, accuracy or value of any securities or assets issued upon conversion of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the Company’s failure to comply with this Article Seventeen. Any determination that the Company or the Board of Directors must make pursuant to this Article Seventeen is conclusive, absent manifest error. Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee and any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. The Trustee and Conversion Agent may conclusively rely on the accuracy of the Conversion Rate adjustment provided by the Company. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and provide notice to Holders of such adjustment.

 

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SECTION 1713. When No Adjustment Required. Except as expressly set forth in Section 1704, no adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be made because the Company issues, in exchange for cash, property or services, shares of its Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its Common Stock, or securities (including warrants, rights and options) carrying the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of its Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no adjustment in the Conversion Price shall be made pursuant to Section 1704 in respect of any dividend or distribution if the Holders may participate therein (on a basis to be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) and receive the same consideration they would have received if they had converted the Securities immediately prior to the record date with respect to such dividend or distribution.

SECTION 1714. Equivalent Adjustments. In the event that, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 1704 above, the holder of any Security thereafter surrendered for conversion shall become entitled to receive any shares of Capital Stock of the Company other than shares of its Common Stock, thereafter the Conversion Price of such other shares so receivable upon conversion of any Securities shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to Common Stock contained in this Article Seventeen.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

FORM OF REDEEMABLE OR NON-REDEEMABLE SUBORDINATED SECURITY

[Face of Security]

[If the Holder of this Security (as indicated below) is The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or a nominee of DTC, this Security is a Global Security and the following two legends apply:

Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, conversion, exchange or payment, and such Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or in such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

Unless and until this Security is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in certificated form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee thereof or by a nominee thereof to DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such nominee to a successor of DTC or a nominee of such successor.]

[If this Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1273 and 1275 OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THIS SECURITY IS     % OF ITS PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE IS             , 20    , AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY IS     %. THE METHOD USED TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT APPLICABLE TO THE SHORT ACCRUAL PERIOD OF             , 20     TO             , 20    , IS     % OF THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS SECURITY.]

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NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

 

[Designation of Series]
No.		$
CUSIP No.

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC., a Delaware corporation (herein referred to as the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to              or registered assigns the principal sum of              Dollars on              (the “Stated Maturity Date”) [or insert date fixed for earlier redemption (the “Redemption Date,” and together with the Stated Maturity Date with respect to principal repayable on such date, the “Maturity Date.”)]

[If the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — and to pay interest thereon from              or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on              and              in each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing             , at the rate of     % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the              or              (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date [at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose; provided, however, that such interest may be paid, at the Company’s option, by mailing a check to such Holder at its registered address or by transfer of funds to an account maintained by such Holder within the United States]. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date, and may be paid to the Holder in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any over-the-counter market or securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be quoted or listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such market or exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.]

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

The principal of this Security payable on the Stated Maturity Date [or the principal of, premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and, if the Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date, interest on this Security payable on the Redemption Date] will be paid against presentation of this Security at the office

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or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in             , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Interest payable on this Security on any Interest Payment Date and on the [Stated] Maturity Date [or Redemption Date, as the case may be,] will include interest accrued from and including the next preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including             , if no interest has been paid on this Security) to but excluding such Interest Payment Date or the [Stated] Maturity Date [or Redemption Date, as the case may be.] If any Interest Payment Date or the [Stated] Maturity Date or [Redemption Date] falls on a day that is not a Business Day, as defined below, principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and/or interest payable with respect to such Interest Payment Date or [Stated] Maturity Date [or Redemption Date, as the case may be,] will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if it were paid on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or [Stated] Maturity Date [or Redemption Date, as the case may be.] “Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are required or authorized by law, regulation or executive order to close.

[If this Security is a Global Security, insert — All payments of principal, premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, and interest in respect of this Security will be made by the Company in immediately available funds.]

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

Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its facsimile corporate seal.

 

Dated:
				NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

				By:
						Name:
						Title:
Attest:
Secretary

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[Reverse of Security]

NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BANCSHARES, INC.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an

Indenture, dated as of             , 20         (herein called the “Indenture”) between the Company and             , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Security is a part), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the duly authorized series of Securities designated on the face hereof (collectively, the “Securities”), [if applicable, insert — and the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be issued under such series is limited to $             (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Securities).] All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

[If applicable, insert — The Securities may not be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity Date.]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities are subject to redemption [ (l) (If applicable, insert — on              in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year              through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2) ] [If applicable, insert — at any time [on or after             ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount):

If redeemed on or before             ,     % and if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning              of the years indicated at the Redemption Prices indicated below.

 

Year		Redemption Price		Year		Redemption Price

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

[If applicable, insert — The Securities are subject to redemption (1) on              in any year commencing with the year              and ending with the year              through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time

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[on or after             ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

 

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

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

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

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

Notice of redemption will be given by mail to Holders of Securities, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, all as provided in the Indenture.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

[If applicable, insert conversion provisions set forth in any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental to the Indenture.]

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of all Securities issued under the Indenture at the time Outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, on behalf of the Holders of all such Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount, in certain instances, of the Outstanding Securities of any series to waive, on

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behalf of all of the Holders of Securities of such series, certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and other Securities issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or conversion or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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

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

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein [and herein] set forth, this Security is exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of different authorized denominations but otherwise having the same terms and conditions, as requested by the Holder hereof surrendering the same.

This Security is subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of Senior Indebtedness to the extent set forth in Article Sixteen of the Indenture.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form [without coupons] in denominations of $              and any integral multiple thereof.

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

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

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium or Make-Whole Amount, if any, or the interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto, against any past, present or future stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State.

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EXHIBIT B

FORMS OF CERTIFICATION

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EXHIBIT B-1

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BEARER

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, as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are 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) are 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 2.165-12(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 United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) 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, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has 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 undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex or by telecopy on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your operating procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

This certificate excepts and does not relate to [U.S.$] of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a permanent Global Security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

We understand that this certificate may be 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.

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Dated:

[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to (i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

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EXHIBIT B-2

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 U.S. 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 New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will 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 United States or foreign financial institution(s) 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, to the further effect, that 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.

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Dated:

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

[Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels Office, as Operator of the Euroclear System Clearstream Banking Luxembourg]

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

		Hogan Lovells US LLP Columbia Square 555 Thirteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 T +1 202 637 5600 F +1 202 637 5910   www.hoganlovells.com

January 9, 2015

Board of Directors

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

9 Main Street, P.O. Box 9

Newport, New Hampshire 03773

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the registration for issuance and sale by the Company of up to $50,000,000 in aggregate amount of one or more series of the following securities of the Company: (i) subordinated debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”) and (iii) shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares” and together with the Debt Securities and Preferred Shares, the “Securities”), all of which may be sold from time to time and on a delayed or continuous basis, as set forth in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or more supplements to the prospectus. This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that (i) the issuance, sale, amount and terms of any Securities of the Company to be offered from time to time will have been duly authorized and established by proper action of the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such board (“Board Action”) consistent with the procedures and terms described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Company’s charter and bylaws and applicable Delaware corporate law, in a manner that does not violate any law, government or court-imposed order or restriction or agreement or

 

Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia. “Hogan Lovells” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP, with offices in: Alicante Amsterdam Baltimore Beijing Brussels Caracas Colorado Springs Denver Dubai Dusseldorf Frankfurt Hamburg Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Hong Kong Houston Johannesburg London Los Angeles Luxembourg Madrid Miami Milan Moscow Munich New York Northern Virginia Paris Philadelphia Prague Rio de Janeiro Rome San Francisco São Paulo Shanghai Silicon Valley Singapore Tokyo Ulaanbaatar Warsaw Washington DC Associated offices: Budapest Jakarta Jeddah Riyadh Zagreb. For more information see www.hoganlovells.com

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		-  2  -		January 9, 2015
Board of Directors
New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

 

instrument then binding on the Company or otherwise impair the legal or binding nature of the obligations represented by the applicable Securities; (ii) at the time of offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and no stop order suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (iii) any Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture for Debt Securities substantially in the form of such indenture filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement; (iv) the indenture under which any Debt Securities are issued will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (v) prior to any issuance of Preferred Shares, appropriate certificates of designation will be accepted for record by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (vi) if being sold by the issuer thereof, the Securities will be delivered against payment of valid consideration therefor and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Board Action authorizing such sale and any applicable underwriting agreement or purchase agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (vii) the Company will remain a Delaware corporation.

To the extent that the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion letter that the other party under the indenture for any Debt Securities, namely, the trustee, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that such other party is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such indenture; that such indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other party enforceable against the other party in accordance with its terms; that such other party is in compliance with respect to performance of its obligations under such indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that such other party has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such indenture.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of the following, as currently in effect: (i) as to the opinions given in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c), the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and (ii) as to the opinion given in paragraph (a), the laws of the State of New York (but not including any laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any political subdivision below the state level). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations may have on the opinions expressed herein).

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

(a) The Debt Securities, upon due execution and delivery of an indenture relating thereto on behalf of the Company and the trustee named therein, and upon authentication by such trustee and due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company in accordance with the indenture and any supplemental indenture relating thereto, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

(b) The Preferred Shares, upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

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		-  3  -		January 9, 2015
Board of Directors
New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

 

(c) The Common Shares (including any Common Shares duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of Debt Securities or Preferred Shares that are exchangeable for or convertible into Common Shares, and receipt by the Company of any additional consideration payable upon such exchange or conversion), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The opinion expressed in paragraph (a) above with respect to the valid and binding nature of obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other law regarding fraudulent conveyances, fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers) and by the exercise of judicial discretion and the application of principles of equity, good faith, fair dealing, reasonableness, conscionability and materiality (regardless of whether the Securities are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP

Exhibit 12.1

Statement Regarding the Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends

 

		Nine Months Ended September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
Including interest on deposits			3.12				2.69				2.73				2.49				2.14				2.16				1.80
Excluding interest on deposits			9.66				7.09				7.27				6.10				6.37				6.77				6.54
		Nine Months Ended September 30,								Year Ended December 31,
		2014				2013				2013				2012				2011				2010				2009
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends:
Including interest on deposits			3.01				2.56				2.60				2.28				1.98				2.05				1.74
Excluding interest on deposits			8.71				6.23				6.43				4.99				5.11				5.83				5.81

Exhibit 23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.

We consent to the use of our report dated March 17, 2014, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 2013, which appear in the December 31, 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K of New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries incorporated herein by reference, and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

SHATSWELL, MacLEOD & COMPANY, P.C.

West Peabody, Massachusetts

January 9, 2015

 

83 PINE STREET — WEST PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS 01960-3635 — TELEPHONE (978) 535-0206 — FACSIMILE (978) 535-9908

smc@shatswell.com		www.shatswell.com