As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 10, 1999
Registration No. 333-86403
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1111 Louisiana Hugh Rice Kelly
Houston, Texas 77002 Executive Vice President, General
(713) 207-3000 Counsel and
(Address, including zip code, and Corporate Secretary
telephone 1111 Louisiana
number, including area code, of Houston, Texas 77002
registrant's (713) 207-3000
principal executive offices) (Name, address, including zip code,
and telephone
number, including area code, of agent
for service)
----------------
Copy to:
Timothy S. Taylor
Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
910 Louisiana
One Shell Plaza
Houston, Texas 77002-4995
(713) 229-1234
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: From time to
time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
Registration Statement shall thereafter becomes effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may +
+not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the +
+Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an +
+offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these +
+securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject to completion, dated September 10, 1999.
Prospectus
[LOGO OF RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED APPEARS HERE]
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 207-3000
$1,000,000,000
Debt Securities
---------------------------------------------
We may offer and sell up to $1,000,000,000
of our debt securities in one or more series
by using this prospectus. Our debt
securities will be unsecured and will be
either senior or subordinated obligations.
We will establish the terms for our debt
securities at the time we sell them and we
will describe them in one or more
supplements to this prospectus. You should
read this prospectus and the related
supplement carefully before you invest in
our debt securities. This prospectus may not
be used to offer and sell our debt
securities unless accompanied by a
prospectus supplement.
---------------------------------------------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is September , 1999.
Table of Contents
About This Prospectus....................................................... 2
Where You Can Find More Information......................................... 3
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information.................. 4
Reliant Energy.............................................................. 5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......................................... 5
Use of Proceeds............................................................. 6
Description of Our Debt Securities.......................................... 6
Plan of Distribution........................................................ 20
Validity of Securities...................................................... 21
Experts..................................................................... 21
About This Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the
SEC using a "shelf" registration process. By using this process, we may offer
up to $1,000,000,000 of our debt securities in one or more offerings. This
prospectus provides you with a description of the debt securities we may
offer. Each time we offer debt securities, we will provide a supplement to
this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of
the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the
information contained in this prospectus. Please carefully read this
prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the information contained
in the documents we refer to in the "Where You Can Find More Information"
section of this prospectus.
References in this prospectus to the terms "we," "us" or other similar terms
mean Reliant Energy, Incorporated, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We
have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any different information.
If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should
not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell debt securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information
contained in this prospectus is current only as of the date of this
prospectus.
-2-
Where You Can Find More Information
We file reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy
any document we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room located
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the regional offices
of the SEC located at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511, and at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048.
You may obtain further information regarding the operation of the SEC's Public
Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our filings are also
available to the public on the SEC's Internet site located at
http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may inspect our reports at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005
and at the offices of the Chicago Stock Exchange at 440 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60605.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus
information we file with the SEC. This means we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to the documents containing the
information. The information we incorporate by reference is considered to be
part of this prospectus, unless we update or supersede that information by the
information contained in this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or
information that we file subsequently that is incorporated by reference into
this prospectus. We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus the
following documents that we have filed with the SEC, and our future filings
with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until the offering of the debt securities is completed:
.our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998,
.our Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 29, 1999 and filed with the
SEC on February 1, 1999,
.our Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 25, 1999 and filed with the
SEC on February 26, 1999,
.our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31,
1999,
.our Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 7, 1999 and filed with the SEC
on July 7, 1999, and
.our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30,
1999.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we have filed with the
SEC relating to our debt securities. As permitted by SEC rules, this
prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the
registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file
with the SEC. You should read the registration statement and the exhibits and
schedules for more information about us and our debt securities. The
registration statement, exhibits and schedules are also available at the SEC's
Public Reference Room or through its Internet site.
You may also obtain a copy of our filings with the SEC at no cost, by
writing to or telephoning us at the following address:
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
Attn: Corporate Secretary
(713) 207-3000
-3-
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This prospectus, including the information we incorporate by reference,
contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify our
forward-looking statements by the words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"
"forecast," "goal," "objective," "projection" or other similar words.
We have based our forward-looking statements on our management's beliefs and
assumptions based on information available to our management at the time the
statements are made. We caution you that assumptions, beliefs, expectations,
intentions and projections about future events may and often do vary
materially from actual results. Therefore, we cannot assure you that actual
results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by our
forward-looking statements.
The following list identifies some of the factors that could cause actual
results to differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking
statements:
. state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost
and investment recovery, have an impact on rate structures and affect the
speed and degree to which competition enters the electric and natural gas
industries,
. changes to our electric utility operations required by or in response to
the Texas Electric Choice Plan,
. industrial, commercial and residential growth in our service territories,
. the weather and other natural phenomena,
. the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and interest rates,
. changes in environmental and other laws and regulations to which we and
our subsidiaries are subject or other external factors over which we have
no control,
. the results of financing efforts,
. growth in opportunities for our subsidiaries and diversified operations,
. risks incidental to our overseas operations, including the effects of
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates,
. the effect of our accounting policies,
. the timing and effect of our acquisition of an interest in N.V.
Energieproduktiebedrijf UNA, and
. other factors we discuss in this prospectus and our other filings with
the SEC.
-4-
Reliant Energy
We are a diversified international energy services company. Reliant Energy
HL&P, our electric utility division, provides electric utility services to
approximately 1.6 million customers in the City of Houston, Texas, and
surrounding areas of the Texas Gulf Coast. Reliant Energy Resources Corp.
(Resources), our largest subsidiary, is a natural gas utility serving over 2.8
million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma and
Texas. Resources, through its subsidiaries, is also a major interstate natural
gas pipeline company and a provider of energy marketing services.
Our other principal subsidiaries include:
. Reliant Energy International, Inc., which participates in the
privatization of foreign generating and distribution facilities and the
development and acquisition of foreign independent power projects, and
. Reliant Energy Power Generation, Inc., which engages in the acquisition,
development, operation and sale of capacity and energy from, domestic and
certain international non-utility power generation facilities.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, we are exempt from regulation as a
public utility holding company pursuant to Section 3(a)(2) of the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings from continuing
operations to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated:
Six Months
Ended
June 30, Year Ended December 31,
------------ ---------------------------
1999(3) 1998 1998(4) 1997 1996 1995 1994
------- ---- ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
Ratio of earnings from continuing
operations to fixed charges before
cumulative effect of change in
accounting (1) (2)..................... -- 1.20 -- 2.41 2.76 2.71 2.89
- --------
(1) We do not believe that the ratios for the six-month periods are
necessarily indicative of the ratios for the twelve-month periods due to
the seasonal nature of our business.
(2) Includes the results of Resources from the date of its acquisition, August
6, 1997, which was accounted for under the purchase method.
(3) Our earnings in the first six months of 1999 were inadequate to cover
fixed charges by approximately $142 million. This deficiency resulted from
the pre-tax $400 million non-cash, unrealized accounting loss recorded for
our 7% Automatic Common Exchange Securities, due 2000 (ACES). Excluding
the effect of the after-tax non-cash, unrealized accounting loss of $260
million, the ratio of earnings from continuing operations to fixed charges
would have been 1.90.
(4) Our earnings for the year ended December 31, 1998 were inadequate to cover
fixed charges by approximately $181 million. This deficiency resulted from
the pre-tax $1.2 billion non-cash, unrealized accounting loss recorded for
our ACES. Excluding the effect of the after-tax non-cash, unrealized
accounting loss of $764 million, the ratio of earnings from continuing
operations to fixed charges would have been 2.77.
-5-
Use of Proceeds
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we anticipate
using any net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities offered by this
prospectus for general corporate purposes. These purposes may include, but are
not limited to:
. working capital,
. capital expenditures,
. acquisitions, and
. the repayment or refinancing of our indebtedness, including inter-company
indebtedness.
Description of Our Debt Securities
The debt securities offered by this prospectus will be either senior debt
securities or subordinated debt securities. We will issue senior debt
securities under an indenture we will enter into with Chase Bank of Texas,
National Association, as trustee. We will issue subordinated debt securities
under an indenture we will enter into with Chase Bank of Texas, National
Association, as trustee. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated
indenture in this prospectus collectively as the "indentures." We have filed
the forms of the indentures with the SEC as exhibits to the registration
statement covering the debt securities offered by this prospectus. We have
summarized selected provisions of the indentures and the debt securities
below. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the indentures.
We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series under
the indentures. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt
securities we offer in a supplement to this prospectus. You should carefully
read the summary below, the applicable prospectus supplement and the
provisions of the relevant indenture that may be important to you before
investing in our debt securities.
The provisions of each of the indentures are substantially identical in
substance, except that Article Sixteen of the subordinated indenture provides
for the subordination of the subordinated debt securities, and the senior
indenture has no counterpart for that Article. We describe the subordination
provisions of the subordinated indenture in the "Subordination Under the
Subordinated Indenture" section of this prospectus.
We have included cross-references in the summary below to refer you to the
section numbers of the indentures we are describing. These sections numbers
are the same for both of the indentures, unless we state otherwise.
The Terms of the Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities in separate series from time to time under each
of the indentures. The total principal amount of debt securities that may be
issued under the indentures is unlimited. We may limit the maximum total
principal amount for the debt securities of any series. However, any limit may
be increased by resolution of our board of directors. (Section 301) We will
establish the terms of each series of debt securities, which may not be
inconsistent with the related indenture, in a supplemental indenture. The
senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will rank junior
and be subordinate to all of our senior indebtedness as we describe in the
"Subordination Under the Subordinated Indenture" section of this prospectus.
-6-
We will describe the specific terms of the series of debt securities being
offered in a supplement to this prospectus. These terms will include some or
all of the following:
. the title of the debt securities,
. whether the debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated
debt securities,
. the specific indenture under which the debt securities will be issued,
. any limit on the total principal amount of the debt securities,
. the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be
payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates,
. the interest rate or rates of the debt securities, if any, or the method
used to determine the rate or rates,
. the date or dates from which interest will accrue on the debt securities,
or the method used for determining those dates,
. the interest payment dates and the regular record dates for interest
payments, if any, or the method used to determine those dates,
. the basis for calculating interest if other than a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months,
. the place or places where:
.payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt
securities will be payable,
.the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or
exchange, and
.notices and demands to or upon us relating to the debt securities may
be made,
. any provisions for redemption of the debt securities,
. any provisions that would allow or obligate us to redeem or purchase the
debt securities prior to their maturity,
. the denominations in which we will issue the debt securities, if other
than denominations of an integral multiple of $1,000,
. any provisions that would determine the amount of principal, premium, if
any, or interest on the debt securities by reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula,
. the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal,
premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, if
other than $US, and the manner for determining the equivalent principal
amount in $US,
. any provisions for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on the debt securities in one or more currencies or currency
units other than those in which the debt securities are stated to be
payable,
. the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will
be issued and, if other than 100%, the portion of the principal amount of
the debt securities which will be payable if the maturity of the debt
securities is accelerated, or the method for determining such portion,
. if the principal amount to be paid at the stated maturity of the debt
securities is not determinable as of one or more dates prior to the
stated maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be the principal
amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal
amount which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the
stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such
date, or, in any such case, the manner in which the deemed principal
amount is to be determined,
-7-
. any variation of the defeasance and covenant defeasance sections of the
relevant indenture and the manner in which our election to defease the
debt securities will be evidenced, if other than by a board resolution,
. whether any of the debt securities will initially be issued in the form
of a temporary global security and the provisions for exchanging a
temporary global security for definitive debt securities,
. whether any of the debt securities will be issued in the form of one or
more global securities and, if so:
.the depositories for the global securities,
.the form of any additional legends to be borne by the global
securities,
. the circumstances under which the global securities may be exchanged,
in whole or in part, for debt securities registered, and
. whether and under what circumstances a transfer of the global
securities may be registered in the names of persons other than the
depositary for the global securities or its nominee,
. whether the interest rate of the debt securities may be reset,
. whether the stated maturity of the debt securities may be extended,
. any addition to or change in the events of default for the debt
securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders of
the debt securities to declare the principal amount of the debt
securities due and payable,
. any addition to or change in the covenants in the relevant indenture,
. any additions or changes to the relevant indenture necessary to issue the
debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to
principal, and with or without interest coupons,
. the appointment of any paying agents for the debt securities, if other
than us,
. the terms of any right to convert or exchange the debt securities into
any other securities or property,
. the terms and conditions, if any, securing the debt securities,
. any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt
securities, and
. any other terms of the debt securities consistent with the relevant
indenture. (Section 301)
We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount
securities, at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. If
there are any special United States federal income tax considerations
applicable to debt securities we sell at an original discount, we will
describe them in the prospectus supplement. In addition, we will describe in
the prospectus supplement any special United States federal income tax
considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we
sell which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than $US.
Form, Exchange and Transfer of the Debt Securities
We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without coupons.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will only
issue debt securities in denominations of integral multiples of $1,000.
(Section 302)
Holders will generally be able to exchange debt securities for other debt
securities of the same series with the same total principal amount and the
same terms but in different authorized denominations. (Section 305)
-8-
Holders may present debt securities for exchange or for registration of
transfer at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any
transfer agent we designate for that purpose. The security registrar or
designated transfer agent will exchange or transfer the debt securities if it
is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the
request. We will not charge a service charge for any exchange or registration
of transfer of debt securities. However, we may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable for the
registration of transfer or exchange. Unless we inform you otherwise in the
prospectus supplement, we will appoint the trustee as security registrar. We
will identify any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar in the
prospectus supplement. (Section 305) At any time we may:
. designate additional transfer agents,
. rescind the designation of any transfer agent, or
. approve a change in the office of any transfer agent.
However, we are required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment
for the debt securities at all times. (Sections 305 and 1002)
In the event we elect to redeem a series of debt securities, neither we nor
the applicable trustee will be required to register the transfer or exchange
of any debt security of that series:
. during the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the
day we mail the notice of redemption for the series and ending at the
close of business on the day the notice is mailed, or
. if we have selected the series for redemption, in whole or in part,
except for the unredeemed portion of the series. (Section 305)
Global Securities
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, some or all of
the debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by
one or more global securities. The global securities will have a total
principal amount equal to the debt securities they represent. Unless we inform
you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each global security representing
debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust
Company, referred to as "DTC," or any other successor depository we may
appoint. We refer to DTC or the other depository in this prospectus as the
"depositary." Each global security will be registered in the name of the
depositary or its nominee. Each global security will bear a legend referring
to the restrictions on exchange and registration of transfer of global
securities that we describe below and any other matters required by the
relevant indenture. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus
supplement, we will not issue debt securities in definitive form.
Global securities may not be exchanged, in whole or in part, for debt
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 the global security or any nominee of the depositary unless:
. the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as depositary for the global security or has ceased to be qualified to
act as depositary as required by the indentures,
. an event of default with respect to the global security has occurred and
is continuing,
. we determine in our sole discretion that the global security will be so
exchangeable or transferable, or
. any other circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those described
above that we may describe in the prospectus supplement.
All debt securities issued in exchange for a global security or any portion of
a global security will be registered in the names directed by the depositary.
(Sections 204 and 305)
-9-
Regarding DTC
DTC is:
. a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law,
. a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law,
. a member of the Federal Reserve System,
. a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code, and
. a "clearing agency" registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also
facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such
as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in participants' accounts, thereby eliminating
the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants
include:
.securities brokers and dealers,
.banks,
.trust companies,
.clearing corporations and some other organizations.
DTC is owned by a number of direct participants and by the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to DTC's book-entry system is
also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and
trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
direct participant, either directly or indirectly, referred to as indirect
participants. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file
with the SEC.
Upon our issuance of debt securities represented by a global security,
purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through
direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on
DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each debt
security, referred to as a beneficial owner, is in turn to be recorded on the
direct and indirect participants' records. Beneficial owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. However, beneficial owners
are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct
or indirect participant through which the beneficial owner entered into the
transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be
accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of
beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event
that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued. The
laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair
the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.
So long as the depositary for the global security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of the global security, the depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt
securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the
indentures. Except as described above, beneficial owners will not:
.be entitled to have debt securities represented by the global security
registered in their names,
.receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities in
definitive form, and
.be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indentures.
-10-
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by
participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's partnership nominee,
Cede & Co. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in
the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no
knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC's
records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts
the debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial
owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their
holdings on behalf of their customers. Conveyance of notices and other
communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to
indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to
beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any
statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to debt
securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to us as
soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s
consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the
debt securities are credited on the record date, identified in a listing
attached to the omnibus proxy.
We will make payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
debt securities represented by the global security registered in the name of
the depositary or its nominee through the trustee under the relevant indenture
or a paying agent, which may also be the trustee under the relevant indenture,
to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner
of the global security. Neither we, the trustees, nor the paying agent will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to
or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global
security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
We have been advised that DTC will credit direct participants' accounts on
the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's
records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on
the payable date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as in the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in
"street name," and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of
DTC, the paying agent, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest to DTC is either our responsibility or the
responsibility of the paying agent. Disbursement of these payments to direct
participants is the responsibility of DTC. Disbursement of these payments to
the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect
participants.
We cannot assure you that DTC will distribute payments on the debt
securities made to DTC or its nominee as the registered owner or any
redemption or other notices to the participants, or that the participants or
others will distribute the payments or notices to the beneficial owners, or
that they will do so on a timely basis, or that DTC will serve and act in the
manner described in this prospectus. Beneficial owners should make appropriate
arrangements with their broker or dealer regarding distribution of information
regarding the debt securities that may be transmitted by or through DTC.
DTC management is aware that some computer applications, systems, and the
like for processing data, referred to as "systems," that are dependent upon
calendar dates, including dates before, on, and after January 1, 2000, may
encounter "Y2K problems." DTC has informed its participants and other members
of the financial community that it has developed and is implementing a program
so that its systems, as the same relate to the timely payment of
distributions, including principal and income payments, to securityholders,
book-entry deliveries, and settlement of trades within DTC continue to
function appropriately. This program includes a technical assessment and a
remediation plan, each of which is complete. Additionally, DTC's plan includes
a testing phase, which is expected to be completed within appropriate time
frames.
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However, DTC's ability to properly perform its services is also dependent
upon other parties, including but not limited to issuers and their agents, as
well as third party vendors from whom DTC licenses software and hardware, and
third party vendors on whom DTC relies for information or the provision of
services, including telecommunication and electrical utility service
providers, among others. DTC has informed the industry that it is contacting,
and will continue to contact, third party vendors from whom DTC acquires
services to:
.impress upon them the importance of such services being Y2K compliant, and
.determine the extent of their efforts for Y2K remediation, and, as
appropriate, testing, of their services.
In addition, DTC is in the process of developing such contingency plans as it
deems appropriate.
According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been
provided to the industry for informational purposes only and is not intended
to serve as a representation, warranty, or contract modification of any kind.
We have obtained the information in this section concerning DTC and the
DTC's book-entry system from sources that we believe are reliable. However, we
take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay
interest on the debt securities to the persons in whose names the debt
securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date
for each interest payment. However, unless we inform you otherwise in the
prospectus supplement, we will pay the interest payable on the debt securities
at their stated maturity to the persons we pay the principal amount of the
debt securities. The initial payment of interest on any series of debt
securities issued between a regular record date and the related interest
payment date will be payable in the manner provided by the terms of the
series, which we will describe in the prospectus supplement. (Section 307)
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will pay
principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities at the offices
of the paying agents we designate. However, except in the case of a global
security, we may pay interest by:
. check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it
appears in the security register, or
. by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the place and account
designated in writing by the person entitled to the payment as specified
in the security register.
We will designate ourselves as the sole paying agent for the debt securities
unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement. If we initially
designate any other paying agents for a series of debt securities, we will
identify them in the prospectus supplement. At any time, we may designate
additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agents.
However, we are required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment
for the debt securities at all times. (Sections 307 and 1002)
Any money deposited with the applicable trustee or any paying agent for the
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities
that remains unclaimed for two years after the date the payments became due,
may be repaid to us upon our request. After we have been repaid, holders
entitled to those payments may only look to us for payment as our unsecured
general creditors. The trustees and any paying agents will not be liable for
those payments after we have been repaid. (Section 1003)
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Covenants
We will describe any restrictive covenants for any series of debt securities
in the prospectus supplement.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we may not
consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease our properties
and assets substantially as an entirety, to any person, referred to as a
"successor person," and we may not permit any person to consolidate with or
merge into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to us, unless:
. the successor person, if any, is a corporation, partnership, trust or
other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any
domestic jurisdiction,
. the successor person assumes our obligations with respect to the debt
securities and the relevant indenture,
. immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default,
and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an event of default, would occur and be continuing, and
. we have delivered to the trustee the certificates and opinions required
under the relevant indenture. (Section 801)
Events of Default
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, we use the terms "indenture"
and "trustee" in this subsection to mean the relevant indenture and the
applicable trustee with respect to any series of debt securities we may offer.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, each of the
following will be an event of default under the indenture for a series of debt
securities:
. our failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on that series when due,
. our failure to pay any interest on that series for 30 days,
. our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, relating to
that series,
. our failure to perform, or our breach in any material respect of, any
other covenant or warranty in the indenture, other than a covenant or
warranty included in the indenture solely for the benefit of another
series of debt securities, for 90 days after either the trustee or
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of that series have given us written notice of the breach in
the manner required by the indenture,
. specified events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, and
. any other event of default we may provide for that series,
provided, however, that no event described in the fourth, fifth and sixth
bullet points above will be an event of default until an officer of the
trustee, assigned to and working in the trustee's corporate trust department,
has actual knowledge of the event or until the trustee receives written notice
of the event at its corporate trust office, and the notice refers to the debt
securities generally, us or the indenture. (Section 501)
If the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any series of debt
securities is payable in a currency other than the $US and the currency is not
available to us for making payments due to the imposition of exchange controls
or other circumstances beyond our control, we may satisfy our obligations to
holders of the debt securities by making payment in $US in an amount equal to
the $US equivalent of the amount payable in the
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other currency. This amount will be determined by the trustee by reference to
the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for the other
currency, referred to as the "exchange rate," as reported or otherwise made
available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of the payment,
or, if the exchange rate is not then available, on the basis of the most
recently available exchange rate. Any payment made in $US under these
circumstances will not be an event of default under the indentures. (Section
501)
If an event of default for a series of debt securities occurs and is
continuing, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the
principal amount of the debt securities of that series due and immediately
payable. In order to declare the principal amount of the series of debt
securities due and immediately payable, the trustee or the holders must
deliver a notice that satisfies the requirements of the indenture. Upon a
declaration by the trustee or the holders, we will be obligated to pay the
principal amount of the series of debt securities.
This right does not apply if:
. an event of default described in the fourth or fifth bullet points above
occurs, or
. an event of default described in the sixth bullet point above that
applies to all outstanding debt securities occurs.
If any of these events of default occur and is continuing, either the trustee
or holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all of the debt securities
then outstanding, treated as one class, may declare the principal amount of
all of the debt securities then outstanding to be due and payable immediately.
In order to declare the principal amount of the debt securities due and
immediately payable, the trustee or the holders must deliver a notice that
satisfies the requirements of the indenture. Upon a declaration by the trustee
or the holders, we will be obligated to pay the principal amount of the debt
securities.
After any declaration of acceleration of a series of debt securities, but
before a judgment or decree for payment, the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under
certain circumstances, rescind and annul the declaration of acceleration if
all events of default, other than the non-payment of principal have been cured
or waived as provided in the indenture. (Section 502) For information as to
waiver of defaults, please refer to the "Modification and Waiver" section
below.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will generally
have no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture
at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders offer
reasonable indemnity to the trustee. (Section 603) The holders of a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will
generally 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 for the debt securities of that series,
provided that:
. the direction is not in conflict with any law or the indenture,
. the trustee may take any other action it deems proper which is not
inconsistent with the direction, and
. the trustee will generally have the right to decline to follow the
direction if an officer of the trustee determines, in good faith, that
the proceeding would involve the trustee in personal liability or would
otherwise be contrary to applicable law. (Section 512)
A holder of a debt security of any series may only pursue a remedy under the
indenture if:
. the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of
default for that series,
. holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue
that remedy,
. the holder offers reasonable indemnity to the trustee,
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. the trustee fails to pursue that remedy within 60 days after receipt of
the request, and
. during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the debt securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction
inconsistent with the request. (Section 507)
However, these limitations do not apply to a suit by a holder of a debt
security demanding payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on a
debt security on or after the date the payment is due. (Section 508)
We will be required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement by some
of our officers regarding our performance or observance of any of the terms of
the indenture and, specifying all of our known defaults, if any. (Section
1004)
Modification and Waiver
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, we use the terms "indenture"
and "trustee" in this subsection to mean the relevant indenture and the
applicable trustee with respect to any series of debt securities we may offer.
We may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the trustee
without the consent of the holders of the debt securities in order to:
. evidence the succession of another corporation to us, or successive
successions and the assumption of our covenants, agreements and
obligations by a successor,
. add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any
of our rights or powers,
. add events of default for any series of debt securities,
. add or change any provisions of the indentures to the extent necessary to
issue debt securities in bearer form,
. add to, change or eliminate any provision of the indenture applying to
one or more series of debt securities, provided that if such action
adversely affects the interests of any holders of debt securities of any
series, the addition, change or elimination will become effective with
respect to that series only when no security of that series remains
outstanding,
. convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the
trustee or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the
indenture,
. establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities,
. provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated
securities,
. evidence and provide for successor trustees or to add or change any
provisions to the extent necessary to appoint a separate trustee or
trustees for a specific series of debt securities,
. correct any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency under the indenture,
provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the
holders of debt securities of any series,
. supplement any provisions of the indenture necessary to defease and
discharge any series of debt securities, provided that such action does
not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt
securities,
. comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or
traded, or
. add, change or eliminate any provisions of the indenture in accordance
with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided that the action
does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt
securities. (Section 901)
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We may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the trustee in
order to add to, change or eliminate provisions of the indenture or to modify
the rights of the holders of one or more series of debt securities if we
obtain the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the supplemental
indenture, treated as one class. However, without the consent of the holders
of each outstanding debt security affected by the supplemental indenture, we
may not enter into a supplemental indenture that:
. changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, any debt security, except to the extent
permitted by the indenture,
. reduces the principal amount of, or any premium or interest on, any debt
security,
. reduces the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or
any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity
thereof,
. changes the place or currency of payment of principal, premium, if any,
or interest,
. impairs the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
any debt security,
. reduces the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities
of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification
or amendment of the indenture,
. reduces the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities
of any series necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions
of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults,
. makes certain modifications to such provisions with respect to
modification and waiver,
. makes any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange
any debt security or decrease the conversion or exchange rate or
increases the conversion price of any convertible or exchangeable debt
security, or
. changes the terms and conditions pursuant to which any series of debt
securities that are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the
debt securities. (Section 902)
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of any series may waive past defaults or compliance with restrictive
provisions of the indenture. However, the consent of holders of each
outstanding debt security of a series is required to:
. waive any default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or
interest, or
. waive any covenants and provisions of the indenture that may not be
amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding security of
the series affected. (Sections 513 and 1006)
In order to determine whether the holders of the requisite principal amount
of the outstanding debt securities have taken an action under the indenture as
of a specified date:
. the principal amount of an original issue discount security that will be
deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal that would
be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the maturity to
such date,
. if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the stated maturity
of a debt security is not determinable, for example, because it is based
on an index, the principal amount of such debt security deemed to be
outstanding as of such date will be an amount determined in the manner
prescribed for such debt security,
. the principal amount of a debt security denominated in one or more
foreign currencies or currency units that will be deemed to be
outstanding will be the $US equivalent, determined as of such date in the
manner prescribed for such debt security, of the principal amount of such
debt security or, in the case of a debt security described in the two
preceding bullet points, of the amount described above, and
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. debt securities owned by us or any other obligor upon the debt securities
or any of their affiliates will be disregarded and deemed not to be
outstanding.
Some debt securities, including those for whose payment or redemption money
has been deposited or set aside in trust for the holders and those that have
been fully defeased pursuant to Section 1402, will not be deemed to be
outstanding. (Section 101)
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for
determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled
to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under
the indenture. In limited circumstances, the trustee will be entitled to set a
record date for action by holders. If a record date is set for any action to
be taken by holders of a particular series, the action may be taken only by
persons who are holders of outstanding debt securities of that series on the
record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the
requisite principal amount of the debt securities within a specified period
following the record date. For any particular record date, this period will be
180 days or such shorter period as may we may specify, or the trustee may
specify, if it set the record date. This period may be shortened or lengthened
by not more than 180 days. (Section 104)
Subordination Under the Subordinated Indenture
We have defined some of the terms we use in this subsection at the end of
this subsection.
The subordinated debt securities issued under the subordinated indenture
will be unsecured and junior in right of payment to all of our senior
indebtedness. This means we will not be permitted to make a payment on the
subordinated debt securities if:
. any of our senior indebtedness is not paid when due, any applicable grace
period with respect to any payment default has ended and the payment
default has not been cured or waived or ceased to exist, or
. the maturity of any of our senior indebtedness has been accelerated
because of a default and that acceleration has not been rescinded.
If our assets are distributed to our creditors upon our dissolution,
winding-up or liquidation, whether voluntarily or involuntarily or in
bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, reorganization or other similar
proceedings, all principal, premium, if any, interest and any other amounts
due or to become due on all senior indebtedness must be paid in full before
the holders of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or
retain any payment.
"Debt" in the subordinated indenture means, with respect to any person at
any date of determination, without duplication:
. all indebtedness for borrowed money,
. all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the
acquisition of property, assets or businesses,
. all obligations under letters of credit or bankers' acceptances or other
similar instruments, or related reimbursement obligations, issued on the
account of such person,
. all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade payables,
. all obligations as lessee under capitalized leases,
. all debt of others secured by a lien on any asset of such person, whether
or not the debt is assumed by the person, provided that, for purposes of
determining the amount of any debt of the type described in this clause,
if recourse with respect to the debt is limited to the asset, the amount
of the debt is limited to the lesser of the fair market value of the
asset or the amount of the debt,
. all debt of others guaranteed by such person to the extent such debt is
guaranteed by such person, and
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. to the extent not to otherwise included in this definition, all
obligations for claims in respect of derivative products, including
interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity prices, forward
contracts, options, swaps, collars and similar arrangements.
"Senior indebtedness" in the subordinated indenture means the principal,
premium, if any, and interest on and all other amounts due in connection with
all of our debt, whether created, incurred or assumed before, on or after the
date of the subordinated indenture. However, senior indebtedness does not
include:
. debt to any of our subsidiaries,
. any series of subordinated debt securities under the subordinated
indenture,
. accounts payable or any other indebtedness or monetary obligation to
trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business in connection
with the acquisition of goods or services,
. debt that, when incurred and without respect to any election under
Section 1111(b) of Title 11, U.S. Code, was without recourse, and
. other debt which by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing it
is specifically designated as being subordinated to or pari passu with
the subordinated debt securities.
The subordinated indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional
indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior in priority of payment
to the subordinated debt securities.
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, we use the terms "indenture"
and "trustee" in this subsection to mean the relevant indenture and the
applicable trustee with respect to any series of debt securities we may offer.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the provisions
of the indenture relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or
defeasance of restrictive covenants, will apply to the debt securities of any
series. (Section 1401)
Defeasance and Discharge. Section 1402 of the indenture provides that we
will be discharged from all of our obligations with respect to the debt
securities, except for certain obligations to exchange or register the
transfer of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt
securities, to maintain paying agencies and to hold moneys for payment in
trust, upon the deposit in trust for the benefit of the holders of such debt
securities of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which, through
the payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with
their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal,
premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities on the respective stated
maturities in accordance with the terms of the indenture and the debt
securities. Such defeasance or discharge may occur only if, among other
things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect
that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States
Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in
either case to the effect that holders of the debt securities will not
recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge were not to occur.
(Sections 1402 and 1404)
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. Section 1403 of the indenture provides
that, in certain circumstances, we may omit to comply with specified
restrictive covenants, including any that we may describe in the prospectus
supplement, and that in those circumstances the occurrence of certain events
of default, which are described in the fourth bullet point above, with respect
to such restrictive covenants, under "Events of Default" and any that may be
described in the prospectus supplement, will be deemed not to be or result in
an event of default, in each case with respect to the debt securities. We, in
order to exercise such option, will be required to deposit, in trust
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for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities, money or U.S.
government obligations, or both, which, through the payment of principal and
interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money
in an amount sufficient to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on
the debt securities on the respective stated maturities in accordance with the
terms of the indenture and the debt securities. We will also be required,
among other things, to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of
certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case
if such deposit and defeasance were not to occur. In the event we exercise
this option with respect to any debt securities and the debt securities were
declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default,
the amount of money and U.S. government obligations so deposited in trust
would be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of
their respective stated maturities, but might not be sufficient to pay amounts
due on such debt securities upon any acceleration resulting from the event of
default. In such case, we would remain liable for those payments. (Sections
1403 and 1404)
Notices
Holders will receive notices by mail at their addresses as they appear in
the security register. (Sections 101 and 106)
Title
We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered on the
applicable record date as the owner of the debt security for all purposes,
whether or not it is overdue. (Section 309)
Governing Law
New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities. (Section
112)
Regarding the Trustee
The Trustee serves as trustee for:
.our first mortgage bonds aggregating $1.7 billion as of August 1, 1999,
. our collateralized medium-term notes which are secured as to payment of
principal, interest and premium, if any, by our first mortgage bonds, and
. pollution control bonds previously issued on our behalf aggregating
$998.2 million as of August 1, 1999, a portion of which is collateralized
by our first mortgage bonds.
In addition, the trustee serves as trustee for debt securities of certain of
our subsidiaries. We and our affiliates also maintain depositary and other
banking relationships with the trustee. Mr. Don D. Jordan, our Chairman of the
Board and a member of our board of directors is an advisory director of the
trustee, and Mr. R. Steve Letbetter, our President and Chief Executive Officer
and a member of our board of directors is an advisory director of Chase Bank
of Texas--Houston.
Affiliates of the trustee are parties to credit agreements under which we
and our affiliates have bank lines of credit. We and our affiliates maintain
depository and other banking, investment banking, investment management and
trust relationships with affiliates of the trustee.
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Plan of Distribution
We may sell debt securities:
. through an underwriter or underwriters,
. through dealers,
. through agents,
. directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, or
. through a combination of any of these methods.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to solicit offers by
institutions to purchase debt securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date. If we elect
to use delayed delivery contracts, we will describe the date of delivery, the
conditions of the sale and the commissions payable for solicitation of such
contracts in the prospectus supplement.
We will describe the terms of any offering of debt securities in the
prospectus supplement, including:
. the method of distribution,
. the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, purchasers or agents, and
any managing underwriter or underwriters,
. the purchase price of the debt securities and the proceeds we receive
from the sale,
. any underwriting discounts, agency fees or other form of underwriters'
compensation,
. any discounts and concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers or
agents, and
. the expected time of delivery of the offered debt securities.
We may change the initial public offering price and any discount or
concessions allowed or reallowed to dealers from time to time.
If we use underwriters to sell our debt securities, the underwriting
agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to
certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all of the offered debt securities if any are purchased. In
connection with the sale of debt securities, underwriters may receive
compensation from us or from purchasers of debt securities for whom they may
act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters may sell debt securities to or through dealers, and dealers may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from
the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act
as agents.
If we use a dealer to sell debt securities, we will sell the debt securities
to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the debt securities to
the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of
resale. These dealers may be deemed underwriters, as such term is defined in
the Securities Act of 1933, of the debt securities they offer and sell. If we
elect to use a dealer to sell debt securities, we will provide the name of the
dealer and the terms of the transaction in the prospectus supplement.
Debt securities may also be offered and sold in connection with a
remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment
by their terms or otherwise by one or more remarketing firms acting as
principals for their own accounts or as our agents. We will identify any
remarketing firm, the terms of any remarketing agreement and the compensation
to be paid to a remarketing firm in the prospectus supplement. Remarketing
firms may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act of 1933.
Underwriters, agents, dealers and some purchasers participating in the
distribution of debt securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any
discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them
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on resale of debt securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, none of our
directors, officers or employees will solicit or receive a commission in
connection with direct sales of debt securities, although these persons may
respond to inquiries by potential purchasers and perform ministerial and
clerical work in connection with any such direct sales.
We may enter into agreements with the underwriters, agents, purchasers,
dealers or remarketing firms who participate in the distribution of our debt
securities that will require us to indemnify them against specified
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to
contribute to payments that they or any person controlling them may be
required to make for those liabilities. Underwriters, agents or dealers may be
our customers. They may also engage in transactions with us or perform
services for us or for our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Each series of debt securities will be a new issue with no established
trading market. We may elect to list any series of debt securities on an
exchange. However, we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or
more underwriters may make a market in a series of debt securities. However,
they will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any
time without notice. We cannot assure you that a liquid trading market for the
debt securities will develop.
In connection with an offering, the underwriters or agents may purchase and
sell debt securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-
allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short
positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions
consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the debt securities. Syndicate short positions
involve the sale by the underwriters or agents of a greater number of debt
securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. The
underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, in which selling concessions
allowed to syndicate members or other broker dealers in respect of the debt
securities sold in the offering for their account may be reclaimed by the
syndicate if the debt securities are repurchased by the syndicate in
stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the market price of the debt securities, which may be
higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and
these activities, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These
transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or
otherwise.
Validity of Securities
The validity of the debt securities will be passed upon for us by Baker &
Botts, L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Hugh Rice Kelly, Esq., our Executive Vice
President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary or Rufus S. Scott, our Vice
President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary may pass
upon other legal matters for us. Any underwriters will be advised about the
validity of the debt securities and other legal matters by their own counsel.
James A. Baker, III, a senior partner in the law firm of Baker & Botts,
L.L.P., is currently one of our directors, and, a beneficial owner of 3,000
shares of our common stock.
Experts
Our consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1998 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as
stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and have
been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
-21-
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The Company estimates that expenses in connection with the offering
described in this Registration Statement will be as follows:
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee...................... $278,000
Blue sky expenses.................................................. 5,000
Attorney's fees and expenses....................................... 120,000
Independent Auditor's fees and expenses............................ 15,000
Printing and engraving expenses.................................... 40,000
Rating agency fees................................................. 130,000
Trustee's fees and expenses........................................ 10,000
Miscellaneous expenses............................................. 2,000
--------
Total............................................................ $600,000
========
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article 2.02.A.(16) and Article 2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act
and Article V of the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws provide the Company
with broad powers and authority to indemnify its directors and officers and to
purchase and maintain insurance for such purposes. Pursuant to such statutory
and Bylaw provisions, the Company has purchased insurance against certain
costs of indemnification that may be incurred by it and by its officers and
directors.
Additionally, Article IX of the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation
provides that a director of the Company is not liable to the Company for
monetary damages for any act or omission in the director's capacity as
director, except that Article IX does not eliminate or limit the liability of
a director for (i) breaches of such director's duty of loyalty to the Company
and its shareholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (iii) transactions
from which a director receives an improper benefit, irrespective of whether
the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director's
office, (iv) acts or omissions for which liability is specifically provided by
statute and (v) acts relating to unlawful stock repurchases or payments of
dividends.
Article IX also provides that any subsequent amendments to Texas statutes
that further limit the liability of directors will inure to the benefit of the
directors, without any further action by shareholders. Any repeal or
modification of Article IX shall not adversely affect any right of protection
of a director of the Company existing at the time of the repeal or
modification.
If the Company uses underwriters to sell debt securities offered hereby, the
underwriting agreement to be entered into in connection with the offering of
the debt securities, will provide that the Underwriters shall indemnify the
Company, its directors and certain officers of the Company against liabilities
resulting from information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters
specifically for use in the Registration Statement.
See "Item 17. Undertakings" for a description of the Commission's position
regarding such indemnification provisions.
Item 16. Exhibits.
See Index to Exhibits at page II-5.
II-1
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section
do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
(4) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of Houston, the State of Texas, on September 10, 1999.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Registrant)
By: /s/ R. Steve Letbetter
-----------------------------------
R. Steve Letbetter,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ R. Steve Letbetter President, Chief Executive September 10, 1999
____________________________________ Officer and Director
(R. Steve Letbetter) (Principal Executive Officer
and Director)
/s/ Stephen W. Naeve Vice Chairman and Chief September 10, 1999
____________________________________ Financial Officer (Principal
(Stephen W. Naeve) Financial Officer)
/s/ Mary P. Ricciardello Senior Vice President and September 10, 1999
____________________________________ Comptroller (Principal
(Mary P. Ricciardello) Accounting Officer)
* Directors September 10, 1999
____________________________________
(Richard E. Balzhiser, Milton
Carroll,
John T. Cater, O. Holcombe
Crosswell, Robert J. Cruikshank,
Linnet F. Deily,
Lee W. Hogan, T. Milton Honea and
Alexander F. Schilt)
* Chairman of the Board September 10, 1999
____________________________________
(Don D. Jordan)
/s/ Hugh Rice Kelly
*By_______________________
(Hugh Rice Kelly)
Attorney-in-fact
II-4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Report or SEC File or
Exhibit Registration Registration Exhibit
Number Document Description Statement Number Reference
------- -------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
1* Form of Underwriting
Agreement
4.1 Form of Senior Indenture
4.2 Form of Subordinated
Indenture
4.3 Form of Senior Debt
Security (included in
Exhibit 4.1)
4.4 Form of Subordinated Debt
Security (included in
Exhibit 4.2)
5 Opinion of Baker & Botts,
L.L.P.
12.1** Statement Regarding Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 12
Computation of Ratios for quarterly period
the six month periods ended ended June 30,
June 30, 1998 1998
12.2** Statement Regarding Form 10-Q for the 1-3187 12
Computation of Ratios for quarterly period
the six month period ended ended June 30,
June 30, 1999 1999
12.3** Statement Regarding Form 10-K for the 1-3187 12
Computation of Ratios for year ended
the twelve month periods December 31,
ended December 31, 1998, 1998
1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994
23.1 Consent of Deloitte &
Touche LLP
23.2 Consent of Baker & Botts,
L.L.P. (included in Exhibit
5)
24*** Power of Attorney
25.1 Statement of Eligibility
under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended
(the "Trust Indenture
Act"), of Chase Bank of
Texas, National Association
under the Senior Indenture
25.2 Statement of Eligibility
under the Trust Indenture
Act of Chase Bank of Texas,
National Association under
the Subordinated Indenture
- --------
* To be filed by amendment or by a report on Form 8-K pursuant to Regulation
S-K, Item 601(b).
** Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.
*** Previously filed.
II-5
EXHIBIT 4.1
================================================================================
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
To
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
_______________
SENIOR INDENTURE
Dated as of September 1, 1999
_______________
===============================================================================
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
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
"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
i
"Optional Reset Date"..................................................... 5
"Original Issue Discount Security"........................................ 5
"Original Stated Maturity"................................................ 5
"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".............................................. 8
"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............................................... 13
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.............................................. 14
ARTICLE TWO
SECURITY FORMS............................................................ 14
SECTION 201. Forms Generally............................................. 14
ii
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.................................... 15
SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security................................. 17
SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities........................ 23
SECTION 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication............. 23
ARTICLE THREE
THE SECURITIES............................................................ 24
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series........................ 24
SECTION 302. Denominations............................................... 27
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.............. 27
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities........................................ 29
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange......... 29
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities............ 31
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional
Interest Reset............................................ 32
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity.............................. 35
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners....................................... 36
SECTION 310. Cancellation................................................ 36
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended................. 36
SECTION 312. CUSIP Numbers............................................... 37
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE................................................ 37
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture..................... 37
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.................................. 39
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES.................................................................. 39
SECTION 501. Events of Default........................................... 39
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.......... 41
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Trustee................................................... 42
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................ 42
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession
of Securities............................................. 43
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.............................. 43
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits......................................... 44
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest...................................... 44
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.......................... 45
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.............................. 45
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver................................ 45
iii
SECTION 512. Control by Holders.......................................... 45
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults..................................... 46
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs....................................... 46
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws..................... 46
ARTICLE SIX
THE TRUSTEE............................................................... 47
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities......................... 47
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults.......................................... 47
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee................................... 47
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities...... 49
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities......................................... 49
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust......................................... 49
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.............................. 49
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests....................................... 50
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility..................... 50
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor........... 50
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor...................... 53
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business............................................... 54
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company........... 54
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent......................... 55
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY......................... 57
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders... 57
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders...... 57
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.......................................... 57
SECTION 704. Reports by Company.......................................... 58
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE...................... 58
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms........ 58
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted....................................... 59
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES................................................... 60
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.......... 60
iv
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders............. 61
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures........................ 63
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures........................... 63
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act......................... 63
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.......... 63
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS................................................................. 64
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest................. 64
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................ 64
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.......... 64
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default........................ 65
SECTION 1005. Existence.................................................. 66
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants................................ 66
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES.................................................. 66
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article................................... 66
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee...................... 66
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.......... 67
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption....................................... 67
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price................................ 68
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date...................... 69
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part................................ 69
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS............................................................. 69
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article................................... 69
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities...... 70
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.................. 70
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS.................................... 70
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article................................... 70
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities.................................... 71
SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option......................................... 71
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become
Due and Payable.......................................... 71
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part.................................. 72
v
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE........................................ 72
SECTION 1401. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or
Covenant Defeasance...................................... 72
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge................................... 72
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance........................................ 73
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance............ 73
SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee..................... 75
SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations
to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions............ 76
SECTION 1407. Reinstatement.............................................. 76
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES................................................. 77
SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability........................ 77
vi
INDENTURE, dated as of September 1, 1999, between Reliant Energy,
Incorporated, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Texas (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at
1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, and Chase Bank of Texas, 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
1
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.
2
"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 Chief Financial Officer, 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.
3
"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.
"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 Chief
Financial Officer, 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.
4
"Optional Reset Date" has the meaning specified in Section 307(b).
"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 set aside and irrevocably 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
5
other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of
such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in
relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, 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 the Company 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
6
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 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.
7
"U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1404.
"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
8
document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to
some matters and one 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
9
every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to
be done by the Trustee 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
10
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.
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
11
Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other
Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may
be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such
filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in
reliance upon such waiver.
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.
12
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.
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.
13
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security.
[INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE REGULATIONS
THEREUNDER.]
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Title of Security)
No. __________ $ __________
CUSIP No. ________
Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Texas (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
14
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.
[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.
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: _______________ RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
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 September 1, 1999 (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.
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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).
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
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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.]
[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
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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,
Redemption Price For Redemption Price For
Redemption Through Redemption Otherwise
Operation of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
---- ------------ -------------------
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not, prior to __________, redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [if applicable, insert --Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,
directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than _____% per annum.]
[If applicable, insert -- The sinking fund for this series provides
for the redemption on __________ in each year beginning with the year _____ and
ending with the year _____ of [if applicable, insert -- not less than
$__________ ("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $__________ aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series
acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable,
insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments 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
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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.]
[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.
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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 $__________ 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.
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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 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
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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 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;
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(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 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
24
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 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;
25
(22) the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities
of such series, if other than the Company;
(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.
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 Chief Financial Officer, 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.
26
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
(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.
27
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.
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
28
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.
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.
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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 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.
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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 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
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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 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).
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(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 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).
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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 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
34
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 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
35
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 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
36
(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, 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.
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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
(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
38
(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
(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
39
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 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,
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(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,
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
41
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.
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
42
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;
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.
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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.
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
44
(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 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
45
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), 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;
46
(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 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
47
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.
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
48
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.
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.
49
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,
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
50
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.
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
51
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 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:
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(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 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
53
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: _________________________,
as Authenticating Agent
By: _________________________
Authorized Officer
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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.
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.
55
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 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;
56
(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.
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.
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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
(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
58
(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.
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
59
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
(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
60
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
be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
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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.
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
62
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
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)
63
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 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
64
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.
66
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
67
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.
68
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
69
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").
70
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
71
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.
72
(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.
73
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 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.
75
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.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By:
----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Attest:
- ------------------------
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:
----------------------------
Name:
-----------------------
Title:
----------------------
(SEAL)
76
EXHIBIT 4.2
=======================================================================
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
To
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
_______________
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE
Dated as of September 1, 1999
_______________
=======================================================================
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
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
"Debt"...................................................................... 3
"Defaulted Interest"........................................................ 3
"Defeasance"................................................................ 3
"Depositary"................................................................ 4
"Event of Default".......................................................... 4
"Exchange Act".............................................................. 4
"Exchange Rate"............................................................. 4
"Expiration Date"........................................................... 4
"Extension Notice".......................................................... 4
"Extension Period".......................................................... 4
"Final Maturity"............................................................ 4
"Global Security"........................................................... 4
"Guarantee"................................................................. 4
"Holder".................................................................... 4
"Indenture"................................................................. 4
"interest".................................................................. 5
"Interest Payment Date"..................................................... 5
"Investment Company Act".................................................... 5
"Lien"...................................................................... 5
"Maturity".................................................................. 5
"Maximum Interest Rate"..................................................... 5
"Notice of Default"......................................................... 5
"Officers' Certificate"..................................................... 5
"Opinion of Counsel"........................................................ 5
-i-
"Optional Reset Date"....................................................... 5
"Original Issue Discount Security".......................................... 5
"Original Stated Maturity".................................................. 6
"Outstanding"............................................................... 6
"Paying Agent".............................................................. 7
"Person".................................................................... 7
"Place of Payment".......................................................... 7
"Predecessor Security"...................................................... 7
"Redemption Date"........................................................... 7
"Redemption Price".......................................................... 7
"Regular Record Date"....................................................... 7
"Repayment Date"............................................................ 7
"Reset Notice".............................................................. 7
"Responsible Officer"....................................................... 7
"Securities"................................................................ 8
"Securities Act"............................................................ 8
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar"................................ 8
"Senior Debt"............................................................... 8
"Special Record Date"....................................................... 8
"Stated Maturity"........................................................... 8
"Subsequent Interest Period"................................................ 8
"Subsidiary"................................................................ 8
"Trade Payables"............................................................ 8
"Trust Indenture Act"....................................................... 9
"Trustee"................................................................... 9
"U.S. Government Obligation"................................................ 9
"Vice President"............................................................ 9
"Yield to Maturity"......................................................... 9
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.......................... 9
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee........................ 10
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates................................. 10
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company......................... 12
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver..................................... 13
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act............................. 13
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents...................... 13
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns........................................ 13
SECTION 110. Separability Clause........................................... 14
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture......................................... 14
SECTION 112. Governing Law................................................. 14
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays................................................ 14
ARTICLE TWO SECURITY FORMS................................................... 14
SECTION 201. Forms Generally............................................... 14
-ii-
SECTION 202. Form of Face of Security...................................... 15
SECTION 203. Form of Reverse of Security................................... 17
SECTION 204. Form of Legend for Global Securities.......................... 23
SECTION 205. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication............... 23
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES................................................. 24
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.......................... 24
SECTION 302. Denominations................................................. 27
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating................ 27
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.......................................... 29
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange........... 30
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.............. 31
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved;
Optional Interest Reset..................................... 32
SECTION 308. Optional Extension of Maturity................................ 35
SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners......................................... 36
SECTION 310. Cancellation.................................................. 36
SECTION 311. Computation of Interest; Usury Not Intended................... 36
SECTION 312. CUSIP Numbers................................................. 37
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE...................................... 38
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture....................... 38
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.................................... 39
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES........................................................ 39
SECTION 501. Events of Default............................................. 39
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment............ 41
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement
by Trustee.................................................. 42
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.............................. 43
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities... 43
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected................................ 44
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits........................................... 44
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium and Interest........................................ 45
SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies............................ 45
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative................................ 45
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.................................. 45
SECTION 512. Control by Holders............................................ 46
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults....................................... 46
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs......................................... 47
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws....................... 47
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE..................................................... 47
-iii-
SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities........................... 47
SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults............................................ 47
SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee..................................... 48
SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities........ 49
SECTION 605. May Hold Securities........................................... 49
SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust........................................... 50
SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement................................ 50
SECTION 608. Conflicting Interests......................................... 50
SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility....................... 51
SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor............. 51
SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor........................ 52
SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business... 53
SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company............. 54
SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent........................... 54
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.............. 56
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders..... 56
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders........ 56
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee............................................ 57
SECTION 704. Reports by Company............................................ 57
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE.......... 57
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.......... 57
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted......................................... 58
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES........................................ 59
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders............ 59
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders............... 61
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.......................... 62
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures............................. 62
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act........................... 63
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures............ 63
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS....................................................... 63
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest................... 63
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.............................. 63
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust............ 64
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.......................... 65
SECTION 1005. Existence.................................................... 65
SECTION 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants.................................. 65
-iv-
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES..................................... 65
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article..................................... 65
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee........................ 66
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed............ 66
SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption......................................... 67
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.................................. 68
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date........................ 68
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.................................. 68
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS................................................ 68
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article..................................... 68
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities........ 69
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.................... 69
ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS..................... 70
SECTION 1301. Applicability of Article..................................... 70
SECTION 1302. Repayment of Securities...................................... 70
SECTION 1303. Exercise of Option........................................... 70
SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due
and Payable................................................ 71
SECTION 1305. Securities Repaid in Part.................................... 71
ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE......................... 72
SECTION 1401. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance................................................. 72
SECTION 1402. Defeasance and Discharge..................................... 72
SECTION 1403. Covenant Defeasance.......................................... 72
SECTION 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.............. 73
SECTION 1405. Acknowledgment of Discharge By Trustee....................... 75
SECTION 1406. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be
Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.................... 75
SECTION 1407. Reinstatement................................................ 76
ARTICLE FIFTEEN IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS,
DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES................................... 76
SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability.......................... 76
ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION............................................... 77
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate..................................... 77
SECTION 1602. Default on Senior Debt....................................... 77
SECTION 1603. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy......................... 77
SECTION 1604. Subrogation of Securities.................................... 79
SECTION 1605. Authorization by Holders..................................... 80
SECTION 1606. Notice to Trustee............................................ 80
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SECTION 1607. Trustee's Relation to Senior Debt........................... 81
SECTION 1608. No Impairment to Subordination.............................. 81
SECTION 1609. Article Applicable to Paying Agents......................... 81
SECTION 1610. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated............................... 82
-vi-
INDENTURE, dated as of September 1, 1999, between Reliant Energy,
Incorporated, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Texas (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at
1111 Louisiana, Houston, Texas 77002, and Chase Bank of Texas, 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 subordinated
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
1
mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United
States of America 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.
2
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph
of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to
the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean
such successor Person.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" 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 Chief Financial Officer, 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.
"Debt" means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination
(without duplication), (i) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money,
(ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the
acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (iii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or bankers' acceptances or other similar
instruments (or reimbursement obligations thereto) issued on the account of such
person, (iv) all obligations of such person to pay the deferred purchase price
of property or services, except Trade Payables, (v) all obligations of such
Person as lessee under capitalized leases, (vi) all Debt of others secured by a
Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such
Person; provided that, for purposes of determining the amount of any Debt of the
type described in this clause (vi), if recourse with respect to such Debt is
limited to such asset, the amount of such Debt shall be limited to the lesser of
the fair market value of such asset or the amount of such Debt, (vii) all Debt
of others Guaranteed by such Person to the extent such Debt is Guaranteed by
such Person, and (viii) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition,
all obligations of such Person for claims in respect of derivative products,
including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity prices, forward
contracts, options, swaps, collars and similar arrangements.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307(a).
"Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1402.
3
"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.
"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).
"Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person
directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation of any other
Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation,
direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or
pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or
other obligation of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods,
securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Debt of other obligation of the payment thereof
or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in
part); provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.
"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
4
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.
"Lien" means, with respect to any property, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
property. For purposes of this Indenture, the Company shall be deemed to own
subject to a Lien any property which it has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such property.
"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 Chief
Financial Officer, 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).
"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.
5
"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 set aside and irrevocably 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 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
6
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 the Company 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 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
7
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.
"Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
and all other amounts due in connection with all Debt of the Company whether
created, incurred or assumed before, on or after the date of this Indenture;
provided that such Senior Debt shall not include (i) Debt of the Company to any
Subsidiary, (ii) any series of Securities, (iii) Trade Payables of the Company,
(iv) Debt of the Company that, when incurred and without respect to any election
under Section 1111(b) of Title 11, U.S. Code, was without recourse to the
Company, and (v) any other Debt of the Company which by the terms of the
instrument creating or evidencing the same is specifically designated as being
subordinated to or pari passu with the Securities.
"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.
"Trade Payables" means, with respect to any Person, any accounts payable
or any other indebtedness or monetary obligation to trade creditors created,
assumed or Guaranteed by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries arising in the
ordinary course of business in connection with the acquisition of goods or
services.
8
"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.
"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;
9
(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
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
10
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 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,
11
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.
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
12
(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 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.
13
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.
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
14
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.
[INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE REGULATIONS
THEREUNDER.]
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Title of Security)
No. __________ $__________
CUSIP No. ________
Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Texas (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
15
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
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.
16
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: _______________ RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By:___________________________________
Attest:
_____________________
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 September 1, 1999 (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
17
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).
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.
18
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.]
[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.]
19
[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,
Redemption Price For Redemption Price For
Redemption Through Redemption Otherwise
Operation of the Than Through Operation
Year Sinking Fund of the Sinking Fund
and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to _____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]
[If applicable, insert -- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not, prior to __________, redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [if applicable, insert --Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,
directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than _____% per annum.]
[If applicable, insert -- The sinking fund for this series provides
for the redemption on __________ in each year beginning with the year _____ and
ending with the year _____ of [if applicable, insert -- not less than
$__________ ("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $__________ aggregate
principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series
acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable,
insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments 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].]
20
[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.]
[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
21
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, 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
22
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. The Securities of this series are subordinated in right of payment to
Senior Debt as provided in Article Sixteen of the Indenture.
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 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
23
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 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;
24
(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 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
25
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 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;
26
(22) the appointment of any Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities
of such series, if other than the Company;
(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.
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.
The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior
Debt as provided in Article Sixteen.
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
27
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
(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
28
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.
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.
29
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.
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.
30
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 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.
31
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 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
32
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 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
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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 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
34
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 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
35
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 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.
36
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 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.
37
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, 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;
38
(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; and
(4) no event or condition shall exist that, pursuant to the
provisions of Section 1602 or 1603, would prevent the Company from making
payments of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the
Securities of such series on the date of such deposit.
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.
Money and securities held in trust are not subject to Article Sixteen.
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
(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any
Security of that series at its Maturity; or
39
(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
(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series;
40
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 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. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities
shall remain subordinated to
41
the extent provided in Article Sixteen notwithstanding that such amount shall
become immediately due and payable as herein provided.
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,
42
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.
43
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,
subject to Article Sixteen, 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 all Senior Debt if and to the extent
required by Article Sixteen;
THIRD: 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
FOURTH: 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
44
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing 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.
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No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case
may be.
SECTION 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.
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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 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
47
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), 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
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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 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
49
with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent,
Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
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.
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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.
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
51
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be
adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of
its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take
charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the
purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (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
52
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.
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
53
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 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
54
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 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:
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This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated: _____________
_________________________,
as Trustee
By: _______________________,
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.
56
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.
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
57
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 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
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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.
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
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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
(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
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(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.
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
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(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,
(5) modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the
subordination of any Security in a manner adverse to the Holder
thereof, or
(6) 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.
An amendment under this Section may not make any change that adversely
affects the rights under Article XVI of any holder of Senior Debt unless the
holders of the issue pursuant to its terms consent to the change.
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.
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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
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
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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.
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
64
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
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.
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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 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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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 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.
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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.
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.
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SECTION 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.
If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of
the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and
as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or
the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and
payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein
specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall
default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such
Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest.
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.
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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"). 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
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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
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
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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.
(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
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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 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.
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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.
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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ARTICLE SIXTEEN
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 1601. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and agrees,
and each Holder issued hereunder by his acceptance thereof likewise covenants
and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of
this Article Sixteen; and each person holding any Security, whether upon
original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof accepts and
agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on all Securities issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the
manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to
all Senior Debt, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred.
No provision of this Article Sixteen shall prevent the occurrence of any
Default or Event of Default hereunder.
SECTION 1602. Default on Senior Debt. In the event and during the continuation
of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or
any other payment due on any Senior Debt, or in the event that the maturity of
any Senior Debt has been accelerated because of a default, then, in either case,
no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including
redemption payments) of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities until
such default shall have been cured or waived in writing or shall have ceased to
exist or such Senior Debt shall have been discharged or paid in full.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of the Securities, then no
payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including
redemption payments) of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities until
the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such acceleration
shall receive payment in full of such Senior Debt (including any amounts due
upon acceleration).
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by the
preceding paragraphs of this Section 1602, such payment shall be held in trust
for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of
Senior Debt or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees
under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Debt may have been
issued, as their respective interests may appear.
SECTION 1603. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. Upon any payment by the
Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any liquidation,
dissolution, winding up, receivership, reorganization, assignment for the
benefit of creditors, marshaling of assets and liabilities or any bankruptcy,
77
insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, all amounts due or to become
due upon all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full, in cash or cash
equivalents, or payment thereof provided for in accordance with its terms,
before any payment is made on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, and upon any such
liquidation, dissolution, winding up, receivership, reorganization, assignment,
marshaling or proceeding, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the
Holders or the Trustee under this Indenture would be entitled, except for the
provisions of this Article Sixteen, shall be paid by the Company or by any
receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person
making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under
this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Debt
(pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Debt
held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of
such Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear,
to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Debt in full (including, without
limitation, except to the extent, if any, prohibited by mandatory provisions of
law, post-petition interest, in any such proceedings), after giving effect to
any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt,
before any payment or distribution is made to the holders of the indebtedness
evidenced by the Securities or to the Trustee under this Indenture.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee under this Indenture or the holders of the Securities before all Senior
Debt is paid in full or provision is made for such payment in accordance with
its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit
of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Debt or
their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Debt
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application
to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid until all such Senior Debt
shall have been paid in full in accordance with its terms, after giving effect
to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior
Debt.
For purposes of this Article Sixteen, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, the
payment of which is subordinated (at least to the extent provided in this
Article Sixteen with respect to the Securities) to the payment of all Senior
Debt which may at the time be outstanding; provided, that (i) the Senior Debt is
assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such arrangement,
reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior
Debt are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such arrangement,
reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the
merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property
as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another
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corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article Eight shall not be
deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes
of this Section if such other Person shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article
Eight. Nothing in Section 1602 or this Section 1603 shall apply to claims of,
or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Article Six, except as provided
therein. This Section shall be subject to the further provisions of Section
1606.
SECTION 1604. Subrogation of Securities. Subject to the payment in full of all
Senior Debt, the rights of the holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to
the rights of the holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Debt until
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid
in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions
to the holders of the Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which
the holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled
except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen and no payment over pursuant
to the provisions of this Article Sixteen to the holders of Senior Debt by
holders of the Securities or the Trustee on their behalf shall, as between the
Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the holders of the
Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the
Senior Debt; and no payments or distributions of cash, property or securities to
or for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to the subrogation provisions of this
Article Sixteen, which would otherwise have been paid to the holders of Senior
Debt shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or for the account of the
Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are and
are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the
holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Debt,
on the other hand.
Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or
in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its
creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, and the holders of the
Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to pay to the holders of the Securities the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than
the holders of the Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein
prevent the holder of any Security or the Trustee on his behalf from exercising
all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this
Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the
holders of Senior Debt in respect of cash, property or securities of the
Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six, and
the holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree
made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such liquidation,
dissolution, winding up, receivership, reorganization, assignment or marshaling
proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in
bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or
distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the holders
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of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to
participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and
other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the
amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article Sixteen.
SECTION 1605. Authorization by Holders. Each holder of a Security by his
acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee in his behalf to take such
action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination
provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 1606. Notice to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written
notice to the Trustee and to any paying agent of any fact known to the Company
which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or
any paying agent in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Sixteen. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this
Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged
with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Debt or of any default or
event of default with respect to any Senior Debt or of any other facts
which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee,
unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing at its
principal Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an officer of the
Company, or by a holder or agent of a holder of Senior Debt who shall
have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or agent, or by the trustee under
any indenture pursuant to which Senior Debt shall be outstanding, and,
prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to
the provisions of Article Six, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist;
provided, however, that if on a date at least three Business Days prior to the
date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys shall become payable for any
purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of, or
interest on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to
such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 1606, then, regardless of
anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority
to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were
received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be
received by it on or after such prior date.
The Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of
a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Debt
(or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been
given by a holder of Senior Debt or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In
the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to
participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the
Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such
Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such
payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such
Person under this Article Sixteen, and if such evidence is not furnished the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
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SECTION 1607. Trustee's Relation to Senior Debt. The Trustee and any
agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set
forth in this Article Sixteen with respect to any Senior Debt which may
at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same
extent as any other holder of Senior Debt and nothing in this Indenture
shall deprive the Trustee or any such agent, of any of its rights as such
holder. Nothing in this Article Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments
to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Article Six.
With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes
to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Article Sixteen, and no implied covenants or
obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe
any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and, subject to the
provisions of Article Six, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of
Senior Debt if it shall pay over or deliver to holders of Securities,
the Company or any other person moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior
Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Sixteen or otherwise.
SECTION 1608. No Impairment to Subordination. No right of any present or
future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein
provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or
failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in
good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the
terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge
thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the
holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the
consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without incurring
responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the
subordination provided in this Article Sixteen or the obligations hereunder of
the holders of the Securities to the holders of such Senior Debt, do any one or
more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or
extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Debt, or otherwise
amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing
the same or any agreement under which such Senior Debt is outstanding; (ii)
sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged
or otherwise securing such Senior Debt; (iii) release any Person liable in any
manner for the collection of such Senior Debt; and (iv) exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights against the Company, as the case may be, and any other
Person.
SECTION 1609. Article Applicable to Paying Agents. In case at any time any
paying agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and
be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in this Article Sixteen
shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as
extending to and including such paying agent within its meaning as fully for all
intents and purposes as if such paying agent were named in this Article Sixteen
in addition to or in place of the Trustee.
81
SECTION 1610. Trust Moneys Not Subordinated. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S.
Government Obligations held in trust under Section 402 of this Indenture by the
Trustee for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities shall not
be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Debt or subject to
the restrictions set forth in this Article Sixteen, and none of the Holders
shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company or any holder of
Senior Debt or any other creditor of the Company.
Chase Bank of Texas, National Association, a national banking association
duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as
Trustee, hereby accepts the trust in this Indenture declared and provided, upon
the terms and conditions herein above set forth.
82
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.
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:
Attest:
___________________________
Name:
Title:
(SEAL)
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:___________________________________
Name:______________________________
Title:_____________________________
(SEAL)
83
Exhibit 5
[Letterhead of Baker & Botts, L.L.P.]
September 10, 1999
Reliant Energy, Incorporated
1111 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Reliant Energy, Incorporated, a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), on
September 2, 1999 (Registration No. 333-86403), relating to the proposed
issuance and sale from time to time of up to $1,000,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the Company's senior debt securities (the "Senior Debt
Securities") and subordinated debt securities (the "Subordinated Debt
Securities"), each series of which will be issued under an Indenture (the
"Senior Indenture") or a Subordinated Indenture (the "Subordinated
Indenture"), respectively, the forms of which have been filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement.
In our capacity as your counsel in the connection referred to above, we have
examined the Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
Bylaws of the Company, each as amended to date, and the Senior Indenture and
the Subordinated Indenture, and have examined the originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company,
including minute books of the Company as furnished to us by the Company,
certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Company,
statutes and other instruments or documents, as a basis for the opinions
hereinafter expressed. In giving such opinions, we have relied upon
certificates of officers of the Company with respect to the accuracy of the
material factual matters contained in such certificates. In making our
examination, we have assumed that all signatures on documents examined by us
are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and
that all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform
with the original copies of such documents.
On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations
and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to a series of Senior Debt Securities, when (i) the
Senior Indenture and the supplemental indenture relating to such series of
Senior Debt Securities have been duly authorized and validly executed and
delivered by each of the parties thereto; (ii) the Registration Statement
has become effective under the Securities Act and the Senior Indenture has
been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"); (iii) the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") has taken all necessary corporate action to approve and establish
the terms of such series of Senior Debt Securities, to approve the issuance
thereof and the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (iv)
such Senior Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued
and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Senior Indenture and
the supplemental indenture relating to such series of Senior Debt
Securities and the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase,
underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the
consideration therefor provided for therein, such Senior Debt Securities
will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as
the enforceability thereof is subject to the effect of (x) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
2. With respect to a series of Subordinated Debt Securities, when (i) the
Subordinated Indenture and the supplemental indenture relating to such
series of Subordinated Debt Securities have been duly authorized and
validly executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto; (ii) the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and
the Subordinated Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act; (iii) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to
approve and establish the terms of such series of Subordinated Debt
Securities, to approve the issuance thereof and the terms of the offering
thereof and related matters; and (iv) such Subordinated Debt Securities
have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance
with the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture and the supplemental
indenture relating to such series of Subordinated Debt Securities and the
provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar
agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor
provided for therein, such Subordinated Debt Securities will constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability
thereof is subject to the effect of (x) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws relating to
or affecting creditors' rights generally and (y) general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
The opinions set forth above are limited in all respects to matters of Texas
law and the contract law of the State of New York as in effect on the date
hereof. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as
Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement. Additionally, we hereby consent to
the reference to our Firm under the caption "Validity of Securities" in the
Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede that
we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section
7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
Baker & Botts, L.L.P.
2
EXHIBIT 23.1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-86403 of Reliant Energy, Incorporated ("Reliant
Energy") on Form S-3 of our report dated February 25, 1999 appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Reliant Energy for the year ended December 31,
1998 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus,
which is a part of such Registration Statement.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Houston, Texas
September 9, 1999
EXHIBIT 25.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(B)(2) ____
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
74-0800980
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
712 MAIN STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
LEE BOOCKER, 712 MAIN STREET, 26TH FLOOR
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (713) 216-2448
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of indenture securities)
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:
(A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING
AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.
Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
(B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH AFFILIATION.
The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee. (See Note on Page 7.)
ITEM 3. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF VOTING SECURITIES OF THE
TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B
TITLE OF CLASS AMOUNT OUTSTANDING
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 4. TRUSTEESHIPS UNDER OTHER INDENTURES.
IF THE TRUSTEE IS A TRUSTEE UNDER ANOTHER INDENTURE UNDER WHICH ANY OTHER
SECURITIES, OR CERTIFICATES OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY OTHER
SECURITIES, OF THE OBLIGOR ARE OUTSTANDING, FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(A) TITLE OF THE SECURITIES OUTSTANDING UNDER EACH SUCH OTHER INDENTURE.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 4. (CONTINUED)
(B) A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE FACTS RELIED UPON AS A BASIS FOR THE CLAIM
THAT NO CONFLICTING INTEREST WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 310(B)(1)
OF THE ACT ARISES AS A RESULT OF THE TRUSTEESHIP UNDER ANY SUCH OTHER
INDENTURE, INCLUDING A STATEMENT AS TO HOW THE INDENTURE SECURITIES
WILL RANK AS COMPARED WITH THE SECURITIES ISSUED UNDER SUCH OTHER
INDENTURE.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 5. INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES AND SIMILAR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OBLIGOR OR
UNDERWRITERS.
IF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THE DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE TRUSTEE IS
A DIRECTOR, OFFICER, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE, APPOINTEE, OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE
OBLIGOR OR OF ANY UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR, IDENTIFY EACH SUCH PERSON HAVING
ANY SUCH CONNECTION AND STATE THE NATURE OF EACH SUCH CONNECTION.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 6. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY THE OBLIGOR OR ITS OFFICIALS.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE
OWNED BENEFICIALLY BY THE OBLIGOR AND EACH DIRECTOR, PARTNER AND EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF THE OBLIGOR.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
PERCENTAGE OF
VOTING SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY
AMOUNT OWNED AMOUNT GIVEN IN
NAME OF OWNER TITLE OF CLASS BENEFICIALLY COL. C
------------- -------------- ----------------- ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to Item
13.
2
ITEM 7. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY UNDERWRITERS OR THEIR
OFFICIALS.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE
OWNED BENEFICIALLY BY EACH UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR AND EACH DIRECTOR,
PARTNER AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF EACH SUCH UNDERWRITER.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
PERCENTAGE OF
VOTING SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY
AMOUNT OWNED AMOUNT GIVEN IN
NAME OF OWNER TITLE OF CLASS BENEFICIALLY COL. C
------------- -------------- ------------ -----------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to Item
13.
ITEM 8. SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR HELD AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT BY THE
TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
WHETHER THE BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
SECURITIES HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
ARE VOTING SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
OR NONVOTING OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS SECURITIES DEFAULT COL. C
- -------------- ------------ ------------------ ---------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
3
ITEM 9. SECURITIES OF UNDERWRITERS OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT ANY SECURITIES OF AN UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES OF SUCH UNDERWRITER ANY
OF WHICH ARE SO OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 10. OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF VOTING SECURITIES OF
CERTAIN AFFILIATES OR SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT VOTING SECURITIES OF A PERSON WHO, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF
THE TRUSTEE (1) OWNS 10% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OR (2)
IS AN AFFILIATE, OTHER THAN A SUBSIDIARY, OF THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF SUCH PERSON.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
4
ITEM 11. OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF ANY SECURITIES OF A PERSON
OWNING 50% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT ANY SECURITIES OF A PERSON WHO, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
TRUSTEE, OWNS 50% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES OR SUCH PERSON ANY OF WHICH
ARE SO OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ---------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 12. INDEBTEDNESS OF THE OBLIGOR TO THE TRUSTEE.
EXCEPT AS NOTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS, IF THE OBLIGOR IS INDEBTED TO THE TRUSTEE,
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
COL. A COL. B COL. C
NATURE OF AMOUNT
INDEBTEDNESS OUTSTANDING DATE DUE
------------ ----------- --------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS BY THE OBLIGOR.
(A) STATE WHETHER THERE IS OR HAS BEEN A DEFAULT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES
UNDER THIS INDENTURE. EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF ANY SUCH DEFAULT.
There is not, nor has there been, a default with respect to the securities under
this indenture. (See Note on Page 7.)
5
ITEM 13. (CONTINUED)
(B) IF THE TRUSTEE IS A TRUSTEE UNDER ANOTHER INDENTURE UNDER WHICH ANY
SECURITIES, OR CERTIFICATES OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY OTHER
SECURITIES, OF THE OBLIGOR ARE OUTSTANDING, OR IS TRUSTEE FOR MORE THAN ONE
OUTSTANDING SERIES OF SECURITIES UNDER THE INDENTURE, STATE WHETHER THERE HAS
BEEN A DEFAULT UNDER ANY SUCH INDENTURE OR SERIES, IDENTIFY THE INDENTURE OR
SERIES AFFECTED, AND EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF ANY SUCH DEFAULT.
There has not been a default under any such indenture or series. (See Note on
Page 7.)
ITEM 14. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE UNDERWRITERS.
IF ANY UNDERWRITER IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 15. FOREIGN TRUSTEE.
IDENTIFY THE ORDER OR RULE PURSUANT TO WHICH THE FOREIGN TRUSTEE IS AUTHORIZED
TO ACT AS SOLE TRUSTEE UNDER INDENTURES QUALIFIED OR TO BE QUALIFIED UNDER THE
ACT.
Not applicable.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.
. 1. A copy of the articles of association of the trustee now in effect.
# 2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the trustee to commence
business.
* 3. A copy of the certificate of authorization of the trustee to exercise
corporate trust powers issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System under date of January 21, 1948.
+ 4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the trustee.
5. Not applicable.
6. The consent of the United States institutional trustees required by
Section 321(b) of the Act.
6
[_] 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
8. Not applicable.
9. Not applicable.
NOTE REGARDING INCORPORATED EXHIBITS
Effective January 20, 1998, the name of the Trustee was changed from Texas
Commerce Bank National Association to Chase Bank of Texas, National Association.
Certain of the exhibits incorporated herein by reference, except for Exhibit 7,
were filed under the former name of the Trustee.
. Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-56195.
# Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-42814.
* Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-11 File No. 33-25132.
+ Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-65055.
[_] Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-4 File No. 333-77263.
NOTE
Inasmuch as this Form T-1 is filed prior to the ascertainment by the trustee
of all facts on which to base responsive answers to Items 2 and 13, the answers
to said Items are based on incomplete information. Such Items may, however, be
considered as correct unless amended by an amendment to this Form T-1.
7
SIGNATURE
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 THE TRUSTEE,
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TEXAS COMMERCE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED AND EXISTING
UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HAS DULY CAUSED THIS STATEMENT
OF ELIGIBILITY TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO
AUTHORIZED, ALL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND STATE OF TEXAS, ON THE TENTH DAY OF
SEPTEMBER, 1999.
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Debbie Miller
----------------------------------
Debbie Miller
Vice President and Trust Officer
8
EXHIBIT 6
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Gentlemen:
The undersigned is trustee under a Senior Indenture between Reliant Energy,
Incorporated, a Texas corporation, as obligor (the "Company"), and Chase Bank of
Texas, National Association, as Trustee, entered into in connection with the
issuance of the Company's Debt Securities.
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
undersigned hereby consents that reports of examinations of the undersigned,
made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may
be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.
Very truly yours,
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By: /s/ Debbie Miller
------------------------------------
Debbie Miller
Vice President and Trust Officer
9
EXHIBIT 25.2
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ____
----------------------
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
74-0800980
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
712 MAIN STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
LEE BOOCKER, 712 MAIN STREET, 26TH FLOOR
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002 (713) 216-2448
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
RELIANT ENERGY, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
TEXAS 74-0694415
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
1111 LOUISIANA
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
DEBT SECURITIES
(Title of indenture securities)
================================================================================
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:
(a) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING
AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.
Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
(b) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.
The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.
The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee. (See Note on Page 7.)
ITEM 3. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF VOTING SECURITIES
OF THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B
TITLE OF CLASS AMOUNT OUTSTANDING
-------------- ------------------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response
to Item 13.
ITEM 4. TRUSTEESHIPS UNDER OTHER INDENTURES.
IF THE TRUSTEE IS A TRUSTEE UNDER ANOTHER INDENTURE UNDER WHICH ANY
OTHER SECURITIES, OR CERTIFICATES OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY OTHER
SECURITIES, OF THE OBLIGOR ARE OUTSTANDING, FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(a) TITLE OF THE SECURITIES OUTSTANDING UNDER EACH SUCH OTHER INDENTURE.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 4. (CONTINUED)
(b) A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE FACTS RELIED UPON AS A BASIS FOR THE
CLAIM THAT NO CONFLICTING INTEREST WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION
310(b)(1) OF THE ACT ARISES AS A RESULT OF THE TRUSTEESHIP UNDER ANY
SUCH OTHER INDENTURE, INCLUDING A STATEMENT AS TO HOW THE INDENTURE
SECURITIES WILL RANK AS COMPARED WITH THE SECURITIES ISSUED UNDER SUCH
OTHER INDENTURE.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response
to Item 13.
ITEM 5. INTERLOCKING DIRECTORATES AND SIMILAR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OBLIGOR OR
UNDERWRITERS.
IF THE TRUSTEE OR ANY OF THE DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE
TRUSTEE IS A DIRECTOR, OFFICER, PARTNER, EMPLOYEE, APPOINTEE, OR REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE OBLIGOR OR OF ANY UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR, IDENTIFY EACH SUCH PERSON
HAVING ANY SUCH CONNECTION AND STATE THE NATURE OF EACH SUCH CONNECTION.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response
to Item 13.
ITEM 6. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY THE OBLIGOR OR ITS OFFICIALS.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE
TRUSTEE OWNED BENEFICIALLY BY THE OBLIGOR AND EACH DIRECTOR, PARTNER AND
EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE OBLIGOR.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
PERCENTAGE OF
VOTING SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY
AMOUNT OWNED AMOUNT GIVEN IN
NAME OF OWNER TITLE OF CLASS BENEFICIALLY COL. C
------------- -------------- ------------ ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
2
ITEM 7. VOTING SECURITIES OF THE TRUSTEE OWNED BY UNDERWRITERS OR THEIR
OFFICIALS.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE
TRUSTEE OWNED BENEFICIALLY BY EACH UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR AND EACH
DIRECTOR, PARTNER AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF EACH SUCH UNDERWRITER.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
PERCENTAGE OF
VOTING SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY
AMOUNT OWNED AMOUNT GIVEN IN
NAME OF OWNER TITLE OF CLASS BENEFICIALLY COL. C
------------- -------------- ------------ ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 8. SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR
OWNED BENEFICIALLY OR HELD AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT BY
THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
WHETHER THE BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
SECURITIES HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
ARE VOTING SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
OR NONVOTING OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS SECURITIES DEFAULT COL. C
-------------- ---------- ------- ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
3
ITEM 9. SECURITIES OF UNDERWRITERS OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT ANY SECURITIES OF AN UNDERWRITER FOR THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES OF SUCH UNDERWRITER ANY
OF WHICH ARE SO OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 10. OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF VOTING SECURITIES OF
CERTAIN AFFILIATES OR SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT VOTING SECURITIES OF A PERSON WHO, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF
THE TRUSTEE (1) OWNS 10% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR OR (2)
IS AN AFFILIATE, OTHER THAN A SUBSIDIARY, OF THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION AS TO THE VOTING SECURITIES OF SUCH PERSON.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
4
ITEM 11. OWNERSHIP OR HOLDINGS BY THE TRUSTEE OF ANY SECURITIES OF A PERSON
OWNING 50% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR.
IF THE TRUSTEE OWNS BENEFICIALLY OR HOLDS AS COLLATERAL SECURITY FOR
OBLIGATIONS IN DEFAULT ANY SECURITIES OF A PERSON WHO, TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
TRUSTEE, OWNS 50% OR MORE OF THE VOTING SECURITIES OF THE OBLIGOR, FURNISH THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES OR SUCH PERSON ANY OF WHICH
ARE SO OWNED OR HELD BY THE TRUSTEE.
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D
AMOUNT OWNED
BENEFICIALLY OR PERCENT OF
HELD AS COLLATERAL CLASS
NAME OF ISSUER SECURITY FOR REPRESENTED BY
AND AMOUNT OBLIGATIONS IN AMOUNT GIVEN IN
TITLE OF CLASS OUTSTANDING DEFAULT BY TRUSTEE COL. C
-------------- ----------- ------------------ ------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 12. INDEBTEDNESS OF THE OBLIGOR TO THE TRUSTEE.
EXCEPT AS NOTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS, IF THE OBLIGOR IS INDEBTED TO THE
TRUSTEE, FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
COL. A COL. B COL. C
NATURE OF AMOUNT
INDEBTEDNESS OUTSTANDING DATE DUE
------------ ----------- --------
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response
to Item 13.
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS BY THE OBLIGOR.
(a) STATE WHETHER THERE IS OR HAS BEEN A DEFAULT WITH RESPECT TO THE
SECURITIES UNDER THIS INDENTURE. EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF ANY SUCH DEFAULT.
There is not, nor has there been, a default with respect to the securities
under this indenture. (See Note on Page 7.)
5
ITEM 13. (CONTINUED)
(b) IF THE TRUSTEE IS A TRUSTEE UNDER ANOTHER INDENTURE UNDER WHICH ANY
SECURITIES, OR CERTIFICATES OF INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY OTHER
SECURITIES, OF THE OBLIGOR ARE OUTSTANDING, OR IS TRUSTEE FOR MORE THAN ONE
OUTSTANDING SERIES OF SECURITIES UNDER THE INDENTURE, STATE WHETHER THERE HAS
BEEN A DEFAULT UNDER ANY SUCH INDENTURE OR SERIES, IDENTIFY THE INDENTURE OR
SERIES AFFECTED, AND EXPLAIN THE NATURE OF ANY SUCH DEFAULT.
There has not been a default under any such indenture or series. (See Note
on Page 7.)
ITEM 14. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE UNDERWRITERS.
IF ANY UNDERWRITER IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.
Not applicable by virtue of Form T-1 General Instruction B and response to
Item 13.
ITEM 15. FOREIGN TRUSTEE.
IDENTIFY THE ORDER OR RULE PURSUANT TO WHICH THE FOREIGN TRUSTEE IS
AUTHORIZED TO ACT AS SOLE TRUSTEE UNDER INDENTURES QUALIFIED OR TO BE QUALIFIED
UNDER THE ACT.
Not applicable.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.
. 1. A copy of the articles of association of the trustee now in
effect.
# 2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the trustee to commence
business.
* 3. A copy of the certificate of authorization of the trustee to
exercise corporate trust powers issued by the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System under date of January 21, 1948.
+ 4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the trustee.
5. Not applicable.
6. The consent of the United States institutional trustees required
by Section 321(b) of the Act.
6
[_] 7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
8. Not applicable.
9. Not applicable.
NOTE REGARDING INCORPORATED EXHIBITS
Effective January 20, 1998, the name of the Trustee was changed from Texas
Commerce Bank National Association to Chase Bank of Texas, National Association.
Certain of the exhibits incorporated herein by reference, except for Exhibit 7,
were filed under the former name of the Trustee.
. Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-56195.
# Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-42814.
* Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-11 File No. 33-25132.
+ Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-3 File No. 33-65055.
[_] Incorporated by reference to exhibit bearing the same designation and
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Form S-4 File No. 333-77263.
NOTE
Inasmuch as this Form T-1 is filed prior to the ascertainment by the
trustee of all facts on which to base responsive answers to Items 2 and 13, the
answers to said Items are based on incomplete information. Such Items may,
however, be considered as correct unless amended by an amendment to this
Form T-1.
7
SIGNATURE
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 THE
TRUSTEE, CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TEXAS
COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HAS DULY CAUSED THIS
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED,
THEREUNTO AUTHORIZED, ALL IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON, AND STATE OF TEXAS, ON THE
TENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1999.
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE
By: /s/ Debbie Miller
----------------------------
Debbie Miller
Vice President and Trust Officer
8
EXHIBIT 6
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Gentlemen:
The undersigned is trustee under a Subordinated Indenture between Reliant
Energy, Incorporated, a Texas corporation, as obligor (the "Company"), and Chase
Bank of Texas, National Association, as Trustee, entered into in connection with
the issuance of the Company's Debt Securities.
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
undersigned hereby consents that reports of examinations of the undersigned,
made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may
be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.
Very truly yours,
CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By: /s/ Debbie Miller
---------------------------
Debbie Miller
Vice President and Trust Officer
