SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): FEBRUARY 5, 1998
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 1-13265 76-0511406
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (713) 207-3000
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On February 5, 1998, NorAm Energy Corp. (the "Company") entered into
an Underwriting Agreement, in the form of Exhibit 1 hereto, with the
Underwriters named therein with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of
$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6 1/2% Debentures due February 1,
2008 (the "Debentures"). The Debentures were registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a shelf registration statement
(Registration Statement No. 333-41017) of the Company. The Debentures will be
issued under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998, between the Company and
Chase Bank of Texas, National Association (formerly known as Texas Commerce Bank
National Association), as Trustee, in the form of Exhibit 4.1 hereto, as
supplemented by Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of February 1, 1998, in
the form of Exhibit 4.2 hereto.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
1 Underwriting Agreement, dated as of February 5, 1998, among the
Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC.
4.1 Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998, between the Company and
Chase Bank of Texas, National Association, as Trustee.
4.2 Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of February 1, 1998,
providing for the issuance of the Company's 6 1/2% Debentures due
February 1, 2008.
4.3 Form of 6 1/2% Debenture due February 1, 2008 (included in
Exhibit 4.2 above).
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
Date: February 9, 1998 By: /s/ Mary P. Ricciardello
-----------------------------
Mary P. Ricciardello
Vice President and Comptroller
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EXHIBIT 1
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
$300,000,000
Debt Securities
6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008
Underwriting Agreement
February 5, 1998
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
World Financial Center
North Tower
New York, New York 10281
Ladies and Gentlemen:
NorAm Energy Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of
$300,000,000 principal amount of its 6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008 (the
"Debt Securities") to be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of February 1,
1998 (the "Base Indenture") between the Company and Chase Bank of Texas,
National Association (formerly known as Texas Commerce Bank National
Association), as trustee (the "Trustee") and a Supplemental Indenture No. 1 to
the Base Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998 (the "Supplemental Indenture",
and together with the Base Indenture and any other amendments or supplements
thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
---------------------------------------------
(a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of
the Underwriters that:
(i) A registration statement on Form S-3 with respect to the Debt
Securities, (File No. 333-41017) including a prospectus (any preliminary
prospectus included in such registration statement being hereinafter referred to
as a "Preliminary Prospectus"), copies of which have been delivered to you, has
been prepared and filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") and has been declared effective under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such registration statement has been issued and no proceeding
for that purpose has been initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company,
threatened by the Commission. Such registration statement (including all
documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, but
excluding any Forms T-1, as amended), as amended and supplemented at the date of
this Agreement, is hereinafter referred to as to the "Registration Statement."
The Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time that the
Registration Statement was declared effective is hereinafter referred to as the
"Basic Prospectus."
The prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as amended and
supplemented to the date of this Agreement (including all documents then
incorporated by reference therein and including the Preliminary Supplemented
Prospectus (hereinafter defined) as further supplemented by the Final
Supplemented Prospectus (hereinafter defined)), is hereinafter referred to as
the "Prospectus". Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, a Preliminary Prospectus, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary
Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, or deemed
to be incorporated by reference therein, and filed under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on or before the date of such
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus, the Basic
Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented
Prospectus. Any reference herein to the terms "amend", "amendment" or
"supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall
be deemed to refer to and include, without limitation, the filing of any
document under the Exchange Act deemed to be incorporated therein by reference
after the date of such Registration Statement or Prospectus.
A prospectus supplement, subject to completion, dated February 2, 1998
(the "Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus") has been prepared and was filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act ("Rule 424(b)") on February 4, 1998. A
prospectus supplement, dated the date hereof, setting forth the terms of the
Debt Securities and of their sale and distribution (the "Final Supplemented
Prospectus") has been prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(ii) On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration
Statement, as amended and supplemented at that time, conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "TIA"), and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; on the date of the Preliminary
Supplemented Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented
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Prospectus conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and on the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus conform, and at the Time of Delivery (hereinafter defined)
they will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and
the TIA and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
and on the date of this Agreement do not, and on the Time of Delivery will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading;
(iii) Each document filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act
and incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus (including any document to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act
which will constitute an amendment to the Prospectus) conformed or, when so
filed, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange
Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and
none of such documents included or, when so filed, will include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or, when so filed, will omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading;
(iv) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company;
(v) The Debt Securities and the Indenture have been duly authorized by
the Company and, in the case of the Indenture, when validly executed and
delivered by the Company and the Trustee, and, in the case of the Debt
Securities, when validly issued by the Company and duly authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
of the Company and the Trustee, enforceable in accordance with their respective
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
and to general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); the Debt Securities when
validly issued by the Company and duly authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Debt
Securities conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.
(vi) The issuance by the Company of the Debt Securities, the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement, the Debt
Securities and the Indenture, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and therein (a) will not conflict with or result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary (as defined in Regulation S-X) of the Company (each, a "Significant
Subsidiary") is a party or by which the Company or any Significant
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Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or
any Significant Subsidiary is subject, which conflict, breach, violation, or
default would singly, or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
business, properties or financial condition of the Company and the Significant
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (b) nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of
the Company or any existing statute or any order, rule or regulation of any
court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company's or
any of its or its Significant Subsidiaries' properties.
(vii) The Commission has issued an order under the Act declaring the
Registration Statement effective and qualifying the Indenture under the TIA and
no other consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification
of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the
issue of the Debt Securities or the consummation by the Company of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture, except such
consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
required under state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the issuance
by the Company of the Debt Securities and the purchase and distribution of the
Debt Securities by the Underwriters.
(viii) At the date hereof, the Company has outstanding the following
securities (excluding for this purpose any revolving credit facility, letter of
credit facility or similar bank credit facility), and no others, which contain
covenants (i) limiting liens on any Principal Property (as defined in the
Prospectus) and (ii) limiting the sale and leaseback of assets:
(a) Medium-Term Notes, Series A and B (due through 2001), (b) 8.875%
Notes due 1999, (c) 7-1/2% Notes due 2000, (d) 8.90% Debentures due 2006, (e)
10% Debentures due 2019 and (f) Term Loan (due November 1998) under that certain
$150,000,000 Term Loan Agreement dated May 15, 1997, as amended, among the
Company, Citibank, N.A., as Agent, and various lenders party thereto.
2. Sale and Delivery.
-----------------
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company,
the principal amount of the Debt Securities set forth in Schedule I opposite the
name of such Underwriter (plus an additional amount of Debt Securities that such
Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7 hereof) at a price equal to 99.186% of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued interest from February 10, 1998 to the Time of Delivery.
(b) The Debt Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder
will be represented by one or more definitive global Debt Securities in book-
entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian. The Company will
deliver the Debt Securities to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, for the
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account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter
of the amount therefor, as set forth above, by wire transfer of Federal (same
day) funds to a commercial bank account located in the United States and
designated in writing at least forty-eight hours prior to the Time of Delivery
by the Company to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, by causing
DTC to credit the Debt Securities to the account of Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated at DTC. The Company will cause the global
certificates representing the Debt Securities to be made available to Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for checking at least twenty-four
hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of DTC or its designated
custodian (the "Designated Office"). The time and date of such delivery and
payment shall be 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on February 10, 1998 or such
other time and date as Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date are herein called the
"Time of Delivery".
(c) The documents to be delivered at the Time of Delivery by or on
behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 5 hereof, including the cross-
receipt for the Debt Securities and any additional documents requested by the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof, will be delivered at such time and
date at the offices of Baker & Botts L.L.P., One Shell Plaza, 910 Louisiana,
Houston, Texas 77002-4995 or such other location as Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and the Company may agree in writing (the "Closing
Location"), and the Debt Securities will be delivered at the Designated Office,
all at the Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at
1:00 p.m., New York City time or at such other time as Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and the Company may agree in writing, on the New
York Business Day next preceding the Time of Delivery, at which meeting the
final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence
will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this
Section 2, "New York Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York
are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
3. Covenants and Agreements.
------------------------
The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters:
(a) That the Company will furnish without charge to the Underwriters a
copy of the Registration Statement, including all documents incorporated by
reference therein and exhibits filed with the Registration Statement (other than
exhibits which are incorporated by reference and have previously been so
furnished), and, during the period mentioned in paragraph (c) below, as many
copies of the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus and the Final
Supplemented Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein at or
after the date thereof (including documents from which information has been so
incorporated) and any supplements and amendments thereto as each Underwriter may
reasonably request so long as such Underwriter is required to deliver a
prospectus;
(b) That the Company will cause the Final Supplemented Prospectus
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to be filed pursuant to, and in compliance with, Rule 424(b) and will promptly
advise the Underwriters (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement
shall have been filed; provided, that, with respect to documents filed pursuant
to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement, such notice shall only be required during such time as the
Underwriters are required in the reasonable opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP,
counsel for the Underwriters, to deliver a prospectus, (ii) of any request by
the Commission for any amendment of the Registration Statement, (iii) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for
that purpose, and (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Debt Securities for sale
in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose. So long as any Underwriter is required in the reasonable opinion of
Dewey Ballantine LLP to deliver a prospectus, the Company will not file any
amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus unless
the Company has furnished one copy of such amendment or supplement to Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and to Dewey Ballantine LLP, and, if
such amendment or supplement is to be filed on or prior to the Time of Delivery,
or under circumstances where the Underwriters are required in the reasonable
opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP, to deliver a Prospectus, the Underwriters or
Dewey Ballantine LLP, shall not reasonably have objected thereto. If the
Commission shall issue a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, the Company will take such steps to obtain the lifting
of that order as in the best judgment of the Company are not contrary to the
interests of the Company;
(c) That if, at any time when in the reasonable opinion of Dewey
Ballantine LLP the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an
Underwriter or a dealer, any event shall occur as a result of which it is
necessary, in the reasonable opinion of Dewey Ballantine LLP or counsel for the
Company, to amend or supplement the Prospectus or modify the information
incorporated by reference therein in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary in the reasonable opinion
of any such counsel, to amend or supplement the Prospectus or modify such
information to comply with law, the Company will forthwith (i) prepare and
furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names
and addresses the Underwriters will furnish to the Company) to whom Debt
Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon
reasonable request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or (ii)
file with the Commission documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
which shall be so supplied to the Underwriters and such dealers, in either case
so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended, supplemented or modified
will not, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law;
(d) That the Company will endeavor to qualify, at its expense, the
Debt Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Underwriters shall reasonably request and to pay all filing
fees, reasonable expenses and legal fees in connection therewith and in
connection with the
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determination of the eligibility for investment of the Debt Securities;
provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation or a dealer in securities or to file any consents to service of
process under the laws of any jurisdiction;
(e) That the Company will make generally available to its security
holders and the holders of the Debt Securities as soon as practicable an
earnings statement of the Company covering a twelve-month period beginning after
the Time of Delivery which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including Rule
158 under the Act).
(f) That during the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and
continuing to and including the Time of Delivery, the Company will not offer,
sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Debt Securities, any security
convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Debt Securities or any
debt securities substantially similar to the Debt Securities (except for the
Debt Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written
consent of the Underwriters.
4. Expenses.
--------
The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) all expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto; (ii) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the issue of the Debt Securities and all other expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, the Final
Supplemented Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto and the
mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (iii)
all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualification of the Debt
Securities, for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 3(d) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection
with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by Debt
Securities rating services for rating the Debt Securities; (v) the cost of
preparing the Debt Securities; (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any
agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee
in connection with the Indenture; (vii) the reasonable fees, disbursements and
expenses of Underwriters' counsel; and (viii) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise
specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that,
except as provided in this Section, and Sections 6 and 9 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including any
advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
---------------------------------------
The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the
accuracy, at and (except as otherwise stated herein) as of the date hereof and
at and as of the Time of Delivery, of the representations and warranties made
herein by the Company,
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to compliance at and as of the Time of Delivery by the Company with its
covenants and agreements herein contained and the other provisions hereof to be
satisfied at or prior to the Time of Delivery, and to the following additional
conditions:
(a) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose
shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and the Underwriters
shall have received on and as of the Time of Delivery, a certificate dated such
date, signed by an executive officer (including, without limitation, the
Treasurer) of the Company or an executive officer of Houston Industries
Incorporated, the sole stockholder of the Company ("Houston Industries"), to the
foregoing effect, and (ii) there shall have been no material adverse change in
or affecting the business, properties or financial condition of the Company from
that set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement at the time it
became effective, except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus, and
the Underwriters shall have received on and as of the Time of Delivery, a
certificate dated such date, signed by an executive officer of the Company or an
executive officer of Houston Industries to the foregoing effect. The officers
or agents making such certificates may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to
proceedings pending or threatened.
(b) Dewey Ballantine LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have
furnished to you such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery, with
respect to such matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall
have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to
enable them to pass upon such matters. In giving such opinion, such counsel may
rely as to the exemption of Houston Industries under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "1935 Act"), upon the opinion of Baker &
Botts, L.L.P. referred to in (d) below.
(c) Hugh Rice Kelly, Esq., Executive Vice President and Secretary of
the Company, or Rufus S. Scott, Esq., Assistant Secretary of the Company, shall
have furnished to you his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery, in form
and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power
and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and
the Indenture;
(ii) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration with, any governmental regulatory body (other than such as may be
required under applicable state securities laws, as to which such counsel need
not express an opinion) is required for the issuance and sale of the Debt
Securities being delivered at the Time of Delivery or the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture;
(iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as
set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
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proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company is subject, which,
individually or in the aggregate, are expected to have a material adverse effect
on the financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
Company;
(iv) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and the Indenture will not result in the breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of
the Company, each as amended to date, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or
other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company is a party
or by which it is bound or to which its property is subject or any law, order,
rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or its property, in any manner which would have a
material adverse effect on the business of the Company; and
(v) The description of statutes and regulations set forth in Part I of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996 under the captions "Business--Regulation" and "-- Environmental Matters",
as updated in the Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, June 30 and
September 30, 1997, fairly describe in all material respects the portions of the
statutes and regulations addressed thereby.
(d) Baker & Botts, L.L.P., counsel for the Company, shall have
furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery, in form and
substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:
(i) Such counsel does not know of any contracts or documents of a
character required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not so
described and filed;
(ii) The statements set forth in the Final Supplemented Prospectus
under the caption "Description of Debentures", and in the Basic Prospectus under
the caption "Description of Debt Securities" accurately summarizes in all
material respects the terms of the Debt Securities;
(iii) The Debt Securities conform, as to legal matters in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Final
Supplemented Prospectus including, without limitation, under the caption
"Description of Debentures", and in the Basic Prospectus including, without
limitation, under the caption "Description of Debt Securities";
(iv) The Debt Securities are in the form prescribed in or pursuant to
the Indenture, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and, when executed and delivered by the
Company and authenticated by the Trustee as specified in or pursuant to the
Indenture, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability is subject to the
effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law
relating to or affecting creditors'
9
rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); the Indenture
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, when
executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
such enforceability is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other law relating to or affecting creditors'
rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(v) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the TIA;
(vi) Pursuant to a Memorandum Opinion and Order Granting Exemption to
Holding Company dated July 24, 1997 issued by the Commission (Release No. 35-
26744), Houston Industries is exempt from regulation as a public utility holding
company under Section 3(a)(2) of the 1935 Act, except the provisions of Section
9(a)(2) thereof;
(vii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act,
and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted and are pending or are
threatened by the Commission under the Act; the Registration Statement, as of
its effective date, and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of February 5,
1998, (except for (A) the operating statistics, financial statements, pro forma
financial statements and financial statement schedules contained or incorporated
by reference therein (including the auditors' reports on the financial
statements and the notes to the financial statements), (B) the other financial
and statistical information contained or incorporated by reference therein and
(C) the exhibits thereto, as to which such counsel need not express an opinion)
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Form S-3
under the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and each document incorporated by reference therein as originally
filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (except for (A) the operating statistics,
financial statements, pro forma financial statements and financial statement
schedules contained or incorporated by reference therein (including the
auditors' reports on the financial statements and the notes to the financial
statements), (B) the other financial and statistical information contained or
incorporated by reference therein and (C) the exhibits thereto, as to which such
counsel need not express an opinion) when so filed complied as to form in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder; and
(ix) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Company, and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Company.
In addition, such counsel shall state that no facts have come to the
attention of such counsel that lead them to believe that the Registration
Statement (except for (A) the operating statistics, financial statements, pro
forma financial statements and
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financial statement schedules contained or incorporated by reference therein
(including the auditors' reports on the financial statements and the notes to
the financial statements, except to the extent that such notes describe legal or
governmental proceedings to which the Company is a party and are incorporated by
reference into one or more items of a report that is incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, other than an item that
requires that financial statements be provided), (B) the other financial and
statistical information contained or incorporated by reference therein and (C)
the exhibits thereto, as to which such counsel need not comment) as of the time
such Registration Statement became effective, contained any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the
Prospectus, as amended, supplemented or modified by the filing of a document
incorporated by reference therein if so amended, supplemented or modified
(except for (A) the operating statistics, financial statement, pro forma
financial statements and financial statement schedules contained or incorporated
by reference therein (including the auditors' reports on the financial
statements and the notes to the financial statements, except to the extent that
such notes describe legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company is a
party and are incorporated by reference into one or more items of a report that
is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, other than an item that requires
that financial statements be provided), (B) the other financial and statistical
information contained or incorporated by reference therein and (C) the exhibits
thereto, as to which such counsel need not comment), as of the date of the Final
Supplemented Prospectus contained, or as of the Time of Delivery contains, any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(e) At the time of execution of this Agreement, Deloitte & Touche LLP
shall have furnished to you a letter dated the date of such execution,
substantially in the form heretofore supplied and deemed satisfactory to you.
(f) At the time of execution of this Agreement, Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P. shall have furnished to you a letter dated the date of such execution,
substantially in the form heretofore supplied and deemed satisfactory to you.
(g) At the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have
furnished you a letter, dated the Time of Delivery, to the effect that such
accountants reaffirm, as of the Time of Delivery and as though made on the Time
of Delivery, the statements made in the letter furnished by such accountants
pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 5, except that the specified date
referred to in such letter will be a date not more than five business days prior
to the Time of Delivery.
(h) At the Time of Delivery, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. shall have
furnished you a letter, dated the Time of Delivery, addressing certain matters
requested by you at the date hereof.
(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you
at the Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to
you as
11
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at
and as of the Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of
its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Time of Delivery,
as to the matters set forth in the introductory paragraph to this Section 5 and
subsection (a) of this Section and as to such other matters as you may
reasonably request.
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
--------------------------------
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (including the reasonable cost of investigating and
defending against any claims therefore and counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith), joint or several, which may be based upon either the Act, or the
Exchange Act, or any other statute or at common law, on the ground or alleged
ground that any Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, Final Supplemented
Prospectus, Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any such document, as from time to time
amended, or deemed to be amended, supplemented or modified) includes or
allegedly includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated specifically for use in the preparation thereof; provided that in
no case is the Company to be liable with respect to any claims made against any
Underwriter or any such controlling person unless such Underwriter or such
controlling person shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Underwriter or such controlling person, but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to such
Underwriter or such controlling person otherwise than on account of the
indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph; and provided, further, that the
foregoing indemnity with respect to the Preliminary Prospectus, the Basic
Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus and the
Final Supplemented Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter
if a copy of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus,
the Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus as
amended or supplemented, had not been sent or given by or on behalf of such
Underwriter to the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities concurrently with or prior to delivery of the written confirmation
of the sale of Debt Securities to such person and the untrue statement or
omission of a material fact contained in any such Preliminary Prospectus, Basic
Prospectus, Prospectus, Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final
Supplemented Prospectus was corrected in the Preliminary Prospectus, Basic
Prospectus, Prospectus, Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus or Final
Supplemented Prospectus, as amended or supplemented.
The Company will be entitled to participate at its own expense in the
defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such
12
liability, but, if the Company elects to assume the defense, such defense shall
be conducted by counsel chosen by it. In the event that the Company elects to
assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Underwriter or
Underwriters or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the
suit, may retain additional counsel but shall bear the fees and expenses of such
counsel unless (i) the Company shall have specifically authorized the retaining
of such counsel or (ii) the parties to such suit include the Underwriter or
Underwriters or controlling person or persons and the Underwriter or
Underwriters or controlling person or persons have been advised by such counsel
that one or more legal defenses may be available to it or them which may not be
available to the Company, in which case the Company shall not be entitled to
assume the defense of such suit on behalf of such Underwriter or Underwriters or
controlling person or persons, notwithstanding their obligation to bear the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, it being understood, however, that
the Company shall not, in connection with any one such suit or proceeding or
separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of
attorneys at any time for all such Underwriters and their controlling persons,
which firm shall be designated in writing by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated. The Company shall not be liable to indemnify any person for
any settlement of any such claim effected without the Company's consent. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company might
otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of the Company's directors, each of the Company's officers who
have signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including the reasonable cost
of investigating and defending against any claims therefor and counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith), joint or several, which may be based upon the
Act, or any other statute or at common law, on the ground or alleged ground that
any Preliminary Supplemented Prospectus, Final Supplemented Prospectus,
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any such document, as from time to time amended, or deemed to be
amended, supplemented or modified) includes or allegedly includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading, but only insofar as any such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
Company by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated specifically for use in the preparation thereof; provided that in
no case is such Underwriter to be liable with respect to any claims made against
the Company or any such director, officer, trustee or controlling person unless
the Company or any such director, officer, trustee or controlling person shall
have notified such Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the
summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
claim shall have been served upon the Company or any such director, officer,
trustee or controlling person, but failure to notify such Underwriter of any
such claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the
Company or any such director, officer, trustee or controlling person otherwise
than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in
13
this paragraph. Such Underwriter will be entitled to participate at its own
expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit
brought to enforce any such liability, but, if such Underwriter elects to assume
the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it. In the
event that such Underwriter elects to assume the defense of any such suit and
retain such counsel, the Company or such director, officer, trustee or
controlling person, defendant or defendants in the suit, may retain additional
counsel but shall bear the fees and expenses of such counsel unless (i) such
Underwriter shall have specifically authorized the retaining of such counsel or
(ii) the parties to such suit include the Company or any such director, officer,
trustee or controlling person and such Underwriter and the Company or such
director, officer, trustee or controlling person have been advised by such
counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to it or them which may
not be available to such Underwriter, in which case such Underwriter shall not
be entitled to assume the defense of such suit on behalf of the Company or such
director, officer, trustee or controlling person, notwithstanding its obligation
to bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel, it being understood,
however, that such Underwriter shall not, in connection with any one such suit
or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or
proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations
or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all of the Company and any such
director, officer, trustee or controlling person, which firm shall be designated
in writing by the Company. Such Underwriter shall not be liable to indemnify any
person for any settlement of any such claim effected without such Underwriter's
consent. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
such Underwriter might otherwise have.
(c) If recovery is not available under Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof,
for any reason other than as specified therein, the parties entitled to
indemnification by the terms thereof shall be entitled to contribution for
liabilities and expenses, except to the extent that contribution is not
permitted under Section 11(f) of the Act. In determining the amount of
contribution to which the respective parties are entitled, there shall be
considered the relative benefits received by each party from the offering of the
Debt Securities (taking into account the portion of the proceeds of the offering
realized by each), the parties' relative knowledge and access to information
concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the
opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and any other
equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose). No Underwriters or
any person controlling such Underwriters shall be obligated to make contribution
hereunder which in the aggregate exceeds the total public offering price of the
Debt Securities purchased by such Underwriters under this Agreement, less the
aggregate amount of any damages which such Underwriters and its controlling
persons have otherwise been required to pay in respect of the same claim or any
substantially similar claim. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations, and not
joint.
7. Substitution of Underwriters.
----------------------------
14
If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Debt Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder and the aggregate
principal amount of such Debt Securities which such defaulting Underwriter
agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal
amount of all the Debt Securities, the non-defaulting Underwriters may make
arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of the aggregate
principal amount of such Debt Securities by other persons, including the non-
defaulting Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made prior to the Time
of Delivery, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally in
proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Debt
Securities which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If
any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate principal
amount of such Debt Securities with respect to which such default or defaults
occur is more than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of all the Debt
Securities and arrangements satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters and
the Company for the purchase of such Debt Securities by other persons are not
made within 48 hours after such default, this agreement will terminate.
If the non-defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters or substituted
underwriter or underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part
of the Debt Securities of the defaulting Underwriter as provided in this Section
7, (i) the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for a
period of not more than five full business days, in order that the Company may
effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements, and the
Company agrees to promptly file any amendments to the Registration Statement or
supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the
respective aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which the non-
defaulting Underwriters or substituted purchaser or purchasers shall thereafter
be obligated to purchase shall be taken as the basis of their underwriting
obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall
relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company or the non-
defaulting Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any
termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7 shall be without
liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company, other
than as provided in Sections 6 and 9.
8. Survival of Indemnities, Representations, Warranties, etc.
----------------------------------------------------------
The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Debt Securities.
9. Termination.
-----------
15
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, because of
any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to
fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the
Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
respective indemnities shall remain in full force and effect and the Company
will reimburse the Underwriter or such Underwriters as have so terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves for all out-of-pocket expenses (including
the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by them in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
10. Notices.
-------
In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or
given by you.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and (i) if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to you in care of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated, World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York
10281-1327, Attention: Robert D. Craig; and (ii) if to the Company shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the Company in
care of Houston Industries Incorporated, 1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Assistant Treasurer. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
11. Successors.
----------
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
several Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the
directors, trustees, officers and controlling persons referred to in Section 6
of this Agreement. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended
or shall be construed to give any person other than the persons mentioned in the
preceding sentence any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained; this Agreement
and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be, and being, for
the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other
person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and
indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be for the
benefit of the person or persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, and the representations, warranties,
covenants, agreements and indemnities of the several Underwriters shall also be
for the benefit of each director of the Company, each person who has signed the
Registration Statement and the person or persons, if any, who control the
Company within the meaning of the Act.
12. Applicable Law.
--------------
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.
16
13. Counterparts.
------------
This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and
the same instrument.
17
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us seven counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by
you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance
hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and
the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of
each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of
Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the
Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to
the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
NorAm Energy Corp.
/s/ MARC KILBRIDE
By:________________________
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC
By: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
/s/ ROBERT CRAIG
By:___________________________
Name: Robert Craig
Title: Vice President
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
18
SCHEDULE I
Principal Amount of
Underwriters Debt Securities
------------ ---------------
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated $ 75,000,000
Salomon Brothers Inc 75,000,000
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation 75,000,000
NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC 75,000,000
Total $300,000,000
19
Exhibit 4.1
=======================================================================
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
To
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
_______________
INDENTURE
Dated as of February 1, 1998
_______________
=======================================================================
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO
SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318,
INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:
TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION(S)
Section 310(a)(1) ............................................... 609
(a)(2) ............................................... 609
(a)(3) ............................................... Not Applicable
(a)(4) ............................................... Not Applicable
(b) ............................................... 608, 610
Section 311(a) ............................................... 613
(b) ............................................... 613
Section 312(a) ............................................... 701, 702
(b) ............................................... 702
(c) ............................................... 702
Section 313(a) ............................................... 703
(b) ............................................... 703
(c) ............................................... 703
(d) ............................................... 703
Section 314(a) ............................................... 704
(a)(4) ............................................... 101, 1004
(b) ............................................... Not Applicable
(c)(1) ............................................... 102
(c)(2) ............................................... 102
(c)(3) ............................................... Not Applicable
(d) ............................................... Not Applicable
(e) ............................................... 102
Section 315(a) ............................................... 601
(b) ............................................... 602
(c) ............................................... 601
(d) ............................................... 601
(e) ............................................... 514
_______________
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.
TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION(S)
Section 316(a) ............................................. 101
(a)(1)(A) ............................................. 502, 512
(a)(1)(B) ............................................. 513
(a)(2) ............................................. Not Applicable
(b) ............................................. 508
(c) ............................................. 104
Section 317(a)(1) ............................................. 503
(a)(2) ............................................. 504
(b) ............................................. 1003
Section 318(a) ............................................. 107
_______________
NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION..........................................1
SECTION 101. Definitions.....................................................1
"Act"...........................................................................2
"Affiliate".....................................................................2
"Authenticating Agent"..........................................................2
"Board of Directors"............................................................2
"Board Resolution"..............................................................2
"Business Day"..................................................................2
"Commission"....................................................................2
"Company".......................................................................2
"Company Request" or "Company Order"............................................3
"Corporate Trust Office"........................................................3
"corporation"...................................................................3
"Covenant Defeasance"...........................................................3
"Defaulted Interest"............................................................3
"Defeasance"....................................................................3
"Depositary"....................................................................3
"Event of Default"..............................................................3
"Exchange Act"..................................................................3
"Exchange Rate".................................................................3
"Expiration Date"...............................................................3
"Extension Notice"..............................................................3
"Extension Period"..............................................................3
"Final Maturity"................................................................3
"Global Security"...............................................................3
"Holder"........................................................................4
"Houston Industries"............................................................4
"Indenture".....................................................................4
"interest"......................................................................4
"Interest Payment Date".........................................................4
"Investment Company Act"........................................................4
"Maturity"......................................................................4
"Maximum Interest Rate".........................................................4
"Notice of Default".............................................................4
"Officers' Certificate".........................................................4
"Opinion of Counsel"............................................................4
"Optional Reset Date"...........................................................4
"Original Issue Discount Security"..............................................5
"Original Stated Maturity"......................................................5
-i-
"Outstanding"...................................................................5
"Paying Agent"..................................................................6
"Person"........................................................................6
"Place of Payment"..............................................................6
"Predecessor Security"..........................................................6
"Redemption Date"...............................................................6
"Redemption Price"..............................................................6
"Regular Record Date"...........................................................6
"Repayment Date"................................................................6
"Reset Notice"..................................................................6
"Responsible Officer"...........................................................6
"Securities"....................................................................7
"Securities Act"................................................................7
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar"....................................7
"Special Record Date"...........................................................7
"Stated Maturity"...............................................................7
"Subsequent Interest Period"....................................................7
"Subsidiary"....................................................................7
"Trust Indenture Act"...........................................................7
"Trustee".......................................................................7
"U.S. Government Obligation"....................................................7
"Vice President"................................................................8
"Yield to Maturity".............................................................8
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions............................8
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee..........................8
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates...................................9
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company..........................11
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver......................................11
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..............................12
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.......................12
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.........................................12
SECTION 110. Separability Clause............................................12
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture..........................................12
SECTION 112. Governing Law..................................................12
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.................................................13
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS.................................................13
SECTION 201. Forms Generally................................................13
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.......................................13
SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security....................................16
SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities...........................22
SECTION 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication................22
-ii-
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES.................................................22
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series...........................23
SECTION 302. Denominations..................................................26
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.................26
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities...........................................28
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange............28
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities...............30
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved;
Optional Interest Reset........................................31
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity.................................34
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners..........................................35
SECTION 310. Cancellation...................................................35
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended....................35
SECTION 312. CUSIP Numbers..................................................36
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE.....................................36
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture........................36
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.....................................38
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES.......................................................38
SECTION 501. Events of Default..............................................38
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.............40
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
Enforcement by Trustee.........................................41
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim...............................41
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities....42
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.................................42
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits............................................43
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal
Premium and Interest...........................................43
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.............................44
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.................................44
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver...................................44
SECTION 512. Control by Holders.............................................44
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults........................................45
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs..........................................45
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws........................45
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE....................................................46
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities............................46
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.............................................46
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee......................................46
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.........48
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities............................................48
-iii-
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust............................................48
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.................................48
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests..........................................49
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility........................49
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor..............49
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.........................51
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business....52
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company..............52
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent............................53
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE
AND COMPANY....................................................55
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.....55
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.........55
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.............................................55
SECTION 704. Reports by Company.............................................56
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE,
TRANSFER OR LEASE..............................................56
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms...........56
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted..........................................57
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES........................................58
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.............58
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders................59
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures...........................61
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures..............................61
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act............................61
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.............61
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS......................................................62
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.....................62
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency................................62
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust..............62
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default............................63
SECTION 1005. Existence......................................................64
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants....................................64
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES.......................................64
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.......................................64
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee..........................64
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed..............65
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption...........................................65
-iv-
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price...................................66
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.........................67
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part...................................67
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS.................................................67
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article......................................67
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.........68
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.....................68
ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS........................68
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article......................................68
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities.......................................69
SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option............................................69
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become
Due and Payable...............................................69
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part.....................................70
ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE............................70
SECTION 1401. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance..70
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge......................................70
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance...........................................71
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance...............71
SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee........................73
SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations
to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.................73
SECTION 1407. Reinstatement.................................................74
ARTICLE FIFTEEN IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES.............................75
SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability...........................75
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INDENTURE, dated as of February 1, 1998, between NorAm Energy Corp., a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware
(herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 1111 Louisiana,
Houston, Texas 77002, and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association (formerly
known as Texas Commerce Bank National Association), a national banking
association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes
or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the "Securities"), to be
issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the
Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
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:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein
expressly provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles"
with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean
such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States
of America
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at the date of such computation, provided, that when two or more principles
are so generally accepted, it shall mean that set of principles consistent
with those in use by the Company;
(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may
be, of this Indenture; and
(5) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in
Section 104.
"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 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one
or more series.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company or
any duly authorized committee of that board.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the
Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been
delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law
or executive order to close.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor Person.
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"Company Request" or "Company Order" mean, respectively, a written
request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board,
its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its
Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and
delivered to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered,
as follows: (a) for payment, registration, transfer and exchange of the
Securities: One Main Place, 1201 Main Street, 18th Floor, Dallas, Texas 75202,
Attention: Registered Bond Events; telephone: (214) 672-5125 or (800) 275-
2048; telecopier: (214) 672-5746; and (b) for all other communications relating
to the Securities: 600 Travis Street, Suite 1150, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Global Trust Services; telephone: (713) 216-5712; telecopier: (713)
216-5476.
"corporation" means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock
company or business trust.
"Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1403.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307(a).
"Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1402.
"Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in
whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency
registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for
such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Exchange Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104.
"Extension Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 308.
"Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 308.
"Final Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 308.
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"Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such
legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.
"Houston Industries" means Houston Industries Incorporated, a Texas
corporation, and its successors.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.
"interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security
which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means 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.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal or premium,
if any, becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the
Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise.
"Maximum Interest Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 311.
"Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 501(4).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President
or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Company (and who may be an employee of the Company), and who
shall be acceptable to the Trustee.
"Optional Reset Date" has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).
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"Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for
an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.
"Original Stated Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 308.
"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 for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary
amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent
(other than the Company) in trust or irrevocably set aside and segregated
in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent)
for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are
to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been
made;
(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to
Section 1402; 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, made or taken
any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an
Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding
shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable
as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date
pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount
payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the
principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding
shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section
301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more
foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be
Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date
in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal
amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause
(A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and
(D) 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
-5-
the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only
Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the
Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and
that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company. The Company initially authorizes and appoints Houston Industries as the
Paying Agent for the Securities.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed,
means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.
"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.
"Reset Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or any
vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman
of the trust committee, the president, any vice president, the secretary, any
assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any
assistant cashier, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller
or any assistant controller
-6-
or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture
and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings
specified in Section 305.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307(a).
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or premium, if any, or interest thereon, means
the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of
or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of principal or
interest is due and payable.
"Subsequent Interest Period" has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).
"Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting
stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.
For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily
has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so
long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any
contingency.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at
the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean
or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there
is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities
of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
"U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1404.
-7-
"Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president".
"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 such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of
an Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
relating thereto;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, the
individual has made or caused to be made such examination or investigation
as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as
to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 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
-8-
or more other such Persons may certify or give an opinion as to other matters,
and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or
several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which such officer's certificate or opinion is
based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based,
insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect 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; Record Dates.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee
deems sufficient. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity
other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also
constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the
execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person
executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee
deems sufficient.
The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the
same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu
-9-
thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the
Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such
action is made upon such Security.
The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such
series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a
record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the
record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person
be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed
to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action
is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the
Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the
proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the
Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in
the manner set forth in Section 106.
The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such
action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.
-10-
With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to
all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
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
(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient
for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing
to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration, or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient
for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if
in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company
addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the
first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously
furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders
is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice
in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be
the equivalent of such
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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.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a
part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any
provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust
Indenture Act which 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.
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 109. 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 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under this Indenture.
SECTION 112. Governing Law.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment,
then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities
(other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such
provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal
(and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date,
but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment
with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or
Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, and no additional interest shall
accrue as the result of such delayed payment.
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS
SECTION 201. Forms Generally.
The Securities of each series and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or
in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution
or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or
other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as
may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of
such series may be listed or traded or Depositary therefor or as may,
consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities,
as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any
series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of
an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to
the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities.
The definitive Securities of each series shall be typewritten,
printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these
methods, if required by any securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded, on steel engraved
borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of
such series may be listed or traded, all as determined by the officers executing
such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.
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[INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE REGULATIONS
THEREUNDER.]
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
(Title of Security)
No. __________ $__________
CUSIP No. ________
NORAM ENERGY CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars on
____________________ [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity,
insert -- , and to pay interest thereon from _______________ or from the most
recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for, semi-annually on __________ and __________ in each year, commencing
__________, at the rate of _____% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid
or made available for payment [if applicable, insert -- , provided that any
principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue
shall bear interest at the rate of _____% per annum (to the extent permitted by
applicable law), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made
available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. [If
applicable, insert -- The amount of interest payable for any period shall be
computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of
interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-
day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In
the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a
Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made
on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if
made on the date the payment was originally payable. A "Business Day" shall
mean, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions
in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order
to close.] The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for,
on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the __________ or __________ (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. 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 either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
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Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of
this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by
such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said
Indenture].
[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert --
The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of _____% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand.]
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable,
insert -- any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in __________, in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert -- ;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer in
immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be
designated in writing by the Person entitled thereto as specified in the
Security Register].
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: _______________ NORAM ENERGY CORP.
By:_________________________________________
Attest:
_____________________
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SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security.
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998 (herein called the
"Indenture", which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one
of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert --, limited
in aggregate principal amount to $__________; provided, however, that the
authorized aggregate principal amount of the Securities may be increased above
such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect.
[If applicable, insert-- The interest rate (or the spread or spread
multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on this Security
may be reset by the Company on ____________ (each an "Optional Reset Date").
The Company may exercise such option with respect to this Security by notifying
the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an
Optional Reset Date for this Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each
Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in
Section 106 of the Indenture, to the Holder of this Security a notice (the
"Reset Notice") indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest
rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate,
if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or
spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for
redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional
Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated
Maturity of this Security (each such period a "Subsequent Interest Period"),
including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and
the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent
Interest Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the
Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate
(or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if
applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or
a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if
applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread
multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent
Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for
in Section 106 of the Indenture, notice of such higher interest rate (or such
higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of this
Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities of this series with
respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to
calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date,
and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such
Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to
the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such
higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).
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The Holder of this Security will have the option to elect repayment by
the Company of the principal of this Security on each Optional Reset Date at a
price equal to the principal amount hereof plus interest accrued to such
Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date,
the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen of the
Indenture for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for
delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than
35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has
tendered this Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder
may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the
close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.]
[If applicable, insert -- The Stated Maturity of this Security may be
extended at the option of the Company for _______________ (each an "Extension
Period") up to but not beyond ____________ (the "Final Maturity"). The Company
may exercise such option with respect to this Security by notifying the Trustee
of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated
Maturity of this Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the
"Original Stated Maturity"). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee
shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106 of the Indenture, to
the Holder of this Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated
Maturity a notice (the "Extension Notice") indicating (i) the election of the
Company to extend the Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest
rate applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for
redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee's transmittal of the
Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of this Security shall be extended
automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described
in the next paragraph, this Security will have the same terms as prior to the
transmittal of such Extension Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the
Original Stated Maturity of this Security, the Company may, at its option,
revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a
higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to
transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher
interest rate to the Holder of this Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable.
All Securities of this series with respect to which the Stated Maturity is
extended will bear such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Maturity of this Security, the Holder will
have the option to elect repayment of this Security by the Company on the
Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount hereof, plus
interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original
Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity hereof, the Holder
hereof must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen of the Indenture
for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or
notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior
to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered this
Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may, by
written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender for repayment until the close
of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.]
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[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, [if applicable, insert --
(1) 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)] at any time [if
applicable, insert -- on or after __________, 19__], as a whole or in part, at
the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert -- on
or before __________, _____%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period
beginning __________ of the years indicated,
Redemption Redemption
Year Price Year Price
---- ----- ---- -----
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert -- (whether
through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to
the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities,
or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the
relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the
Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than 30 days' notice by mail, (1) on __________ in any
year commencing with the year _____ and ending with the year _____ through
operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for
redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of
the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if
applicable, insert -- on or after __________], as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than
through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal
amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning __________ of the years indicated,
Year Redemption Price For Redemption Price For
- ------ Redemption Through Redemption Otherwise
Operation of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
---- ------------ -------------------
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and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not, prior to __________, redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [if applicable, insert --Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,
directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than _____% per annum.]
[If applicable, insert -- The sinking fund for this series provides
for the redemption on __________ in each year beginning with the year _____ and
ending with the year _____ of [if applicable, insert -- not less than
$__________ ("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $__________ aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series
acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable,
insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent
[if applicable, insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to
be made [if applicable, insert --, in the inverse order in which they become
due].]
[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert -- In
the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or
Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof
will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]
[If applicable, insert -- The Securities of this series are not
subject to redemption by the Company prior to their Stated Maturity and will not
be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.]
The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of
the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
[If applicable, insert -- The Indenture contains provisions for
defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or]
[certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this
Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.]
-19-
[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert --
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]
[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert -- If
an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to -- insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each
case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The
foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security
for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or
interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
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,
-20-
to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the
times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this 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.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $__________ and any integral multiple
thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like
aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a
different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the
same.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the
Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in Sections 202 and
203, bear a legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR
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SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS
NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT
BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.
SECTION 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: ____________
__________________________
As Trustee
By: ________________________
Authorized Signatory
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. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate or
in a Company Order, 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 (which shall distinguish
the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the
series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for
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any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have
been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that the
authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased above
such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect;
(3) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the
series is payable, or the method by which such date or dates shall be
determined or extended;
(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be
determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the
method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest
Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular
Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date,
or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the
basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-
day year of twelve 30-day months;
(5) the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable, the place or
places where the Securities of such series may be presented for
registration of transfer or exchange, and the place or places where notices
and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such
series may be made;
(6) the period or periods within or the date or dates on which, the
price or prices at which and the term and conditions upon which any
Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the
option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner
in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be
evidenced;
(7) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to redeem or
purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund,
amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof
and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the
currency or currencies (including currency unit or units) in which and the
other terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be
redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be
issuable;
(9) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be
determined;
(10) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the
currency, currencies or currency units, including composite currencies, in
which the principal of or any
-23-
premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and
the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the
United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the
definition of "Outstanding" in Section 101;
(11) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities
of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the
Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that
or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency,
currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or
interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be
payable, the period or periods within or the date or dates on which and the
terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount
so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);
(12) the percentage of the principal amount at which such Securities
will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 502 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
(13) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more
dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be
the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose
thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which
shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity
or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the
Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount
deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);
(14) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall not be defeasible or shall be defeasible in a manner
varying from Section 1402 and Section 1403 and, if other than by a Board
Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such
Securities shall be evidenced;
(15) whether the Securities of the series, or any portion thereof,
shall initially be issuable in the form of a temporary Global Security
representing all or such portion of the Securities of such series and
provisions for the exchange of such temporary Global Security for
definitive Securities of such series;
(16) if applicable, that any Securities of the series, or any portion
thereof, shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more
Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such
Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne
by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in
Section 204 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set
forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such
Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities
registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in
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whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other
than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;
(17) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall be subject to the optional interest reset provisions
of Section 307(b);
(18) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall be subject to the optional extension of maturity
provisions of Section 308;
(19) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies
to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee
or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount
thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;
(20) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article
Ten which applies to Securities of the series;
(21) the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect
to the Securities of such series as shall be necessary to permit or
facilitate the issuance of the Securities of such series in bearer form,
registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without
interest coupons;
(22) the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities
of such series, if other than Houston Industries;
(23) the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such
series into any other securities or property of the Company, and the
additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the
Securities of such series to permit or facilitate such conversion or
exchange;
(24) the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the
Securities of the series are secured;
(25) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the
Securities of such series; and
(26) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms
shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as
permitted by Section 901(5)).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or in
or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section
303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers'
Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
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If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the
Officers' Certificate or Company Order setting forth the terms of the series.
SECTION 302. Denominations.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered
form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as
contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series
shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its Vice Chairman of the
Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal
reproduced or impressed thereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its
Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities
may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals
who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the
form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301,
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 Section 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,
(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form
has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms
have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
and
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(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be
required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate or Company
Order otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and
Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or
prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents
are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the
first Security of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or
be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized
signatories, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated
and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall
have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the
Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for
cancellation as provided in Section 310, 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.
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 of such series in lieu
of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may
determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
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If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will
cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the
temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive
Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such
series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that
series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more
definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits
under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is
hereby appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities
and transfers of Securities as herein provided. If any indenture supplemental
hereto refers to any transfer agents (in addition to the Security Registrar)
initially designated by the Company with respect to any series of Securities,
the Company 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,
provided that the Company maintains a transfer agent in each Place of Payment
for such series. The Company may at any time designate additional transfer
agents with respect to any series of Securities.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a
series at the 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 Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like
tenor and aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged
for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to
be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so
surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
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Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer
or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly
endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the
Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.
Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall be required, pursuant to the
provisions of this Section, (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange
any Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor, as the case
may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the
day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for
redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of
such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any
Security to be redeemed in part, any portion not to be redeemed.
The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only
to Global Securities:
(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global
Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee
thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall
constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered,
and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered,
in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global
Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified
the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for
such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered
under the Exchange Act at a time when the Depositary is required to be so
registered to act as depositary, in each case, unless the Company has
approved a successor Depositary within 90 days, (B) there shall have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global
Security, (C) the Company in its sole discretion determines that such
Global Security will be so exchangeable or transferable or (D) there shall
exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the
foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by
Section 301.
(3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for
other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued
in exchange for a Global
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Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the
Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.
(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any
portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or
1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and
shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name
of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof.
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with
such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to
save each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series
and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i)
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security
and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of
them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to
the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security
of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding. If, after the delivery of such new Security,
a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new
Security was issued presents for payment or registration such original Security,
the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to
whom it was delivered or any party taking therefrom, except a bona fide
purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity
provided therefor to the extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by
the Company and the Trustee in connection therewith.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has
become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may,
instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company
may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees
and expenses of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in
lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the
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Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any
time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that
series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest
Reset.
(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security of any series
which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest in respect of Securities of such series,
except that, unless otherwise provided in the Securities of such series,
interest payable on the Stated Maturity of the principal of a Security shall be
paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial payment of interest on
any Security of any series which is issued between a Regular Record Date and the
related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as provided in such Security or
in the Board Resolution pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the related
series of Securities. Except in the case of a Global Security, at the option of
the Company, interest on any series of Securities may be paid (i) by check
mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it shall appear on the
Security Register of such series or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately
available funds at such place and to such account as designated in writing by
the Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register of such
series.
Any Paying Agents will be identified in a supplemental indenture
hereto. The Company may at any time designate additional Paying Agents or
rescind the designation of any Paying Agent; however, the Company at all times
will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for each
series of Securities.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect
to any series of Securities, any interest on any Security of any series which is
payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date for Securities of such series (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular
Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest
may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause
(1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series in respect of
which interest is in default (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
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proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the
proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be
paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days
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 given to each Holder of Securities
of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10
days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so
mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities)
are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and
shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system
on which such Securities may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as
may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant
to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the
Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered
under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in
lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and
unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
(b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to
any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications,
additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301).
The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such
interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the
Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an
"Optional Reset Date"). The Company may exercise such option with respect to
such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more
than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than
40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the
manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice
(the "Reset Notice") indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the
interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such
interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new
spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for
redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional
Reset Date or if there is no
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such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each
such period a "Subsequent Interest Period"), including the date or dates on
which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which
such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the
Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate
(or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if
applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or
a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if
applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread
multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent
Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for
in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or
spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice
shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate
(or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if
applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the
Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or
have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph,
will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier,
if applicable).
The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect
repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional
Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest
accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an
Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article
Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for
delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than
35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has
tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder
may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the
close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305,
each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or
in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to
interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other
Security.
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity.
The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any
series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions
or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated
Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the
Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each
an "Extension Period") up to but not beyond the date (the "Final Maturity") set
forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with
respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50
but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such
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Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the "Original Stated
Maturity"). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit,
in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not
later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the
"Extension Notice") indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the
Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate applicable to
the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such
Extension Period. Upon the Trustee's transmittal of the Extension Notice, the
Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as
modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such
Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension
Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the
Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option,
revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a
higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to
transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher
interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable.
All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear
such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder will
have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the
Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus
interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original
Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder
must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the
option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the
Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original
Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for
repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to
the Trustee, revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the
tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered on the applicable record
date as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such
Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or
the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 310. Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company
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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 canceled by the Trustee. No
Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities
canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this
Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as
directed by a Company Order.
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and interest on
the Securities of each series for any partial period shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the number of days elapsed
in any partial month.
The amount of interest (or amounts deemed to be interest under
applicable law) payable or paid on any Security shall be limited to an amount
which shall not exceed the maximum nonusurious rate of interest allowed by the
applicable laws of the State of Texas or any applicable law of the United States
permitting a higher maximum nonusurious rate that preempts such applicable Texas
laws, which could lawfully be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or
received (the "Maximum Interest Rate"). If, as a result of any circumstances
whatsoever, the Company or any other Person is deemed to have paid interest (or
amounts deemed to be interest under applicable law) or any Holder of a Security
is deemed to have contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received interest
(or amounts deemed to be interest under applicable law), in excess of the
Maximum Interest Rate, then, ipso facto, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be
reduced to the limit of validity, and if from any such circumstance, the
Trustee, acting on behalf of the Holders, or any Holder shall ever receive
interest or anything that might be deemed interest under applicable law that
would exceed the Maximum Interest Rate, such amount that would be excessive
interest shall be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on the
applicable Security or Securities and not to the payment of interest, or if such
excessive interest exceeds the unpaid principal balance of any such Security or
Securities, such excess shall be refunded to the Company. In addition, for
purposes of determining whether payments in respect of any Security are
usurious, all sums paid or agreed to be paid with respect to such Security for
the use, forbearance or detention of money shall, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full
term of such Bond.
SECTION 312. 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 that any such notice may
state that no representation is made as to the
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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 shall
promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in "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 (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided
in this Section 401), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the
Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than
(i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have
been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for
whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated
and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or
discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Securities 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 of the date of deposit, or
(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice
of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of
the Company,
and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust
funds in trust for such purpose money in an amount sufficient to
pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
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for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such
deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and
payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the
case may be;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an 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 have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust
and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to the
Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for
a period of 30 days; or
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(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any
Security of that series at its Maturity; or
(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as
due by the terms of a Security of that series; or
(4) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture with respect to a
Security of that series (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the
performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section
specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this
Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that
series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days
after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the
Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of
at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that
series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it
to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under
this Indenture; or
(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case
or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in
respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or
appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial
part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its
affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any
such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90
consecutive days; or
(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to
be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry
of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary
case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of
any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing
by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief
under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the
filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property,
or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the
admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as
they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in
furtherance of any such action; or
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(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series;
provided, however, that no event described in clause (4), (5), (6) or (7) above
shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder until a Responsible Officer
assigned to and working in the Trustee's corporate trust department has actual
knowledge thereof or until a written notice of any such event is received by the
Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice refers to the Securities
generally, the Company or the Indenture.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 501, if the
principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a currency
other than the currency of the United States of America and such currency is not
available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of
exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the
Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities
by making such payment in the currency of the United States of America in an
amount equal to the currency of the United States of America equivalent of the
amount payable in such other currency, as determined by the Trustee by reference
to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such
currency ("Exchange Rate"), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made
available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment,
or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently
available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 501, any payment made under such circumstances in the currency of the
United States of America where the required payment is in a currency other than
the currency of the United States of America will not constitute an Event of
Default under this Indenture.
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other than (a) an Event of Default specified
in Section 501(4) or another Event of Default specified in Section 501(7) which
is common to all Outstanding series of Securities or (b) an Event of Default
specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series
at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all
the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original
Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such
Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable
immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given
by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified
amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If (a) an Event of Default
specified in Section 501(4) or another Event of Default under Section 501(7)
which is common to all Outstanding series of Securities occurs and is continuing
or (b) an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) occurs and is
continuing, then in every such case, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than
25% in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities then Outstanding
hereunder (treated as one class), by a notice in writing to the Company (and to
the Trustee if given by Holders) may declare the principal amount (or, if any
Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal
amount as may be specified in the terms
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thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding to be due and payable
immediately, and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified
amount) shall become immediately due and payable.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this
Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of
that series,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of
that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration
of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Securities, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel;
and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have
been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security
when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a
period of 30 days, or
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
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the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and
payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and,
to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable,
interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest,
at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in
addition thereto, all amounts owing the Trustee, its agents and counsel
under Section 607.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs
and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by
such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and
any predecessor Trustee under Section 607.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor
Trustee under Section 607, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of
the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been
recovered.
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SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with
respect to a series of Securities 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 or property on account of principal or any
premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation
thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if
fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section
607;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for
principal of and any premium and interest on such series of Securities in
respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected,
ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on such series of Securities for principal and any
premium and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any
other Person or Persons entitled thereto.
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or
sequestrator (or other similar official), or for any other remedy hereunder,
unless
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of
a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that
series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to
the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in
its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of security or indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
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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 itself of, any
provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any
other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or
preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all such Holders.
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to
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 has instituted any proceeding to enforce
any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue
as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph
of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Holders 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 Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case
may be.
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SECTION 512. Control by Holders.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect
to the Securities of such series, provided that
(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall have
the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or
Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, determine that the proceeding
so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would
otherwise be contrary to applicable law.
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 waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default
(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on
any Security of such series or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 514. 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 such court may in its discretion
assess reasonable costs including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due
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regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party
litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 514 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 per centum in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder
for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any
Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security.
Neither this Section 514 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to
authorize any court to require such an undertaking or such an assessment in any
proceeding instituted by the Company.
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants
or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any
power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of
every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.
If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any
series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice
of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to
Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For
the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of such series.
The Trustee is not required to take notice or deemed to have notice of
any Event of Default with respect to the Securities, except an Event of Default
under Section 501(1),
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Section 501(2) or Section 501(3) hereof, unless a Responsible Officer shall have
received written notice of such Event of Default from the Company, any
Subsidiary or the Holder of any Security.
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
(1) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties;
(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any
resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a
Board Resolution;
(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other
evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;
(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of
such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(5) 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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance
with such request or direction;
(6) 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, other evidence of indebtedness 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, personally or by agent or attorney;
(7) 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
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not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(8) the Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with
respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers
under this Indenture;
(9) in the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting
requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders of Securities,
each representing less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities Outstanding, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may determine
what action, if any, shall be taken;
(10) the Trustee's immunities and protections from liability and its
right to indemnification in connection with the performance of its duties
under this Indenture shall extend to the Trustee's officers, directors,
agents and employees. Such immunities and protections and right to
indemnification, together with the Trustee's right to compensation, shall
survive the Trustee's resignation or removal and final payment of the
Securities; and
(11) except for information provided by the Trustee concerning the
Trustee, the Trustee shall have no responsibility for any information in
any offering memorandum or other disclosure material distributed with
respect to the Securities, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for
compliance with any state or federal securities laws in connection with the
Securities.
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and 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. Neither
the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.
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SECTION 606. 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 with the Company.
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for all
services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the
Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision
of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses
and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the
exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
In the event the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in any
proceedings which result from an Event of Default under Section 501, subsection
(5) or (6) of this Indenture, or from any default which, with the passage of
time, would become such Event of Default, the expenses so incurred and
compensation for services so rendered are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under the United States Bankruptcy Code or equivalent law.
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to
Securities of more than one series.
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
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There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for
Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section
and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and
surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this
Article.
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
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 611.
The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series.
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 at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder 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 609 and
shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or
by any such Holder, 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,
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then, in any such case, (A) the Company, acting pursuant to the authority of a
Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B)
subject to Section 514, any Holder 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.
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 a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of
such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation,
removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee
so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, 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 and accepted appointment in the manner
required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a
Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and
all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
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 to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided 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 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
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 conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the 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.
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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
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 Trustee's 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.
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 the
first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.
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 612. 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 the corporate trust business
of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any, of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor
by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated, and in case any
Securities shall not have been
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authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities
either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor
Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full
force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that
the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
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 Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and
(6) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) "cash transaction" means any transaction in which full payment for
goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods
or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks and
payable upon demand; and
(b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance
or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company (or
any such obligor) for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing,
manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and
which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien
upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising
from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the
security; provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with
the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company (or any such obligor)
arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of
exchange, acceptance or obligation.
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
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 original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. 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 corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof
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 authority. If such
Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of said
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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. If 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 all or substantially all of
the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent
shall be the successor Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such corporation
shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating
Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written
notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time
terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof
to such Authenticating Agent and 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 may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such
appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities
of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.
The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 607.
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 the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: _____________
_________________________,
as Trustee
By: _______________________,
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as Authenticating Agent
By: _______________________
Authorized Officer
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(1) semi-annually, not later than January 15 and July 15 in each
year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the
names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the
preceding January 1 or July 1 as the case may be, and
(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list
of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
time such list is furnished;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.
SECTION 702. 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 in the
Trust Indenture Act.
Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to
the Trust Indenture Act.
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SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.
The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more
than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than January 31 in each calendar
year, commencing with the first January 31 after the first issuance of
Securities under this Indenture.
A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company
will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 704. Reports by Company.
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that any
--------
such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the
Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the
Commission.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to
consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:
(1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into
another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which
acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and
assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation,
partnership, trust or other entity, shall be organized and validly existing
under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the
District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an
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indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the
performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part
of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event
of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing;
and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such consolidation,
merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is
required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture
comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided
for relating to such transaction have been complied with; provided,
however, that the delivery of an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of
Counsel is not required with respect to any consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer or lease involving the Company and any wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company.
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company
into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties
and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with
Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such
conveyance, transfer or lease the Company shall be discharged from all
obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities and may be
dissolved and liquidated.
Such successor Person 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 Person
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 pursuant to such
provisions and any Securities which such successor Person thereafter shall cause
to be signed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf for the purpose pursuant
to such provisions. 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.
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In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease,
such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to
be issued as may be appropriate.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company,
or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation
of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to
Article Eight; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be
for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such
covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such
series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events
of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities,
stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included
solely for the benefit of such series), provided, however, that in respect
of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may
provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be
shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may
provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the
remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right
of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those
series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to
waive such default; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal,
and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the
issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or
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(5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided,
however, that if such addition, change or elimination shall adversely
affect the interests of Holders of Securities of any series, such addition,
change or elimination shall become effective with respect to such series
only when no such Security of such series remains Outstanding; or
(6) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or
with the Trustee or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon
the Company; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
(8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to
certificated securities; or
(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or
more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture
as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of
the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements
of Section 611; or
(10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant
to this Clause (10) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders
of Securities of any series; or
(11) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and
discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and
1403; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Securities of such series or any other series
of Securities; or
(12) to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may
be listed or traded; or
(13) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any
amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such action does not
adversely affect the rights or interests of any Holder of Securities.
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SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture (treated as one class), by Act of said Holders delivered
to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board
Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in
any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture
shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby,
(1) except to the extent permitted by Section 307(b) or Section 308
or otherwise specified in the form or terms of the Securities of any series
as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 with respect to extending the Stated
Maturity of any Security of such series, change the Stated Maturity of the
principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any
Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest
thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the
amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other
Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration
of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of
Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any
premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated
Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption
Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any
such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required
for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or
certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this
Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or
Section 1006, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that
certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived
without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected
thereby; 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 and Section 1006, or the
deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections
611 and 901(9), or
(4) if the Securities of any series are convertible or exchangeable
into any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that
adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security of such
series (except as permitted by Section 901) or decrease the conversion or
exchange rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of
such series, or
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(5) if the Securities of any series are secured, change the terms and
conditions pursuant to which the Securities of such series are secured in a
manner adverse to the Holders of the secured Securities of such series.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the
rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant
or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Officer's Certificate and 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 supplemental
indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder
of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder
shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
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
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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 and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will 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, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture
may be served. The Company initially appoints the Trustee, acting through its
Corporate Trust Office, as its agent for said purpose. The Company will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the
location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to
maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee
with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands
may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the
Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented
or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind
such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office
or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such
purposes. The Company 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.
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with
respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series,
segregate to the extent required by law and hold in trust for the benefit of the
Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium
and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of
its action or failure so to act.
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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will provide to a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay
the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series,
such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such
Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee 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 (1) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in
respect of the Securities of that series.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or
by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in
trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee,
such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years
after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable may be paid
to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be
discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as
an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and
all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust
money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon
cease; 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 a newspaper published in the English language, customarily
published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New
York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified
therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication,
any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the
Company.
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, one of the signers of which shall be the principal executive,
principal accounting or principal financial officer of the Company, stating
whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company, is in
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default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions,
covenants and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge.
SECTION 1005. Existence.
Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate
existence.
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of
any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision
or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(20),
901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Section
1005, if the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either
waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such
term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such
term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and,
until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the
duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall
remain in full force and effect.
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 such Securities) 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 a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated
by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election
of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such
redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, not less than
45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the
Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such
series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the
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Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to
the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of
such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the
Trustee with an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing
compliance with such restriction.
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series,
provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security
shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum
authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of
such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption
affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall
be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee,
from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not
previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities
selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed.
The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with
respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such
Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of
the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in
the Securities selected for redemption.
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in
the Security Register.
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With respect to Securities of each series to be redeemed, each notice
of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP
numbers) and shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series
consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the
identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such
Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be
redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any
series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the
principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become
due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if
applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after
said date,
(5) the place or places where each such Security is to be
surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the
case.
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 and shall be irrevocable.
The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such
notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the
notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in
part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any
other Security.
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption
given as provided in Section 1104, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or
with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent,
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money
sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date
shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which
are to be redeemed on that date.
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SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall
be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is
on or prior to the Redemption Date will 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 Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until
paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE 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 any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory
sinking fund payment", and any sinking fund payment in excess of such minimum
amount which is permitted to be made by the terms of such Securities is herein
referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the
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terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund
payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking
fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as
provided for by the terms of such Securities.
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other
than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a 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, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund
payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by
the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited
have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be
received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price,
as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall
be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for
such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof,
if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Not less than 45 days prior to 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 THE 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 and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
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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 and/or premium, 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 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
sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the
Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of, the premium, if
any, 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.
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. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so
providing for such repayment, with the "Option to Elect Repayment" form on the
reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder's
attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company 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 45 days nor later than 30 days
prior to the Repayment Date. 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, the premium, if any, to be paid, 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 and as provided in Sections 307(b) and 308,
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
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to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in
accordance with such provisions, the principal amount of such Security so to be
repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest and/or
premium, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that 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 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 Security which is to be repaid in part only, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the
Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, 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. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1402
or Section 1403 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the
case may be, (unless designated pursuant to Section 301 as not being defeasible
pursuant to such Section 1402 or 1403), in accordance with any applicable
requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the
conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be
evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated
by Section 301 for such Securities.
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this
Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may
be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations
with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the
date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter called
"Defeasance").
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For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have
paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and
to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this
Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the
expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated
or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to
receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any
premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002
and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee
hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the
Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any
Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have
Section 1403 applied to such Securities.
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this
Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may
be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenants
provided pursuant to Section 301(20), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in
Sections 501(4) (with respect to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section
301(20), 901(2) or 901(7)), and 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an
Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in
this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are
satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose, such
Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent
so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any
reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other
document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be
unaffected thereby.
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section
1402 or Section 1403 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:
(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be
deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the
requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the
provisions of this Article 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 benefits of the Holders of such
Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations
which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect
thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day
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before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a
combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and
discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other
qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium
and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used
herein, "U.S. Government Obligation" means (x) any security which is (i) a
direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which
the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or
(ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an
agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of
which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation
by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not
callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any
depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation
which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the
account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any
specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government
Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as
required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction
from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any
amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government
Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by
such depositary receipt.
(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1402 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A)
the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there
has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case
(A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm
that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and
discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at
the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and
discharge were not to occur.
(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1403 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant
Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at
the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance
were not to occur.
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(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other
Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange,
will be delisted as a result of such deposit.
(5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other
Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and
(6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit
(it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied
until after such 90th day).
(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee
to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture
Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such
Act).
(7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement
or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the
trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be
registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.
(9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an agreement
whereby the Company irrevocably agrees to forfeit its right, if any,
(A) to reset the interest rate of such Securities pursuant to Section
307(b) and (B) to extend the Stated Maturity of such Securities pursuant to
Section 308.
(10) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.
SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee.
Subject to Section 1407 below and after the Company has delivered to
the Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating
that all conditions precedent referred to in Section 1404, as the case may be,
relating to the defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have
been complied with, the Trustee upon request of the Company shall acknowledge in
writing the defeasance or the satisfaction and discharge, as the case may be, of
this Indenture and the discharge of the Company's obligations under this
Indenture.
SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in
Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited
with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this
Section and Section 1406, the Trustee and any such
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other trustee are referred to collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section
1404 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the
Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due
thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held
in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required
by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 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 Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1404 with
respect to any Securities 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 the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as
the case may be, with respect to such Securities.
SECTION 1407. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in
accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any
order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining
or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or
released pursuant to Section 1402 or 1403 shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such
Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply
all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1405 with respect to such Securities
in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes
any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security
following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment
from the money so held in trust.
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ARTICLE FIFTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES
SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise
in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer,
director or employee, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any
successor corporation, either directly or through the Company, whether by virtue
of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this
Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations
of the Company, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or
is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers,
directors, or employees, as such, of the Company or of any successor
corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby
authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements
contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom;
and that any and all such personal liability, either at common law or in equity
or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims
against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer, director or employee, as
such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or
by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this
Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly
waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution
of this Indenture and the issue of such Securities.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed
and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
By:_______________________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title:____________________________
Attest:
________________________
Name:___________________
Title:__________________
(SEAL)
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:_______________________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title:____________________________
(SEAL)
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EXHIBIT 4.2
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
To
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
__________________
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No. 1
Dated as of February 1, 1998
_________________
6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008
$300,000,000
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No. 1
$300,000,000
6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No. 1, dated as of February 1, 1998, between NORAM
ENERGY CORP., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (formerly known as Texas Commerce Bank National
Association), a national banking association duly organized and existing under
the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (the "Trustee").
Recitals
--------
The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an
Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998 (the "Indenture"), providing for the
issuance from time to time of one or more series of the Company's Securities.
Section 301 of the Indenture provides that various matters with respect to
any series of Securities issued under the Indenture may be established in an
indenture supplemental to the Indenture.
Section 901(7) of the Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee
may enter into an indenture supplemental to the Indenture to establish the form
or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 of the
Indenture.
For and in consideration of the premises and the issuance of the series of
Securities provided for herein, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the
equal and proportionate benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series,
as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Relation to Indenture; Definitions
Section 101. This Supplemental Indenture No. 1 constitutes an integral
part of the Indenture.
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Section 102. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture No. 1:
(1) Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings specified
herein or in the Indenture, as the case may be;
(2) "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries less, without duplication: (a)
total current liabilities (excluding indebtedness due within 12 months);
(b) all reserves for depreciation and other asset valuation reserves but,
excluding reserves for deferred federal income taxes arising from
accelerated amortization or otherwise; (c) all intangible assets such as
goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents and unamortized debt discount
and expense carried as an asset; and (d) all appropriate adjustments on
account of minority interests of other Persons holding common stock of any
Subsidiary, all as reflected in the Company's most recent audited
consolidated balance sheet preceding the date of such determination;
(3) The term "indebtedness," as applied to the Company or any
Subsidiary, means bonds, debentures, notes and other instruments
representing obligations created or assumed by any such corporation (i) for
money borrowed (other than unamortized debt discount or premium); (ii)
evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the
acquisition of any business, properties or assets of any kind; (iii) as
lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the
lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; and (iv) any
amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such
indebtedness or obligation listed in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above. All
indebtedness secured by a lien upon property owned by the Company or any
Subsidiary and upon which indebtedness any such corporation customarily
pays interest, although any such corporation has not assumed or become
liable for the payment of such indebtedness, shall for all purposes hereof
be deemed to be indebtedness of any such corporation. All indebtedness for
borrowed money incurred by other Persons which is directly guaranteed as to
payment of principal by the Company or any Subsidiary shall for all
purposes hereof be deemed to be indebtedness of any such corporation, but
no other contingent obligation of any such corporation in respect of
indebtedness incurred by other Persons shall for any purpose be deemed to
be indebtedness of such corporation. Indebtedness of the Company or any
Subsidiary shall not include (i) amounts which are payable only out of all
or a portion of the oil, gas, natural gas, helium, coal, metals, minerals,
steam, timber, hydrocarbons, or geothermal or other natural resources
produced, derived or extracted from properties owned or developed by such
corporation; (ii) any indebtedness incurred to finance oil, gas, natural
gas, helium, coal, metals, minerals, steam, timber, hydrocarbons, or
geothermal or other natural resources or synthetic fuel exploration or
development, payable, with respect to principal and interest, solely out of
the proceeds of oil, gas, natural gas, helium, coal, metals, minerals,
steam, timber, hydrocarbons, or geothermal or other natural resources or
synthetic fuel to be produced, sold, and/or delivered by the Company or any
Subsidiary; (iii) indirect guarantees or other contingent obligations in
connection with the indebtedness of others, including agreements,
contingent or otherwise, with such Persons or with third Persons with
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respect to, or to permit or insure the payment of, obligations of such
other Persons, including, without limitation, agreements to advance or
supply funds to or to invest in such other Persons, or agreements to pay
for property, products or services of such other Persons (whether or not
conferred, delivered or rendered), and any demand charge, throughput, take-
or-pay, keep-well, make-whole, cash deficiency, maintenance of working
capital or earnings or similar agreements; and (iv) any guarantees with
respect to lease or other similar periodic payments to be made by other
Persons;
(4) "NorAm Long-Term Indebtedness" means, collectively, the Company's
outstanding: (a) Medium-Term Notes, Series A and B (due through 2001), (b)
8.875% Notes due 1999, (c) 7 1/2% Notes due 2000, (d) 8.90% Debentures due
2006, (e) 10% Debentures due 2019, (f) Term Loan (due November 1998) under
that certain $150,000,000 Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 15, 1997, as
amended, among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as Agent, and various lenders
party thereto and (g) any long-term indebtedness (but excluding for this
purpose any long-term indebtedness, if any, incurred pursuant to any
revolving credit facility, letter of credit facility or other similar bank
credit facility) of the Company issued subsequent to the Debentures and
prior to the Termination Date containing covenants substantially similar to
the covenants set forth in Sections 214 and 215 hereof, but not containing
a provision substantially similar to the provision set forth in Section 216
hereof;
(5) "Principal Property" means any natural gas distribution property,
natural gas pipeline or gas processing plant located in the United States,
except any such property that in the opinion of the Board of Directors is
not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company
and its consolidated Subsidiaries. "Principal Property" shall not include
any oil or gas property or the production or proceeds of production from an
oil or gas producing property or the production or any proceeds of
production of gas processing plants or oil or gas or petroleum products in
any pipeline or storage field;
(6) "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which owns a
Principal Property;
(7) "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any arrangement with any
Person providing for the leasing to the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of any Principal Property (except for temporary leases for a
term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than three years and
except for leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or
between Restricted Subsidiaries), which Principal Property has been or is
to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to
such Person;
(8) All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise
specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this
Supplemental Indenture No. 1; and
(9) The terms "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture No. 1.
-3-
ARTICLE 2
The Series of Securities
Section 201. Title of the Securities. There shall be a series of
Securities designated the "6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008" (the
"Debentures").
Section 202. Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount. The aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures shall be limited to $300,000,000; provided,
however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may be
increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to such effect.
Section 203. Stated Maturity. The Stated Maturity of the Debentures shall
be February 1, 2008.
Section 204. Interest and Interest Rates. The rate of interest on each
Debenture shall be 6 1/2% per annum, accruing from February 10, 1998 and
interest shall be payable, semi-annually in arrears, on February 1 and August 1,
of each year (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing August 1,
1998 to the Persons in whose names the Debentures are registered at the close of
business on the immediately preceding January 15 and July 15, respectively,
whether or not such day is a Business Day (each such date, a "Regular Record
Date"). The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the
basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable
for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event
that any date on which interest is payable on a Debenture is not a Business Day,
then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made
on the date the payment was originally payable. The interest so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will be paid
to the Person in whose name such Debenture (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest. 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 shall either (i) be paid to the Person in whose name such Debenture (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the
Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the Debentures not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or (ii) be paid at such time in
any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange or automated quotation system on which the Debentures may be listed or
traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated
quotation system, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
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Section 205. Place of Payment. The Place of Payment where the Debentures
may be presented or surrendered for payment shall be Houston Industries Plaza,
c/o Office of Investor Services, 1111 Louisiana 44th Floor, Houston, Texas
77002.
Section 206. Place of Registration or Exchange; Notices and Demands With
Respect to the Debentures. The place where the Holders of the Debentures may
present the Debentures for registration of transfer or exchange and may make
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures shall be
the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 207. Percentage of Principal Amount. The Debentures shall be
issued at 99.836% of their principal amount.
Section 208. Global Securities. The Debentures shall be issuable in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities. Such Global Securities
shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New
York, New York, which shall act as Depositary with respect to the Debentures.
Such Global Securities shall bear the legends set forth in the form of Security
attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 209. Form of Securities. The Debentures shall be substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 210. Securities Registrar. The Trustee shall initially serve as
Securities Registrar.
Section 211. Defeasance and Discharge; Covenant Defeasance. Article
Fourteen of the Indenture, including without limitation, Sections 1402 and 1403
thereof, shall apply to the Debentures.
Section 212. Maintenance of Properties. The Company shall cause all
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
and supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof,
all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from
discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such
discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of
its business or the business of any Subsidiary.
Section 213. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company shall pay or
discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become
delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or
imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or
property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) 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
-5-
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 214. Restrictions on Liens. The Company shall not pledge,
mortgage or hypothecate, or permit to exist, and shall not cause, suffer or
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to pledge, mortgage or hypothecate, or permit
to exist, except in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, any
mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance (collectively, a "lien" or "liens")
upon, any Principal Property at any time owned by it or a Restricted Subsidiary,
to secure any indebtedness, without making effective provisions whereby the
Debentures shall be equally and ratably secured with or prior to any and all
such indebtedness and any other indebtedness similarly entitled to be equally
and ratably secured; provided, however, that this provision shall not apply to
or prevent the creation or existence of:
(a) undetermined or inchoate liens and charges incidental to
construction, maintenance, development or operation;
(b) the lien of taxes and assessments for the then current year;
(c) the lien of taxes and assessments not at the time delinquent;
(d) the lien of specified taxes and assessments which are delinquent
but the validity of which is being contested at the time by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(e) the lien reserved in leases for rent and for compliance with the
terms of the lease in the case of leasehold estates;
(f) any obligations or duties, affecting the property of the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary, to any municipality or public authority with
respect to any franchise, grant, license, permit or similar arrangement;
(g) the liens of any judgments or attachment in an aggregate amount
not in excess of $10,000,000, or the lien of any judgment or attachment the
execution or enforcement of which has been stayed or which has been
appealed and secured, if necessary, by the filing of an appeal bond;
(h) any lien on any property held or used by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the exploration for, development
of or production of oil, gas, natural gas (including liquefied gas and
storage gas), other hydrocarbons, helium, coal, metals, minerals, steam,
timber, geothermal or other natural resources or synthetic fuels, such
properties to include, but not be limited to the Company's or a Restricted
Subsidiary's interest in any mineral fee interests, oil, gas or other
mineral leases, royalty, overriding royalty or net profits interests,
production
-6-
payments and other similar interests, wellhead production equipment, tanks,
field gathering lines, leasehold or field separation and processing
facilities, compression facilities and other similar personal property and
fixtures;
(i) any lien on oil, gas, natural gas (including liquefied gas and
storage gas), and other hydrocarbons, helium, coal, metals, minerals,
steam, timber, geothermal or other natural resources or synthetic fuels
produced or recovered from any property, an interest in which is owned or
leased by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
(j) liens upon any property heretofore or hereafter acquired,
constructed or improved, created at the time of acquisition or within one
year thereafter to secure all or a portion of the purchase price thereof or
the cost of such construction or improvement, or existing thereon at the
date of acquisition, whether or not assumed by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, provided that every such lien shall apply only to the property
so acquired or constructed and fixed improvements thereon;
(k) any extension, renewal or refunding, in whole or in part, of any
lien permitted by subparagraph (j) above, if limited to the same property
or any portion thereof subject to, and securing not more than the amount
secured by, the lien extended, renewed or refunded;
(l) liens upon any property heretofore or hereafter acquired by any
corporation that is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary after the date
hereof ("Acquired Entity") provided that every such lien (1) shall either
(A) exist prior to the time the Acquired Entity becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or (B) be created at the time the Acquired Entity becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary or within one year thereafter to secure all or a
portion of the acquisition price thereof and (2) shall only apply to those
properties owned by the Acquired Entity at the time it becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or thereafter acquired by it from sources other than the Company
or any other Restricted Subsidiary;
(m) the pledge of current assets, in the ordinary course of business,
to secure current liabilities;
(n) mechanics' or materialmen's liens, any liens or charges arising by
reason of pledges or deposits to secure payment of workmen's compensation
or other insurance, good faith deposits in connection with tenders, leases
of real estate, bids or contracts (other than contracts for the payment of
money), deposits to secure duties or public or statutory obligations,
deposits to secure, or in lieu of, surety, stay or appeal bonds, and
deposits as security for the payment of taxes or assessments or similar
charges;
-7-
(o) any lien arising by reason of deposits with, or the giving of any
form of security to, any governmental agency or any body created or
approved by law or governmental regulation for any purpose at any time in
connection with the financing of the acquisition or construction of
property to be used in the business of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary or as required by law or governmental regulation as a condition
to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege or
license, or to enable the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to maintain
self-insurance or to participate in any funds established to cover any
insurance risks or in connection with workmen's compensation, unemployment
insurance, old age pensions or other social security, or to share in the
privileges or benefits required for companies participating in such
arrangements;
(p) any lien of or upon any office equipment, data processing
equipment (including, without limitation, computer and computer peripheral
equipment), or transportation equipment (including, without limitation,
motor vehicles, tractors, trailers, marine vessels, barges, towboats,
rolling stock and aircraft);
(q) any lien created or assumed by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with the issuance of debt securities the interest
on which is excludable from gross income of the holder of such security
pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, for the purposes of
financing, in whole or in part, the acquisition or construction of property
to be used by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or
(r) the pledge or assignment of accounts receivable, or the pledge or
assignment of conditional sales contracts or chattel mortgages and
evidences of indebtedness secured thereby, received in connection with the
sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or others of goods or
merchandise to customers of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary.
In case the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall propose to pledge,
mortgage, or hypothecate any Principal Property at any time owned by it to
secure any indebtedness, other than as permitted by subdivision (a) to (r),
inclusive, of this Section 214, the Company shall prior thereto give written
notice thereof to the Trustee, and the Company shall or shall cause such
Restricted Subsidiary to, prior to or simultaneously with such pledge, mortgage
or hypothecation, by supplemental indenture executed to the Trustee (or to the
extent legally necessary to another trustee or additional or separate trustee),
in form satisfactory to the Trustee, effectively secure all the Debentures
equally and ratably with, or prior to, such indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 214, the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary may issue, assume or guarantee indebtedness secured
by a mortgage which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions in
an aggregate amount which, together with all other indebtedness of the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary secured by a mortgage which (if
-8-
originally issued, assumed or guaranteed at such time) would otherwise be
subject to the foregoing restrictions (not including indebtedness permitted to
be secured under clauses (a) through (r) above) and the Value of all Sale and
Leaseback Transactions in existence at such time (other than any Sale and
Leaseback Transaction which, if such Sale and Leaseback Transaction had been a
lien, would have been permitted by paragraph (j) of this Section 214 and other
than Sale and Leaseback Transactions as to which application of amounts have
been made in accordance with paragraph (l) of this Section 214) does not at the
time of incurrence of such indebtedness exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets. "Value" means, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as of
any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (1) the net proceeds
from the sale or transfer of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction or (2) the fair value, in the opinion of the Board of
Directors, of such property at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, in either case divided first by the number of full years of the
term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term
remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or
extension options contained in the lease.
Section 215. Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Company
shall not, nor shall it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale
and Leaseback Transaction unless the net proceeds of such sale are at least
equal to the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of such
Principal Property and either (a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions of (1) paragraph (j) of Section
214 or (2) paragraph (1) of Section 214, to incur indebtedness secured by a lien
on the Principal Property to be leased without equally and ratably securing the
Debentures, or (b) the Company shall, and in any such case the Company covenants
that it will, within 120 days of the effective date of any such arrangement,
apply an amount not less than the fair value (as so determined) of such
Principal Property (i) to the payment or other retirement of Funded Debt
incurred or assumed by the Company which ranks senior to or pari passu with the
Debentures or of Funded Debt incurred or assumed by any Restricted Subsidiary
(other than, in either case, Funded Debt owned by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary), or (ii) to the purchase at not more than fair value (as so
determined) of Principal Property (other than the Principal Property involved in
such sale). For this purpose, "Funded Debt" means any indebtedness which by its
terms matures at or is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor
thereon without requiring the consent of the obligee to a date more than 12
months after the date of the creation of such indebtedness.
Section 216. Expiration of Restrictions on Liens and Restrictions on Sale
and Leaseback Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, on
the date (the "Termination Date") (and continuing thereafter) on which there
remains outstanding, in the aggregate, no more than $200,000,000 in principal
amount of NorAm Long-Term Indebtedness, the covenants of the Company set forth
in Sections 214 and 215 hereof shall terminate and the Company shall no longer
be subject to the covenants set forth in such Sections.
Section 217. No Redemption. The Debentures shall not be subject to
redemption by the Company prior to their Stated Maturity.
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Section 218. Sinking Fund Obligations. The Company has no obligation to
redeem or purchase any Debentures pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
requirement or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a
Holder thereof.
ARTICLE 3
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 301. The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this
Supplemental Indenture No. 1, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and
confirmed.
Section 302. This Supplemental Indenture No. 1 may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 303. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 1 AND EACH DEBENTURE SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
-10-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental
Indenture No. 1 to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written above.
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
By:/s/ Marc Kilbride
-------------------------------
Name: Marc Kilbride
Title: Treasurer
Attest:
/s/ Richard Dauphin
- ------------------------------
Name : Richard Dauphin
Title: Assistant Secretary
(SEAL)
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
--------------------------
Title:
------------------------
(SEAL)
-11-
Exhibit A
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
IF THIS SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY - THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN
THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS
EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.
[For as long as this Global Security is deposited with or on behalf of The
Depository Trust Company it shall bear the following legend.] Unless this
certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to NorAm Energy Corp. or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is
registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is 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.
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008
No. __________ $ __________
CUSIP No. 655419AD1
NORAM ENERGY CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars on February 1, 2008,
and to pay interest thereon from February 10, 1998 or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 in each year, commencing August 1,
1998, at the rate of 6 1/2% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or
made available for payment, provided that any principal and
A-1
premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear
interest at the rate of 6 1/2% per annum (to the extent permitted by applicable
law), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available
for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand. The amount of
interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day
months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the
days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest
is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the
interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was
originally payable. A "Business Day" shall mean, when used with respect to any
Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is
not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close. The interest so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the January 15 or
July 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. 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 either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of
this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by
such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in said
Indenture.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such
interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of Houston
Industries Incorporated, a Texas corporation, maintained for that purpose at the
address Houston Industries Plaza, c/o Office of Investor Services, 1111
Louisiana 44th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the
Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of
the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security
Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place
and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled
thereto as specified in the Security Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
A-2
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: _______________ NORAM ENERGY CORP.
By:
-------------------------------
Name:
(SEAL) Title:
Attest:
_____________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee
Dated:________________
By:
---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
A-3
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998 (herein called the
"Indenture", which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is
one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal
amount to $300,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate
principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board
Resolution to such effect.
The Securities of this series are not subject to redemption by the
Company prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit
of any sinking fund.
The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of
the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events
of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
A-4
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing
shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the
enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon
on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
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 any premium and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this 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.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
A-5
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
A-6
EXHIBIT 4.3
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
IF THIS SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY - THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY
WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN
THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS
EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE
DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE
INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR
ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY.
[For as long as this Global Security is deposited with or on behalf of The
Depository Trust Company it shall bear the following legend.] Unless this
certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to NorAm Energy Corp. or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is
registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is 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.
NORAM ENERGY CORP.
6 1/2% Debentures due February 1, 2008
No. __________ $__________
CUSIP No. 655419AD1
NORAM ENERGY CORP., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company", which term
includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for
value received, hereby promises to pay to _______________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars on February 1, 2008,
and to pay interest thereon from February 10, 1998 or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 in each year, commencing August 1,
1998, at the rate of 6 1/2% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or
made available for payment, provided that any principal and premium, and any
such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate
of 6 1/2% per annum (to the extent permitted by applicable law), from the dates
such amounts are due until
A-1
they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable
on demand. The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on
the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest
payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event
that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business
Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the
next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made
on the date the payment was originally payable. A "Business Day" shall mean,
when used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that
Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person
in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
interest, which shall be the January 15 or July 15 (whether or not a Business
Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. 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 either be paid to the
Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of
such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to
such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated
quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded,
and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation
system, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such
interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of Houston
Industries Incorporated, a Texas corporation, maintained for that purpose at the
address Houston Industries Plaza, c/o Office of Investor Services, 1111
Louisiana 44th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the
Company payment of interest may be made (i) by check mailed to the address of
the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security
Register or (ii) by wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place
and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled
thereto as specified in the Security Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security
shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or
obligatory for any purpose.
A-2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: _______________ NORAM ENERGY CORP.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
(SEAL) Title:
Attest:
_____________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, As Trustee
Dated:________________
By:
-----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
A-3
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of February 1, 1998 (herein called the
"Indenture", which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association,
as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes any successor
trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental
thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the
Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is
one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal
amount to $300,000,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate
principal amount of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board
Resolution to such effect.
The Securities of this series are not subject to redemption by the
Company prior to their Stated Maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit
of any sinking fund.
The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction and discharge of
the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance by the Company with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the
entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events
of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with
certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
A-4
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the
Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding
with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or
for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the
Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount
of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written
request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of
Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee
shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with
such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60
days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing
shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the
enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon
on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
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 any premium and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this 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.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
A-5
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
A-6
